Felix Bwalya

Felix Bwalya (21 December 1967 – 23 December 1997) was a Zambian boxer who won a gold medal at the 1991 All-Africa Games and competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. As a professional, he became African champion and went 12–1 (9 KO) on his way to winning the Commonwealth belt. Nicknamed "The Hammer", he captured the African Boxing Union light welterweight and Commonwealth super lightweight titles in 1995 and 1997 respectively, the latter after a controversial victory over Briton Paul Burke in Lusaka. Bwalya subsequently died from head injuries sustained in the fight.

Early life Bwalya was born on 21 December 1967 in Chingola and although other sources gave his date of birth as 22 December 1969, newspaper reports at the time of his burial stated that he died two days after his 30th birthday. The first born in a family of seven, he attended Maiteneke Primary school in Chingola but only went up to the 7th grade. He started boxing at the age of 12 at Chiwempala Community Hall but his parents were against any serious involvement in boxing so he would sneak out to go to the community hall against his father’s wishes and as punishment, was often made to go to bed hungry. He travelled to the next Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 but was defeated by Matumla on points in the first round.

Professional career Bwalya’s brief participation at the Barcelona Olympics was a turning point in his career as he turned professional the following year under Scorpio Promotions and his first fight was on 17 July 1993 against Forger Siame whom he beat on a TKO. In 1994, he won fights against Zimbabwe’s King Zaka, Bruno Sakabunda and South African Bramley Whiteboy. He again faced Zaka on 10 December 1994 and this time, the Zimbabwean, who had retired injured in the second round of their first fight was knocked out in the first round.

Paul Burke Fight The 12 round bout against Burke which was promoted by the Zambia Professional Boxing Board of Control (ZPBBC), took place on Sunday, 14 December 1997 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. Bwalya dominated the opening rounds and with Burke persistently holding the Zambian, fans registered their displeasure leading to a caution from referee Hugo Mulenga. In the sixth round, Burke suffered what looked like a serious cut above the right eye but referee Hugo Mulenga allowed him to continue. From the seventh round, Bwalya appeared to slacken and allowed Burke to close the points gap.

Burke himself called it a planned dramatic robbery and added that he broke into a hearty laugh when he heard the verdict and said it would not do the development of boxing in the country any good if referees resorted to aiding boxers in robbing fights in such a manner.

Following an outcry in the media and among the boxing fraternity, Mulenga defended his handling of the fight and said his referring was in conformity with international standards. Reacting to accusations that he had deliberately failed to stop the fight when Burke began bleeding profusely and that he gave Bwalya several chances to stand when he was knocked down, said he could not stop the fight because it was up to the doctor and Burke’s camp to decide, adding that Burke’s determination to continue was a clear indication that he was fit to go on with the fight.

He was later visited by Zambian President Frederick Chiluba and Sports Minister William Harrington who was perturbed when told that Bwalya had complained of a headache a day before the fight and one of his handlers had given him chloroquine, saying the referee should have stopped the fight when Burke sustained the cut on his eye or when Bwalya was knocked down the first time and called for stern action against those responsible. “This is a very sad state of affairs. for this.” He said.

Burke also paid Bwalya a visit and regretted that his condition was life-threatening. “It’s a very sad development that he has been admitted and lying in a coma. My heart goes to his family and the Zambian people. He is a very good boxer and I will keep praying for his recovery. I feel very sorry for this,’ said Burke.

The Boxing Board of Control Chairman Matyola then charged that Mulenga disregarded the rules in his handling of the fight. He said if the referee believed Burke was breaking the rules by persistently holding Bwlaya and hitting him in the back of the head, he should have disqualified him after the second offence. He also admitted that the ZPBBC broke one of its regulations by promoting the fight, but said it was because no local promoter has the money to do so.

He said after Burke started bleeding from the cut above his eye, he called the doctor to examine him and retreated to the neutral corner and only resumed the fight after asking Silwamba if the fight could continue and was given the greenlight. The autopsy revealed that Bwalya died of cardio-respiratory failure, cerebral concussion, severe blunt head injuries and right side broncho-pneumonia. It was also confirmed that he was on malaria treatment, having started taking chloroquine a few days before the fight, which was administered to him by his trainer.

Bwalya was put to rest on 26 December 1997 at Lusaka's Old Leopard's Hill Cemetery. The burial was attended by thousands of boxing fans who took over the proceedings, with some of them demanding an explanation for Bwalya’s death. With tempers rising, Matyola was asked to leave the cemetery for his own safety. It had to take former Commonwealth and African light-heavyweight champion Lottie Mwale and Commonwealth heavyweight title contender Joseph Chingangu to restore calm. The pallbearers were Bwalya’s fellow boxers, among them Chingangu, Zambian light heavyweight champion Mike Chilambe, national light welterweight champion Anthony Mwanza and light welterweight contender Moses Penza. Harrington also instituted a five-man independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Bwalya's death. Led by Zambia Judo Association President Father Jude McKenna, the committee was to, among other terms of reference, determine adequacy of preparations for the fight and the competence of the referee, find out why the BBC promoted the fight and determine whether the board were aware of the boxer’s ill-health. The team’s report was to be handed in at the end January 1998.

The following year, the ZPBBC was dissolved for its role in Bwalya’s death.

Professional boxing record