▪️ Only 10 African countries took part in the Youth Olympic Qualification tournament in Bangkok, and this means fewer representation in this year’s Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal

March 23, 2026

With the Futures U19 Cup boxing tournament over, focus now turns to how many boxers from Africa will feature in the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13.

The International Olympic Committee in conjunction with World Boxing will forward the quotas of the boxers selected to respective National Olympic Committees provided the boxers were in the Bangkok tournament.

Only 10 African countries took part with Morocco topping the continent by finishing 12th overall on four bronzes and therefore likely to get more quotas than any other country in Africa since the overall performance will be the criteria for a ticket to Dakar.

While Senegal sneaked to the semis and won a bronze through Mariame Sow at middleweight, their disastrous performance cannot be overlooked.

The West Africans were represented by 15 boxers – 8 male and 7 female – but none of them won a single fight. It will therefore be interesting to see their quota numbe for the Games they’re hosting.

North African countries are likely to get more quotas than the Sub-Saharan African countries because they did better with 10 boxers in the quarter-finals and four in the semis. Kenya’s Sonia Atieno and Senegal’s Soda Faye, both 65 kg, were the only boxers from Sub-Saharan Africa in the quarters.

It’s a cut-throat competition on the road to Dakar given that only 120 boxers – 60 male and 60 female – in five weight categories each for male and female boxers, will take part in the Youth Olympics.

Africa have themselves to blame for being represented by a skeleton number of boxers yet over 15 countries have already been affiliated to World Boxing, the body now in charge of entering boxers for the Olympics.

The eligible boxers are those born between November 14, 2008 and December 31, 2009.

Boxers from Europe, Asia and USA are likely to get a big chunk of the quotas for doing well in the Bangkok tournament, the qualifier for the Youth Olympics.

Uzbekistan won the Futures U19 Cup followed by rivals Kazakhstan, USA, India, Ukraine and France in the top six.

▪️Economists suggest cities planning to host the Games should ensure they fit into a broader strategy to promote development that will outlive the Olympic festivities while others propose one city be made permanent host

The costs of hosting the Olympics have skyrocketed, while the economic benefits are far from clear. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are focusing on long-term infrastructure and cutting unnecessary costs, despite construction delays.

▪️The massive costs and dubious benefits associated with hosting the Olympic Games have led to criticism of the host city selection process.

▪️Many economists have called for reforms to the process, including reducing the cost of bidding and encouraging cities to develop more sustainable development strategies.

▪️Organizers have sought to break the streak of financial strain. The 2024 Paris Olympics was the cheapest in decades, and the 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first to be cohosted by two cities.

▪️Observers have also criticized the IOC for not sharing more of the fast growing revenue generated by the Games.

When did the costs of hosting the Games become a concern?

What costs do cities incur for hosting the Games?

How do the benefits compare to the costs?

How did the pandemic affect the cost of the Tokyo Games?

Is the total spending for hosting the Olympics going down?

How could the Olympics be made more manageable?

The Olympics have evolved dramatically since the first modern Games were held in 1896. In the second half of the twentieth century, both the costs of hosting and the revenue produced by the spectacle grew rapidly, sparking controversy over the burdens host countries shouldered. A growing number of economists argue that the benefits of hosting the Games are at best exaggerated and at worst nonexistent, leaving many host countries with large debts and maintenance liabilities. These analysts suggest that Olympic committees reform the bidding and selection process to incentivize realistic budget planning, increase transparency, and promote sustainable investments that serve the public interest. Still, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its supporters contend that hosting can raise a city’s global profile and generate economic benefits through tourism and investments in infrastructure.

Recent Games have highlighted the ongoing debate over the costs and benefits of hosting such a mega-event. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics continued a decades-long streak of overrunning costs, which rose more than expected after an unprecedented delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With other former hosts still struggling with the debts they incurred, some candidate cities for future Games have withdrawn their bids or scaled down their plans. In response to these financial pressures, the IOC has sought to loosen restrictions and reduce the burden on host cities.

When did the costs of hosting the Games become a concern?

For much of the twentieth century, the staging of the Olympic Games was a manageable burden for host cities. The events were held in wealthy countries, either in Europe or the United States, and in the era before television broadcasting, hosts didn’t expect to make a profit. Instead, the Games were publicly funded, with these countries better positioned to bear the costs due to their larger economies and more advanced infrastructure.

The 1970s marked a turning point, writes economist Andrew Zimbalist, author of three books about Olympic economics. The Games were growing rapidly, with the number of Summer Olympics participants almost doubling from the early twentieth century and the number of events increasing by a third during the 1960s. But the killing of protesters by security forces ahead of the 1968 Mexico City Games and the Palestinian militant group known as the Black September Organization’s fatal terrorist assault on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Games tarnished the image of the Olympics, and public skepticism of taking on debt to host the Games grew. In 1972, Denver became the first and only chosen host city to reject the opportunity to host after voters passed a referendum refusing additional public spending for the Games. A 2024 University of Oxford study estimated that, since 1960, the average cost of hosting has been triple the bid price.

The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal came to symbolize the fiscal risks of hosting. The projected cost of $124 million was billions below the actual cost, largely due to construction delays and cost overruns for a new stadium, saddling the city’s taxpayers with some $1.5 billion in debt that took nearly three decades to pay off.

Los Angeles the first city in decades to turn a profit hosting the Olympics, finishing with a $215 million operating surplus.

Los Angeles was the only city to bid for the 1984 Summer Olympics, allowing it to negotiate exceptionally favorable terms with the IOC. Most importantly, Los Angeles was able to rely almost entirely on existing stadiums and infrastructure rather than promise lavish new facilities to entice the IOC. That, combined with a sharp jump in television broadcast revenue, made Los Angeles the first city in decades to turn a profit hosting the Olympics, finishing with a $215 million operating surplus.

Los Angeles’ success led to a rising number of cities bidding—from two for the 1988 Games to twelve for the 2004 Games. This allowed the IOC to choose the cities with the most ambitious—and expensive—plans. In addition, as researchers Robert Baade and Victor Matheson point out, bidding by developing countries more than tripled after 1988. Countries such as China, Brazil, and Russia have been eager to use the Games to demonstrate their progress on the world stage.

However, these countries invested massive sums to create the necessary infrastructure. Costs spiraled to more than $50 billion for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, $20 billion for 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and a reported $39 billion for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, according to Business Insider’s estimate. (China said the Games cost just $4 billion.)

