Learn to dance abroad - Brown hits back at Sakima

Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) general secretary, Leroy Brown, has rubbished boxer Sakima Mullings' claim that the body has not been granting and local promoters licences, helping sponsors to shun the sport.

Mullings made the claim after recently losing a title bout in Ghana. He said the JBBC's actions has hampered his career, making him having to fight overseas in his bid to win titles. In Ghana, he claimed the judges' scores were unfair to him.

Brown has claimed that Mullings argument is weak.

Why would he need to fight in Jamaica to be a champion? We have had, I think, 10 world champions and all of them have won their titles overseas except Nicholas Walters," Brown said.

Walters was 21-0 before he fought in Jamaica (to win his WBA World Featherweight title), including winning titles outside of Jamaica. So you don't have to fight in Jamaica to win a title if you have the capabilities. Mullings' argument doesn't hold water at all."

SPONSORSHIP

Brown said that boxing owes a lot to sponsorship and points to one specific sponsor who he said not only aided the sport but Mullings, specifically.

"Wray and Nephew has supported the sport in a big way over the last six to seven years. Previously, they assisted with our amateur programmes. They have been supporting quality boxing. As a matter of fact, he has benefited from this. It is because of Wray and Nephew's support that he became Contender champion and is again vying for this year's Contender title."

Brown went on to say that contrary to Mullings' belief, not many promoters have been applying for licences.

"We've had a very few applications for promoters licences and in fact, anybody who is qualified is granted a licence. Off the top of my head, I can remember two applications from local promoters, one was granted and one wasn't. The one that wasn't was someone who was granted previously and had not been able to promote."

STAR Sports spoke to an unnamed promoter, who said "The criteria has been tailored for each individual," but Brown countered by saying the criteria required is that you show that you can live up to your financial obligation, and the JBBC checks the promoter's backgrounds.