– Rain forces Kinigamazi to change venue for its gala
Initially planned in Genthod, in the domain of Frank Muller, the boxing meeting featuring Yoann Kongolo on Saturday will take place at the Hilton in Geneva.
As here at the Ramada Encore Hotel, the meeting will finally take place sheltered from the rain, at the Hilton.
©Pierre Albouy
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Everything had been planned for this to take place outdoors in a dream setting in Genthod on the Grand Malagny estate, owned by Geneva watchmaker Frank Muller. But that was without counting on this capricious summer which is struggling to manifest itself and show the tip of its nose. Thunderstorm, oh despair, rain is forecast this Saturday! Enough to quench the ardor of the most daring.
Former world champion, Patrick Kinigamazi went through all the moods before finding a solution.
Georges Cabrera
Suffice it to say that Patrick Kinigamazi, the ex-boxer who became a fight organizer, has gone through all the moods in recent days even though he had advanced quite a bit of money to make this great pugilistic evening a resounding success. Impossible for him to get reimbursed. Rent large tents? Obviously he thought about it. “But it costs between 100,000 to 150,000 francs!” explains the former world champion, who hesitated to cancel everything, ending up with a hefty bill of 40,000 francs corresponding to the price of plane tickets, rental of the area and reimbursement of tables sold and entry tickets.
Everything had been planned for this to take place outdoors in a dream setting in Genthod on the Grand Malagny estate, owned by Geneva watchmaker Frank Muller.
-/ARCHIVES/Olivier Vogelsang
That was before finding a plan B. Lausanne’s Yoann Kongolo – headliner of an evening also featuring Geneva’s Yves Tazi and Nyon’s Arber Ibishi – will finally perform at the Hilton Hotel. “The room is smaller with only 550 seats (including 150 VIPs) but at least the meeting will take place despite the rain,” rejoices Patrick Kinigamazi who was able to count on the support of a generous donor to cover his costs. “This change of location generated an additional cost of 50%, but thanks to the financial assistance of Sportdome SARL, managed by Costas Felder, happy to be able to support these events in our canton and to promote young talents, this boxing gala will finally take place in Geneva,” rejoices the dynamic organizer, always ready to fight for his sport.
Yoann Kongolo is ready to return to the top.
DR
On the sporting side, precisely, the spectacular Yoann Kongolo (15 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), who is renewing his ambition at 36, hopes to definitively relaunch his career against the Moldovan Edgar Moskvichev (18-1-2). After his success in Carouge last March against the modest Romanian Crasnitchi (KO 3rd), the powerful super middleweight from Lausanne, suspended for four years following an unfortunate positive test in kickboxing, will have a hard time facing a 26-year-old puncher on the rise who also has a KO victory over Russian veteran Mikhaylenko (38).
A warning for Kongolo, who no longer fears anyone today. “At 36, I have given a lot to boxing and today I want titles and to reach the top,” he explained to us three months ago in Geneva. But to earn a lot of money, you have to box somewhere other than Switzerland. And if I have to leave the country, I will look for a belt elsewhere, I am ready to go. People know me, I’m not shy.”
The Vaudois is ready to get wet, which is good timing with the rain forecast for Saturday. But this will therefore take place under cover. First fights at the Hilton Hotel, Saturday from 6 p.m.
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