These costs have led some cities to withdraw their bids for upcoming Games . In 2019, the IOC adopted a process to make bidding less expensive, extending the bidding period and broadening the geographic requirements to allow multiple cities, states, or countries to co-host. But this has not yet translated into more bidders. In 2021, Brisbane, Australia—the 2032 Summer Games’ host—became the first city to win an Olympic bid unopposed since Los Angeles in 1984.

To mitigate costs and support the creation of new facilities, the IOC has begun hosting Olympic Games across multiple cities within a host country, allowing greater use of existing facilities and housing. This year’s Winter 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy—known as the Milano Cortina 2026 Games—will mark the first-ever Olympics to be cohosted by two cities. The Games will also reuse materials from the Paris Olympics two years prior, including medical equipment.

What costs do cities incur for hosting the Games?

Cities invest millions of dollars in evaluating, preparing, and submitting a bid to the IOC. The cost of planning, hiring consultants, organizing events, and the necessary travel consistently falls between $50 million and $100 million. Tokyo spent as much as $150 million on its failed 2016 bid, and about half that much for its successful 2020 bid, while Toronto decided it could not afford the $60 million it would have needed for a 2024 bid.

Once a city is chosen to host, it has around a decade to prepare for the influx of athletes and tourists. The Summer Games are far larger, attracting hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists to watch more than ten thousand athletes compete in about three hundred events, compared with under three thousand athletes competing in about one hundred events during the Winter Games. The most immediate need is the creation or upgrading of highly specialized sports facilities such as cycling tracks and ski-jumping arenas, the Olympic Village, and a venue large enough to host the opening and closing ceremonies.

Tokyo spent as much as $150 million on its failed 2016 bid, and Toronto decided it couldn’t afford its 2024 bid.

There is also usually the need for more general infrastructure, especially housing and transportation. The IOC requires cities hosting the Summer Games to have a minimum of forty thousand available hotel rooms, which in Rio’s case necessitated the construction of fifteen thousand new hotel rooms. Roads, train lines, and airports also need to be upgraded or constructed.

Altogether, these infrastructure costs range from $5 billion to more than $50 billion. Many countries justify such expenditures in the hopes that the spending will outlive the Olympic Games. For instance, some 85 percent [PDF] of the 2014 Sochi Games’ more than $50 billion budget went to building non-sports infrastructure from scratch. More than half of the Beijing 2008 budget of $45 billion went to rail, roads, and airports, while nearly a fourth went to environmental clean-up efforts.

Operational costs make up a smaller but still significant chunk of hosts’ Olympics budgets. Security costs have escalated after the 9/11 attacks—Sydney spent $250 million in 2000 while Athens spent over $1.5 billion in 2004, and costs have remained between $1 billion and $2 billion since. (They were even higher during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, when Tokyo reportedly shelled out $2.8 billion for disease prevention alone.)

Almost all of the facilities built for the 2004 Athens Olympics, whose costs contributed to the Greek debt crisis, are now derelict.

Also problematic are so-called white elephants, or expensive facilities that, because of their size or specialized nature, have limited post-Olympics use. These often impose costs for years to come. Sydney’s Olympic stadium costs the city $30 million a year to maintain. Beijing’s famous “Bird’s Nest” stadium cost $460 million to build, requires $10 million a year to maintain, and sat mostly unused after the 2008 Games, until the city used it again to host the 2022 Winter Games. Almost all of the facilities built for the 2004 Athens Olympics, whose costs contributed to the Greek debt crisis, are now derelict. In Montreal, the Olympic stadium known as the Big O is frequently stylized as the “Big Owe” for its massive costs; in 2024, Quebec’s government said it would spend $870 million to replace the rarely used stadium’s roof for the third time, leading critics to push for its demolition.

Servicing the debt that is left over after hosting the Games can burden public budgets for decades

Economists say the Games’ so-called implicit costs must also be considered. These include the opportunity costs of public spending that could have been spent on other priorities. Servicing the debt that is left over after hosting the Games can burden public budgets for decades *. It took Montreal until 2006 to pay off the last of its debt from the 1976 Games, while Greece’s billions in Olympics debt helped bankrupt the country.

The debt and maintenance costs of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games will cost Russian taxpayers nearly $1 billion per year for the foreseeable future, experts estimate. But while some in Sochi see the unused stadiums and overbuilt facilities as a waste, other residents argue that the Games spurred spending on roads, water systems, and other public goods that wouldn’t have otherwise happened.

How do the benefits compare to the costs?

As the costs of hosting have skyrocketed, revenues cover only a fraction of expenditures. Beijing’s 2008 Summer Olympics generated $3.6 billion in revenue, compared with over $40 billion in costs, and Tokyo’s delayed Summer Games generated $5.8 billion in revenue and $13 billion in costs. What’s more, much of the revenue doesn’t go to the host—the IOC keeps more than half of all television revenue, typically the single largest chunk of money generated by the Games.

Impact studies carried out or commissioned by host governments before the Games often argue that hosting the event will provide a major economic lift by creating jobs, drawing tourists, and boosting overall economic output. However, research carried out after the Games shows that these purported benefits are dubious.

In a study of the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, for example, Matheson, along with economists Robert Baumann and Bryan Engelhardt, found a short-term boost [PDF] of seven thousand additional jobs—about one-tenth the number promised by officials—and no long-term increase in employment. As a study by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development explains, the jobs created by Olympics construction are often temporary, and unless the host region is suffering from high unemployment, the jobs mostly go to workers who are already employed, blunting the impact on the broader economy.

Economists have also found that the impact on tourism is mixed, as the security, crowding, and higher prices that the Olympics bring dissuade many visitors. Barcelona, which hosted in 1992, is cited as a tourism success story, rising from the eleventh to the sixth-most popular destination in Europe after the Summer Games there, and Sydney and Vancouver both saw slight increases in tourism after they hosted. But Baade and Matheson found that Beijing, London, and Salt Lake City all saw decreases in tourism during the years that they hosted the Games.

Economists have found that the Olympics’ impact on tourism is mixed, given the security, crowding, and higher prices.

In Brazil, the first South American country to host the Olympics, the cost of the 2016 Games exceeded $20 billion, with the city of Rio alone shouldering at least $13 billion. Challenged by the country’s deep recession, *Rio required a $900 million bailout from the federal government to cover the cost of policing the Olympics and was unable to pay all of its public employees.* The city also had to invest heavily in a broad range of infrastructure, which was meant to reinvigorate some of its struggling neighborhoods, yet in the aftermath most venues have been abandoned or barely used.

