Roar of the Tiger

Rogers "The Tiger" Mtagwa remembers arriving in South Philadelphia five years ago with no money and no comprehension of the English language.

Hungry to make a living as a professional boxer, Mtagwa, of the 1800 block of South Taylor Street, stayed with people he hardly knew just to have a roof over his head.

Five years later, the sacrifices are starting to pay off. The 26-year-old native of Tanzania is the newly crowned United States Boxing Association featherweight champion. July 8, Mtagwa won the championship with a 10th-round TKO of Joe Morales.

"It feels better than it did before," said Mtagwa, who improved his record to 19-9-2 with 14 KOs. "I am now training harder so I can keep the title. I don’t want anybody to take it from me."

Mtagwa was trailing on all three scorecards, 87-85, 86-85 and 88-83, when he landed a devastating right on Morales in the 10th and then pummeled his opponent until the referee stopped the bout.

Monday, manager Joe Parella presented the fighter with his championship belt, which is engraved with Mtagwa’s name and the title bout’s date.

Mtagwa, who prefers taking fights at the 126- to 128-pound weight limit, now is eyeing bigger prizes, such as the International Boxing Federation crown. He is currently ranked 12th by the organization, but the first and second spots are vacant.

PARELLA, ALONG WITH promoter Peltz Boxing, handle the business aspects as far as deciding future opponents, fight locations and financial terms. Parella, of the 700 block of St. Albans Street, shares news about any potential fight with the pugilist.

"Sometimes he’ll say, ‘Joe, I want to fight,’" Parella said. "I’ll tell him to be patient and it’ll happen."

Like any boxer, Mtagwa dreams of five- and six-figures paydays, days where he’ll no longer have to work other jobs to make ends meet. Growing up in Tanzania, Mtagwa would sneak to the gym without his mother’s knowledge – she disapproved of her son’s participation in the sport. He eventually turned pro in 1997 winning the African Super Bantamweight Title in 1999, but those purses weren’t profitable. Mtagwa said he would make the equivalent of $30 in American money for a fight. When Mtagwa was offered the chance to fight in the United States with the lure of better money, he jumped at the opportunity.

Adjusting to the culture took some time, though.

"When I first came here I didn’t speak any English," he said. "When people would ask me how I was doing, I didn’t know what they were talking about. I would get mad because they called me a lot of names."

The purses did get bigger in the U.S., but Mtagwa said he only took home about $375 from his first fight because his manager and coaches needed to be paid.

"After five or six fights I didn’t understand where the money was going," he said. "I didn’t sign any contract."

In fall 2000, Mtagwa once fought three times over a 24-day period, winning just one bout. Parella saw the boxer’s potential, especially during a November 2002 fight at the Spectrum when Mtagwa lost in a controversial decision to Jose Reyes.

"He dropped Reyes twice and lost a split decision," Parella said. "I said, ‘no way the kid lost.’ After that fight, I worked the corner and decided I wanted to do something with him."

In 2002, Parella, who also served as Mtagwa’s cut man during fights, purchased his contract.

"First of all, [the previous manager] was putting me in fights I wasn’t ready for," Mtagwa said. "I am happy that Joe bought my contract."

Besides lining up championship bouts, Parella looks out for the fighter’s well being. When Mtagwa had an impacted wisdom tooth, Parella made sure the boxer saw a dentist and that the medical expenses were covered. The manager also supplies him with boxing equipment, helps cover membership dues to Joe Hand Boxing Gym, 7 Ritner St., as well as any trainer fees.

"I am going to do whatever it takes to keep this kid winning," Parella said.

Mtagwa is 4-2 since he signed with Parella, which includes a 2-0 mark this year.

Last October, he lost by majority decision to Agapito Sanchez. Three weeks before the fight, Mtagwa’s trainer died, which Parella said probably impacted the fight.

"I will take the responsibility for that loss," Parella said. "I should’ve pulled him out of the fight."

Tommy Barnes has stepped in as trainer and, all signs point to positive, as Mtagwa is wearing a championship title around his waist. More title shots and bigger paydays – important as Mtagwa sends a portion of his earnings to his family, which he hasn’t seen in five years, in Africa – could be on the horizon with Parella constantly working to find the right deal. One title win may be enough for a fighter, but Mtagwa has bigger ambitions.

"I want to win the world championship two or three times," he said.