The 2024 Paris Olympics focused on updating widely used city infrastructure ahead of the Games, including cleaning the city’s famously polluted Seine River, which French officials claimed benefited the overall public. Yet the Games’ effect on the country’s economy was lower than anticipated. A national audit [PDF] found that the 2024 Games brought only a “modest” 0.07 percent increase to France’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). One study estimated that the 2026 Winter Olympics will bring [PDF] roughly $6.3 billion to Italy through tourism and immediate spending—a revenue that narrowly exceeds the Games’ anticipated budget of $6.2 billion. Still, Italy’s economy minister hopes that the Games will boost Italy’s stagnating GDP, and its government hopes to reap longer-term economic benefits from tourism and updates made to the country’s travel infrastructure.

Ultimately, there is little evidence for an overall positive economic impact. The National Bureau of Economic Research has published findings that hosting has a positive impact on a country’s international trade. But economists Stephen Billings and Scott Holladay found no long-term impact of hosting on a country’s GDP.

How did the pandemic affect the cost of the Tokyo Games?

The Games cost $13 billion to host, according to an independent Japanese _government agency, more than double what organizers had projected when Japan won hosting duties in 2013. However, the final cost was still less than half of what the same auditors predicted in 2019, and in line with the costs incurred by other recent summer hosts. (Economists say this figure excludes land and transportation costs, with the true total somewhere between $19–$34 billion.)

Costs ballooned in part because pandemic restrictions required the omission of spectators, eliminating an estimated $800 million in income from ticket sales and triggering hundreds of thousands of hotel cancellations. *The city also had to invest heavily in infrastructure, much of which has dubious long-term utility. Building new venues cost an estimated $3 billion, including $1.4 billion for a new National Stadium that sat empty during the Games. Tokyo privatized the stadium in April 2025, having sold the right to operate it for thirty years in return for just a quarter of its construction costs.

 Is the total spending for hosting the Olympics going down?

While the costs of hosting the Olympics has not seemed to significantly decline, recent host cities have sought to enact cost-saving measures, with support of the IOC. Paris budgeted about $8 billion for the 2024 Olympics when it won its bid in 2017. The French Court of Auditors, the country’s national audit body, estimated in a September 2025 report [PDF] that the French government had shouldered $7.85 billion for the Paris Games in total.

By these estimates, Paris hosted the cheapest Summer Games in decades, compared to the approximately $13 billion budget for the 2020 Tokyo Games and the more than $20 billion budget for the 2016 Rio Games. Organizers say the decision to rely almost entirely on existing venues in Paris and other French cities, such as those built for the annual French Open and the 2016 European Football Championship, helped keep costs low.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Games will be held across two Italian cities and mostly utilize existing venues. Its estimated total cost of $6.2 billion is one of the lowest price tags for an Olympic Games in recent decades. However, preparations to host were dogged with familiar obstacles. Several projects—including the construction of a new sliding center in Cortina and an ice hockey venue in Milan—ran over budget or faced delays. Still, the IOC has touted both the 2024 Paris and 2026 Milano Cortina Games as successes and examples of how the Olympics can be more sustainable.

How could the Olympics be made more manageable?

A consensus has grown among economists that the Olympic Games need reforms to make them more affordable for hosts. Many have pointed out that the IOC bidding process encourages wasteful spending by favoring potential hosts who present the most ambitious plans. This so-called winner’s curse means that over-inflated bids—often pushed by local construction and hospitality interests—consistently overshoot the actual value of hosting. Observers have also criticized the IOC for not sharing more of the fast growing revenue generated by the Games.

The massive costs and dubious benefits associated with hosting the Olympic Games have led to criticism of the host city selection process.

Many economists have called for reforms to the process, including reducing the cost of bidding and encouraging cities to develop more sustainable development strategies.

Organizers have sought to break the streak of financial strain. The 2024 Paris Olympics was the cheapest in decades, and the 2026 Winter Olympics will be the first to be co-hosted by two cities.

Corruption has also dogged the IOC selection process

Bribery scandals marred the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Games. In 2017, the head of Rio’s Olympic committee was charged with corruption for allegedly making payments to secure the Brazil Games, and allegations of illegal payments surfaced in the 2020 Tokyo selection.

In response, the IOC under former President Thomas Bach promoted reforms to the process, known as the Olympic Agenda 2020. These recommendations include reducing the cost of bidding, allowing hosts more flexibility in using already-existing sports facilities, encouraging bidders to develop a sustainability strategy, and increasing outside auditing and other transparency measures. It was succeeded by Olympic Agenda 2025+5 in 2021, after the IOC concluded that 88 percent of the Olympics Agenda 2020 was completed. The Olympic Agenda 2020+5 focused on issues such as sustainability and revenue generation in a post–COVID environment. Current IOC President Kristy Coventry has begun reviewing the process of selecting host cities—including a pause on deciding the 2036 Games host to examine how the bidding process can be more inclusive, transparent, and cost-effective.

Some think more drastic measures are necessary. Economists Baumann and Matheson argue that low- and middle-income countries should spare themselves the burden of hosting altogether and the IOC should instead “award the games to rich countries that are better able to absorb more of the costs.” Zimbalist, the Olympics cost hawk, has proposed that one city be made the permanent host, allowing for the reuse of expensive infrastructure. Barring that, many economists argue, any city planning to host should ensure that the Games fit into a broader strategy to promote development that will outlive the Olympic festivities.

A previous version of this article attributed the 1972 attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Games to Hezbollah.

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▪️The four boxers, Paul Omondi, Ellah Demesi, Clinton Omondi and Phelix Ochieng, exemplify resilience and perseverance, turning limited poorly equipped dark training spaces into platforms for national glory

▪️Kibra Youth Club top boxers appeal for sponsorship to enable them buy equipment, transport, and event hosting to achieve championship goals. Despite recent successes, the team needs urgent funding to participate in upcoming tournaments as well as starting income-generaring projects to sustain the club

March 22, 2026

Kibra Youth Boxing Club boxers, Paul “Pacman” Omondi, Ellah Demesi, Clinton “Canelo” Omondi and Phelix Ochieng, have shattered ill-equipped gyms stereotypes, transitioning from training in dimly-lit, makeshift slum gym at Kibra Youth Club to punch their way to Dubai, Bangkok and Angola.

These boxers exemplify resilience, turning limited, dark training spaces into platforms for national glory. Their journey shows unmatched dedication from Kibra’s slums to international arenas.

The man behind this amazing story of bold defience and grit is Kibra Youth Club founder and coach Edward Ogweno aka Dimbuts aka Mbutamtu.

He’s one of the most successful grassroots coaches in Kenya working quietly to produce Africa’s Emerging Stars under extremely difficult conditions in implementing the famed Ndondi Mashinani Initiative of the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK).

The big breakthrough for Ogweno came in 2025 when Paul Omondi represented Kenya in Africa Zone 3 tournament in Nairobi and Men’s World Championships with Demesi, Omondi and Ochieng together with Kisumu’s Sonia Atieno representing Kenya in the African Youth Games in Angola.

“I was overjoyed seeing my boxers travelling out of Kenya, I felt like it was me going to Dubai and Angola, and above all even flying before me,” quipped Ogweno when he spoke to boxersworld.co.ke as his boxers huffed and puffed at the subdued gym with limited facilities in Kibra, reputed to be Africa’s largest informal settlement.

While the four boxers may have trained in a gym with limited facilities, they showed that they have unlimited ambition by fighting their way to Dubai and Angola.

First was Omondi who made Kibra Youth Club proud, winning a bronze medal in the Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi. It was Omondi’s maiden appearance for the national boxing team.

Omondi got a bye to the semi-finals in the featherweight berth, losing to the more experienced Ugandan Kassim Murungi, the eventual gold medallist.

From the dusty, narrow alleys and vibrant streets of Kibra, the young boxers, driven by hunger for success rather than food, took their slumdog warrior spirit from Nairobi to the world, exporting intense energy to Dubai and Angola. That was a massive leap for Omondi Pacman, Demesi, Clinton Omondi and Ochieng, rising from zonal and local to world and continental competitions.

And they did not disappoint with Omondi Pacman making a successful debut in Men’s World Championships by winning his first fight. The Kibra Youth slugger beat Libya’s Alhed Al-Koum in the round of 32 and lost to 2022 Africa champion, Armando Sigauque of Mozambique in the round of 16. Winning his first fight in his World Championships debut was a remarkable achievement for Omondi. As if that was not enough, Omondi landed a job with the Kenya Police and is currently undergoing training at Kiganjo Police Training College.

In Angola, Clinton Omondi was one of the two Kenyan bronze medallists with Kisumu’s Sonia Atieno at lightweight and Omondi in the flyweight class.

Kenya’s coach John Ochieng aka Chea was full of praise for Omondi’s exemplary performance despite taking part in an international competition for the first time.

Omondi outpointed Namibia’s Kalenga Leevi in the quarter-finals to book a date with DR Congo’s Bofenda Mabela in the semi-finals. Initially he was supposed to fight in minimumweight category but it was not in the schedule so he moved up to flyweight.

“Omondi fought very well, I’m sure if he maintains it he will qualify for the finals,” Ochieng, the owner and head coach of Githurai Thailand Boxing Club in Nairobi, told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from Angola where he was forced to operate like a night runner, bathing late at night and praying that no player wakes up to do the same because the bathrooms had no doors.

The 2025 national novices and intermediate light-welterweight champion Sonia Atieno won Kenya’s first bronze medal after losing to Tunisia’s Alma Zaara in the semi-finals.

Omondi’s Kibra Youth Club compatriots, flyweight Ellah Demesi was beaten by Tunisia’s Oueslatim Tashmin and featherweight Phelix Ochieng lost to DR Congo’s Mambu Mambone.

“That was a very close fight, Phelix fought very well it could have gone either way,” said coach Ochieng.

Bronze medallist Omondi is happy with the performance of all his teammates from Kibra Youth Club in Angola.

“Wasee wa Malawi walijaribu kutuuzia uoga lakini tulikaa ngumu nikawashow natoka Kibich hard core mwenyewe toughie nikamchapa mtu wao. (The Malawians tried to scare us but I showed them I’m a toughie from Kibra and beat their man clean),” said Omondi

When they stepped into the ring they all knew they carried Kibra’s hopes. The “Slumdog Warriors” moved with the agility of the Nairobi breeze. Their training in the rough makeshift gym in Kibra meant they didn’t just fight; they survived, weaving through punches and delivering their own that felt like lightning bolts. They “roared” in Angola taking home pride and valuable experience that solidified their reputation as tough as nails with hearts of champions.

The stakes were higher in Bangkok for the Futures U19 tournament, featuring boxers from reputable boxing nations such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the USA.

Missing in action was Omondi who could not make it because he was underage. Ellah Demesi and Phelix Ochieng carried the hopes of Kibra Youth Club in the Asian country.

Ochieng was the first one in the ring, putting up a gutsy show against southpaw Doszhan Zhumakhan from Kazakhstan who was smarter, swift and accurate in delivery than the Kenyan in the lightweight encounter. The referee stopped the fight in the first round.

Southpaw Ellah was the most impressive among the four Kenyans in Bangkok. She fought with admirable courage in her flyweight bout against the points winner, Canada’s Mehreen Khakh. What the Kenyan lacked was more fire in her overall delivery and punch accuracy because of failing to find proper range in her attack.

The Bangkok tournament, attended by over 450 boxers from 78 nations, was a qualifier for the Youth Olympics scheduled for Dakar, Senegal, from October 31-November 13, 2026.

Despite the early exit of the Kenyan boxers, the tournament provided crucial international experience for the young team.

For Ochieng and Demesi, participating in the Bangkok event was a huge achievement in that they overcame immense challenges, training in an under-equipped iron-sheet gym to compete at the world stage.

“We all learned a lot in our Bangkok trip, our opponents are more exposed than us and better prepared, we will put all that we learned into practice in our next international assignment,” said 16-year-old Ellah, a Grade 10 student at Shadrack Kimalel School. She was influenced by her younger brother Ramsey Wahu to join boxing.

“My younger brother went to watch a boxing match just here in Kibra, when he returned home he told me to give it a try and when I tried I was hooked,” recalls Demesi.

Kibra Youth Club coach Ogweno is satisfied by the performance of his four boxers in Dubai, Bangkok and Angola.

What inspires Ogweno to train the youngsters at his club without any payment?

“I’m inspired to give back to the community because I was a boxer myself, and having lived in Kibra for a long time I know the place very well,” said Ogweno.

“Most important as a coach I wanted to keep away the boxers from drug abuse, bad company and early marriages plus instil discipline in them. It’s not easy being a coach in the slums because the boxers face many challenges, therefore I do more than coaching at times playing the role of a father to advice them and tackle the problems they face from home and their personal issues.”

As a boxer, Ogweno got into the sport in 1988 after dropping out of school. Over to Ogweno for his own story in boxing.

“My first coach was Elias Gabiraari of Kibra Olympics Boxing Club. That was my first club, my second club was Railway Training School where I participated in KECOSO Games in 1992, then I moved to Kenya Prisons where I took part in the novices and intermediate in 1993 in Ndenderu, Kiambu County, then I joined Langata Barracks as civilian. In 1993 and 1994 I trained with the AFABA team from there I stopped boxing. I got job in Industrial Area working in a plastic company known by the name General Plastic. I worked for 13 years then I terminated the work, and turned to coaching.”

Ogweno established Kibra Youth Boxing Club in October, 2023. It’s an offshoot of Kibera Olympics Club handled by the renowned coach in Kibra, Hassan Salim, who has been instrumental in training notable boxers, among them Amina Martha. She began her career under his guidance in 2018. Amina made history at the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana, winning bantamweight bronze to become the first ever Kenyan female boxer to win a medal in the African Games.

Coach Hassan is a glutton during training, pushing boxers to the brim and is known for his strict training regimens, often quoted as saying, “If you work hard in training, the fight will be easier,”

Hassan was with Ogweno at Kibra Olympics but owing to the large number of boxers, they agreed to split into two, and that’s how Kibra Youth Club was born.

“Right now in Kibra Youth Club I have about 60 boxers very determined to climb the ladder,” Ogweno told boxersworld.co.ke. “Some have returned to boxing inspired by the success of Paul Omondi and the youth boxers.”

The success of Omondi Pacman is a testament on how boxing is transforming the lives of youth in Kibra.

Boxing has provided a powerful alternative to crime, drug abuse and poverty while creating pathways to international fame and employment for the youth.

Through boxing the youth have also been able to fly out of the country.

Coach Ogweno is honest on whether he has ever flown within or outside Kenya.

“To be very honest I’ve never seen the inside of a place let alone flying, so I’m happy for my boxers flying before me. That’s my joy.”

Ogweno is one of the grassroots coaches spearheading BFK’s Ndondi Mashinani Initiative.

To empower the coaches, the national federation has organized several national and Star 1&2 courses, and Ogweno is one of the beneficiaries.

“I thank BFK for giving me an opportunity to attend a national course in 2023 and Star-1 course in December 2024 to January 2025, I passed with flying colours. I appreciate the IBA for their good job,” said the Star-1 Ogweno who is addicted to eating “mbuta” fish hence the nickname Mbutamtu.

“With this knowledge we have gained we are now able to implement the Ndondi Mashinani program professionally.”

One of the challenges facing grassroots coaches is lack of equipment and some promising boxers quitting boxing prematurely owing to limited employment opportunities.

The only reliable employers currently are Kenya Defence Forces, Police and Kenya Prisons with KDF leading the way.

“We are grateful to KDF, Police and Prisons for employing some boxers but it’s not possible for them to employ all boxers,” notes Ogweno.

“Some of my good boxers like Boni have quit boxing for boda boda (motorbike) business to make ends meet, and put food on the table for their families.”

Contacted, Boni, whose full name is Boniface Mose Morara confirmed he left boxing in 2024 because he wanted to make money to feed his young family.

“There’s no money we earn in our boxing, when a boxer reaches the stage of settling down with a family it’s difficult to continue boxing for nothing,” said Boni, adding:”If we had several prize money tournaments that will sustain us, we box in the league but there’s nothing we get, that’s why I had to start boda boda business at least now I can feed my family.”

Boni explained he didn’t permanently quit boxing, and that he’s planning a comeback once he has stabilised financially.

“I’m appealing to sponsors to support Kibra Youth Club, they can even start a cyber business for boxers to make an income,” said Boni who was a thorn in the flesh to his opponents in the light-welterweight class. Among his victims include KDF’s Washington Wandera.

▪️This will be Moreira’s fourth fight as a pro boxer and she’s confident of dethroning the UK-based boxer of Ghanaian descent

March 20, 2026

Cape Verde’s most decorated female boxer Ivanusa Moreira returns to the ring on April 10, 2026, in Accra to challenge Ghana’s UK-based Sedem Ama for her WBA Africa super-welterweight title.

Moreira shared the fight poster with boxersworld.co.ke indicating the eight-round title fight will take place at the Bukom Arena in Accra, Ghana.

Based in Porto with her husband Jorge Silva, Moreira is one of the growing number of boxers who have decided to combine pro and amateur boxing.

A gold medallist at the 2023 Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon, Moreira is confident of overcoming Ama to fulfill her ambition of fighting in Las Vegas, widely considered the boxing capital of the world or the “Mecca of Boxing,” particularly since the 1980s, serving as the premier destination for major high-stakes fights.

“This is my passport to Las Vegas and I will not miss this opportunity,” Moreira told me in a telephone interview from Porto where she is preparing for the fight under her coach, manager and husband, Jorge Silva.

“I am an African champion, I am an Olympic athlete more experienced than her. I am going to beat her infront of her home fans.

“Yes I will fight at her house but that does not intimidate me. I have Cape Verde, Portugal and thousands of fans around the world backing me.”

“I will train hard for the fight, and spend what I have to prepare myself 100%.”

On why she turned professional, Moreira said it’s a normal phase for any boxer.

“I went to professional because they are the phases of every athlete to go through. I will continue in Olympic boxing until I am 40 years old.”

Moreira is one of the top boxers expected to grace this year’s $1000,000 IBA Africa Men’s and Women’s Championships. The eagerly awaited tournament is expected to draw a full house.

The polished Moreira burst into the limelight at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, winning a bronze medal.

At the 2022 World Championships she missed the medal bracket by a whisker, losing in the quarter-finals to Canada’s Charlie Cavanagh, the eventual silver medallist.

The following year she won her first gold medal in the Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon, outpointing Morocco’s Oumayma Bel Ahbib.

Moreira was on her way to her second gold medal in the inaugural Mandela African Boxing Cup in Durban, South Africa but lost on points in the finals to DR Congo’s Brigitte Mbabi in 2024.

She made her debut in the Olympics in Paris 2024, losing in the round of 16 to Belgium’s Oshin Derieuw.

An ambassador for the Gender Equality in Sport campaign, Moreira’s ambition to win a medal in the World Championships in 2025 was thwarted by Kazakhstan’s Zhasmin Kizatova who defeated her in the round of 16.

Unbeaten in three fights as a pro boxer, Moreira last fought in 2025, defeating Katerina Lisova of Czech Republic.

Sedem Ama is a former national amateur champion who won the WBA Africa female super welterweight title in December 2025. An undefeated fighter (5-0, 1 KO), she is known for her background in PR and her transition from the corporate world to professional boxing.

She is a UK-based fighter of Ghanaian descent, formerly a two-time national amateur boxing champion.

On December 20, 2025, she fought at the Legon Sports Stadium in Accra, defeating Nigerian boxer Chiamaka Nwaturuocha by majority decision to win the WBA Africa Super Welterweight title.

In addition to boxing, she has a background in the corporate sector and worked in public relations.

She was named the “Unrivalled Diasporan Rising Star of the Year 2025” for her impact on female boxing in Ghana.

Her fight against Chiamaka was considered one of the biggest female boxing matches in Ghana, organized by Legacy Rise Sports Promotions.

▪️As the tournament – being held in a league format – enters the second week, the Hilltop Hotel is fuelling the rapid growth of Rwanda boxing under the vibrant leadership of President Bashir Ntwari

March 19, 2026

Kigali, usually serene and sun-kissed, has become a cauldron of intensive exchange of punches as elite boxers seek individual and club glory in the national championships.

Sunday afternoon isn’t for resting anymore for avid boxing fans; it’s for The Ring. Under the roof of the Hilltop Hotel, the air is heavy—not with moisture, but boxers’ adrenaline running fast, some rushing to the rest room for that final crucial release before stepping into the ring.

Eight top-tier clubs have unleashed 48 boxers, transforming the venue into a mesmerizing theatre of pain and passion.

In addition to national glory, the boxers are fighting hard to earn points for their clubs in the tournament which is being staged in a league format.

The big question remains: which club will emerge victorious?

Rwanda is on fire! It’s a new era in the country’s boxing development. The canvas is bright, the ropes are tight, and the crowd—a mix of eager locals, boxers and passionate
coaches are roaring. Every punch landed echoes with the sound of “Ndayatsinze!” (I am winning!).

It’s raw speed versus strategic brutality. Young lions, eager to make a name for themselves in this new chapter of Rwandan boxing. They are trading lightning jabs, turning the ring into a frantic dance of dodging and weaving. The intensity is relentless.

Supported by Rafiki Sports, this isn’t just a tournament; it’s a Fight For Glory. The championship is turning the spotlight on Rwandan fighters, demanding discipline and showcasing the true, indomitable spirit of Rwanda’s boxing scene.

As the championships unfold, the Hilltop Hotel isn’t just hosting a fight; it’s fueling the evolution of a nation’s boxing destiny, one punch at a time. The battle is just beginning, and the future of Rwanda boxing looks exceptionally bright. Fists will explode again on Sunday in Week Two of action in the league-cum-national championships. Don’t miss the mouth-watering fights.

To add more spice and flavour, Rwandan boxers who took part in the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi and World Championships in Dubai, are also in the mix to demonstrate new techniques they’ve learned on the international scene. Upsets cannot be ruled as upcoming boxers aim to upstage the regulars.

Focusing on the internationals, there’s Rwanda’s first ever boxer to win at the World Championships, welterweight Niyonzima Pacific, two bronze medallists in the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships,
Iranezeza Aime and lightweight Murenzi Hassan, bantamweight Ntabanganyimana Valantin, Mugenga Innocent and Ndayishimie Patrick.

In one of the highlights, Ndayishimie – among the boxers who took part in Zone 3 Championships – outpointed Mugenga Innocent in a thrilling middleweight fight.

The participating clubs are Isata, Nyamirambo, Inkuba, Bodymax, Kimisagara, Amahoro, Kigali BC and The Real BC.

Boxing ⁠matches will take place every Sunday with a total of 48 boxers from eight clubs in seven weight categories.

Rwanda’s league-cum-national championships will last three months.
The seven weight categories are bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight, light-middleweight and middleweight.

Owing to the low number of female boxers in Rwanda, they’ve not been included in the tournament but the federation is working hard to ensure more female boxers join boxing.

The brains behind this exciting tournament is the new Rwanda Boxing Federation President, Bashir Ntwari, a former boxer in England who has injected a lot of vigour, freshness and professionalism in Rwanda boxing which is now experiencing a significant growth with more youngsters taking up the sport eager to represent the national team.

Action in the league-cum-national championships resumes on Sunday, March 22, 2026 with each boxer eager to earn points for their clubs and national glory. See you at Hilltop Hotel.

▪️While the Centralised Operations Model shifts operational and financial authority to IBA HQ, Continental Units remain an important part of the structure. They serve as the regional link between the IBA and National Federations, ensuring that every continent stays actively engaged in the sport’s development.

March 18th, 2026

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has taken a decisive step toward modernizing global boxing governance through the launch of its Centralised Operations Model. This strategic framework unifies operations, enhances transparency, and ensures equitable opportunities for all National Federations (NFs), athletes, and stakeholders worldwide.

The Centralised Operations Model is not merely a structural adjustment; it is a forward-looking strategy designed to address historical challenges, create clear operational standards, and position boxing as a professional, globally credible sport.

Whilst the initial document was launched on the 27th February for all National Federations, a reminder on why the policy has been implemented may help some of those already posed questions.

Why This Policy Was Necessary

For decades, boxing operated through independent continental confederations, each managing governance, events, and finances regionally. While this system allowed autonomy, it created critical limitations:

▪️Inconsistent regulations across continents, impacting athletes’ fairness and competition standards

▪️Fragmented decision-making and slow implementation of key initiatives

▪️Unequal access to resources and development programs for developing federations

▪️Fiscal transparency in financial management, resource allocation, and procurement

▪️Political conflicts and operational inefficiencies, undermining the sport’s credibility

These challenges necessitated a unified, professional, and globally accountable framework to strengthen boxing’s governance and ensure sustainable growth.

Purpose and Strategic Objectives

The Centralised Operations Model was designed with a clear set of objectives:

▪️Unify governance under one global structure for consistency, accountability, and clear oversight.

▪️Streamline operations and accelerate decision-making across all continents

▪️Enhance financial transparency through centralised budgeting and controlled allocation

▪️Guarantee equal opportunities and structured support for all National Federations and athletes

▪️Promote professional, high-standard competitions worldwide

▪️Support integrity, development, and capacity building for officials, coaches, and athletes.

By centralising operations, IBA ensures that every stakeholder from the most established federation to emerging boxing nations has equitable access to development, competition, and resources.

Key Features of the Centralised Operations Models

The model’s success relies on six core pillars:

Unified Governance: One clear operational structure under IBA HQ for consistent rules, decision-making, and accountability.

Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes improve coordination and responsiveness.

Financial Oversight: Centralised budgeting ensures fairness and trust.

Equal Support for National Federations: Standardized programs provide professional guidance and resources.

High-Standard Event Management: Uniform standards for competitions, officiating, and event delivery.

Development & Integrity: Strengthened training, compliance, and monitoring programs maintain global standards.

How the Model Works

At the center of the new framework is the IBA Continental Operations Desk (IBA COD), which manages global activities in collaboration with specialized departments:

International Relations: Supports National Federation engagement, governance, and strategic programs.

Sports: Oversees competitions, rankings, and technical event operations.

Development: Implements referee, judge, and coaching programs to elevate standards globally.

Legal: Ensures compliance, handles eligibility, and oversees contractual matters.

Communications & PR: Manages media, promotion, and stakeholder engagement to enhance the sport’s profile.

Continental Units continue to operate as regional representatives, led by Continental Unit Presidents, whose roles focus on promotion, communication, and support. Operational and financial authority, however, now rests exclusively with IBA HQ.

Role of Continental Units

While the Centralised Operations Model shifts operational and financial authority to IBA HQ, Continental Units remain an important part of the structure. They serve as the regional link between the IBA and National Federations, ensuring that every continent stays actively engaged in the sport’s development.

Key functions of Continental Units include:

Representation: The Continental Unit President acts as the official voice of the continent within the global boxing community

Communication: Facilitates smooth interaction between IBA HQ and National Federations, ensuring clear guidance and support

Promotion & Development: Supports the growth of boxing locally, helping organize programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns

Implementation Support: Assists in rolling out IBA initiatives, competitions, and development projects across the continent

Regional Coordination: IBA staff help coordinate events, training, and programs in line with IBA standards

Although they no longer control finances, regulations, or competitions independently, Continental Units are vital partners, connecting local stakeholders to the global framework and helping ensure the success of IBA’s centralised vision.

Financial Centralisation and Equity

One of the most significant reforms is financial centralisation:

Unified global budget managed directly by IBA HQ

Transparent allocation based on clear criteria

Centralized procurement and resource management

This ensures fairness, accountability, and sustainable development, particularly benefiting emerging boxing nations previously disadvantaged by regional disparities.

Opportunities for National Federations and Athletes

The policy creates tangible benefits and growth pathways:

Direct access to IBA departments for guidance and support

Standardized competition schedules and development programs

Equal opportunity for participation in global events

Training, certification, and capacity-building programs for officials, coaches, and athletes

Strengthened visibility within the international boxing community

By addressing inefficiencies of the past, IBA guarantees a level playing field and positions all federations for sustainable growth.

Strategic Vision: Boxing Aligned with Modern Governance

The Centralised Operations Model signals IBA’s commitment to professional, fair, and transparent governance. It provides:

▪️A unified operational system aligning boxing with international sports standards

▪️A transparent, accountable financial model ensuring equitable resource distribution

▪️A structured, professional support system for all federations and stakeholders

Sustainable, globally coordinated growth for the sport, ensuring boxing thrives for generations

This reform not only strengthens boxing’s credibility but also demonstrates IBA’s leadership and commitment to innovation, integrity, and excellence in international sport.

With the Centralised Operations Model, IBA leads boxing into a new era, fair, professional, and united, where every federation, athlete, and stakeholder has the chance to grow, compete, and succeed on a truly global stage.

The IBA Policy on Centralised Operations of Continental Units can be found here.

Courtesy IBA

▪️ The Zone 3 featherweight champion is now aiming for her second gold in the 2026 African Elite Championships with a total of $1000,000 prize money at stake 

March 17, 2026

In the heart of Uganda’s flourishing boxing scene, a breath of fresh air has arrived in the form of Fatuma “The Thunder” Nabikolo, a charismatic and stylish featherweight boxer who is redefining the image of African women in the ring.

Known for her technical brilliance and sparkling charisma, the talented Fatuma, a product of Kololo High Boxing Club, has rapidly transformed from a local school champion and national heroine to a leading continental contender.

After her sterling show in the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi, winning featherweight gold, Fatuma is now aiming to add another gold medal in the 2026 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships.

With her combination of brilliant technical ability and undeniable style, Fatuma is not just winning titles but she’s also stealing hearts, bringing a breath of freshness in the women’s game. She does not just walk into the ring; she owns it.

A darling of boxing fans with her infectious personality, tactical precision and pre-fight persona, Fatuma embodies a new generation of Ugandan boxers aiming to dominate the continent. She’s on a relentless unstoppable rise to the top, itching to stamp her authority in the 2026 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships.

“I’m really looking forward to the African tournament to prove I’m the best, I don’t fear any opponent,” Fatuma told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.

“I want to win my second gold medal, I hope IBA Africa will soon announce the venue and the dates of the event so that I programme myself better.”

Fatuma thundered her way into the international limelight with a bronze medal at the 2024 Mandela African Boxing Cup Championships in Durban, South Africa. It was her debut appearance for the national team.

A scintillating show in the finals of the 2025 Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi earned Fatuma her first gold medal, scoring a 5-0 points victory over DR Congo’s Phoba Kerene.

Inspired by her classic performance in Nairobi, Fatuma landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bubbling with confidence for the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games.

Putting aside the stiff competition ahead, Fatuma was optimistic of winning her second gold medal.

“I so psyched up in Riyadh, I knew none could handle me there,” says Fatuma.

Her big appetite for gold in Riyadh turned out to be a big disappointment. Together with her teammate Angel Katushabe, the duo were denied participation by the organisers owing to lack of mandatory genetic sex tests certificates, a new requirement by World Boxing to determine gender eligibility.

“I was so pissed off but just like a punch in boxing I absorbed the pain and moved on,” recalls Fatuma.

Looking ahead to the Africa Championships, the prominent featherweights to worry Fatuma is Tunisia’s Olympian and 2019 African Games gold medallist Kholouloud Hlimi of Tunisia if she’s in the mix and Botswana’s twice Africa champion Keamogetse Kenosi who is understood to have resumed training after taking a long break from boxing.

DR Congo’s 2017 and 2023 Africa featherweight/lightweight champion, Marcelat Sakobi, is now campaigning as a pro in Belgium but nothing stops her from competing since pros are now allowed in amateur boxing.

Fatuma also keeps herself abreast with African boxing leadership. She’s so happy DR Congo’s federation boss Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo is the President of the newly-created IBA Africa.

“I’m really thrilled to see General Luyoyo is leading IBA Africa, since we know him as a good leader. I’m expecting more prize money tournaments in Africa,” says Fatuma, adding: “We saw what he did in Tunisia pro boxing card, I know he will improve our lives with prize money tournaments just like IBA are doing.

“We boxers appreciate IBA’s efforts to empower us financially through the prize money.

“This is what we boxers want not just fighting for nothing, the world has changed. Now I know if I win gold in the Africa Championships I’m assured of earning some money. When I play and I win a gold medal, I expect good money, we’re are no longer wasting time playing without anything. Long live INTERNATIONAL BOXING ASSOCIATION. AM PROUD OF THESE TOURNAMENTS. I’m confident I’ll win a gold medal in the Africa tournament and also improve my boxing record.”

For her workouts, you’ll find Fatuma at KBC Gym in town and MASCO Gym in Mulago.

Fatuma further narrates her weekly training schedule and what time she wakes up.

“I wake up at 8am and say my prayers, then proceed to the gym. I do train daily from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm.

“I do road work thrice a week, and that is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, those are the days I don’t do sparring. And I usually do road work in the morning.

“I do have challenges but I no longer focus on them because there’s no way I can be great without challenges.

“So I turn the challenges into my inspiration, I train hard to overcome them so that I can be great.

“I have different sparring partners like Sandra she’s a professional boxer.

“I intend to keep on winning my Champions League matches to remain in shape for international tournaments.”

Who’s her toughest opponent in Uganda now? I ask Fatuma.

“In Uganda, no one is my fierce rival rather it’s me that they fear.”

On her loss in the Champions League to Najjembe Nadia, Fatuma says: “I fought Nadia sometime back, I won the fight but she was given the verdict, that’s when I was boxing as a bantamweight

“In our second match I beat Nadia clean, there was no way of robbing my fight since it was a 5-0 victory.”

All Fatuma wants now is build-up matches against tougher opponents to prepare thoroughly for the African Elite Championships..

Her parting shot? “I train hard and win easy, if a boxer doesn’t train well, he or she is praparing for failure.”

▪️Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lethabo Modukanele named Best Boxer

March 17, 2026

Diamond Boxing Club has been crowned champions of the Best of the Best Boxing Championship 2026 following a dominant performance at Tlokweng College of Education.

The club, guided by head coach Thuso Khubamang, who was named Best Coach of the Tournament, displayed a well-balanced team across both men’s and women’s bouts to secure the championship title.

🏆 Final Team Standings

🥇 Diamond Boxing Club

🥈 125 Boxing Club

🥉 Francistown Boxing Club

4️⃣ Titans Boxing Stable

🥊 Individual Awards

Best Coach: Thuso Khubamang (Diamond Boxing Club)

Best Bout (Men):

Katlo Jonas (SSKB) vs George Molwanta (Police) – Bout 34

Best Boxer (Men):

Treasure Moremi – Francistown Boxing Club

Best Bout (Women):

Mokoduwe (Diamond) vs Lethabo Modukanele (Titans) – Bout 32

Best Boxer (Women):

Lethabo Modukanele – Titans Boxing Stable

Most Promising Boxer (Women):

Precious Masaba – RBBH Selibe Phikwe

Most Promising Boxer (Men):

Katlo Jonas – SSKB

⚖️ Technical & Administrative Awards

Best Referee: Hlanganani Digwere

Best Judge: Fraiser Mothibedi

Best Team Administrator: Kabelo Mogolodi (Prisons Boxing Club)

Best Branded Team: Titans Boxing Stable

The championship highlighted the growing depth of boxing talent in Botswana and reaffirmed Botswana Boxing Association’s commitment to developing competitive boxing across the country. 🇧🇼

▪️They however remain staunch members of the authoritative International Boxing Association which allows dual membership

March 17, 2026

National Federations of Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania are among the 15 new members whose applications were endorsed by World Boxing’s Executive Board on December 16, 2026.

As “Endorsed Members,” these countries are eligible to compete in World Boxing competitions, although they do not hold voting rights at the 2026 Congress.

This follows intense regional activity, with Mozambique hosting the Africa Zone 4 Championships in 2025 and intense competition for positions to the 2028 Olympics.

The move aligns these nations with World Boxing’s mission to maintain boxing’s Olympic status.

World Boxing has expanded rapidly to over 150 member federations.

Over 15 African countries have joined WB with most of them becoming members to enable their boxers take part in the Olympic Games boxing qualifiers.

•  Uzbekistan’s national junior boxing team emerged victorious at the international Futures Cup, held from 8 to 15 March in Bangkok.

16/03/2026

The Uzbek team secured 4 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals, earning first place in the overall team standings. Kazakhstan finished second, while the United States claimed third place.

Gold medal winners included Sardorbek Bakhromkhodzhaev (-85 kg), Asadbek Sultonboev (-90 kg), Islam Salikhov (+90 kg), and Rushanabonu Isoeva (-60 kg).

Silver medals were awarded to Sukhrob Rakhmatullaev (-75 kg), Nazokat Mardonova (-51 kg), Sevare Mamatova (-65 kg), Samira Turgunova (-75 kg), and Asala Bakhtyorova (-80 kg). Bronze medals went to Abdugani Yorqinjonov (-50 kg) and Nilufarkhon Abdukhoshimova (+80 kg).

These strong results earned Uzbekistan the title of “Best Team of the Tournament.”

Courtesy uzdaily.com

FUTURES CUP BOXING U19 FINAL MEDALS TABLE, MARCH 8-15, 2026