▪️Overall the soldiers lead with 95 points while rivals Police have 67
▪️Sombea take over from Nakuru ABC as the top club in the Rift Valley
▪️Ben Juma beats Kombo Mwinyi in Fight of the Day to maintain his unbeaten run
▪️Rampant KDF’s flyweight landlord Kelvin Maina “evicts” all his tenants
▪️Kibra Youth products Paul Omondi, Steve Ali Kiba and Douglas Omondi shine in Kisumu
▪️KDF women’s team on course to winning the league

November 15, 2026

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tightened their iron grip on the Kenya National Boxing League after powering to victory in the fourth leg in Kisumu on November 14, 2026, extending their dominant streak to three consecutive leg triumphs.

In a familiar script at the top of the table, the soldiers (23 points) once again relegated their perennial arch-rivals and defending champions Kenya Police Service (17) to the familiar second position. The victory reinforces KDF’s supremacy in the disciplined forces rivalry as the 2026 championship enters its decisive final stretch.

Overall, KDF have extended their lead to 95 points, a 22-point gap ahead of Police on 67. The cops will need a miracle to dislodge KDF in the final leg in Nanyuki early December.

KDF mens team won the Kisumu leg with 23 points followed by Police 17, Prisons 11, Sombea 9, Summit 5, Meru and Nairobi jointly sixth on 4 points, Kasarani and G44 seventh with 3 points each, Mombasa and Homabay eighth 2 points each, Mbaraki, Kibra Olympics, Kisumu and Trans Nzoia ninth with one point each. Laikipia, Dallas, Molo and Kajiado fired blanks with no points gained.

Not to be outshone by their men’s team, the KDF women were on top of their game winning the fourth leg with 13 points. Corporal Veronica Mbithe, Tracy Mueni, Cynthia Mwai and Friza Asiko steered them to dizzy heights, virtually winning the overall title with one leg remaining in Nanyuki. The women have increased their overall tally to 32 points after the 13-points win in Kisumu followed by Nairobi and Summit on seven points each, Police, Kentrack and Mombasa third each with three points while Kasarani, Sombea and Trans Nzoia placed fourth jointly on two points each while wooden spoonists Kisumu County finished without a point at home. Shame on them.

While the military juggernaut rolled on at the summit, Nakuru’s Sombea Boxing Club has emerged as the biggest story of the 45-year-old league. Formed only this year under the leadership of chairman Martin Luther Bwangah, the ambitious kitchen newcomers showed their claws by storming to a remarkable fourth-place finish on nine points and overall they’re placed third with 32, two points ahead of Prisons, once the giants of Kenya boxing in the 60s and 70s.

Sombea’s overall podium position cements their status as the current undisputed boxing rulers of the Rift Valley region relegating Nakuru ABC – once the doyens of boxing in the region – to the second place.

Ring Highlights: Thrillers and Upsets

The individual bouts delivered high drama, headlined by an explosive lightweight clash and a major upset against a continental champion:

Fight of the Day:

Sensational lightweight Ben Juma put on a super duper show to outpoint Mwinyi Kombo in a thrilling contest. Now boxing as a southpaw, Kombo displayed polished boxing sending Juma to the canvas in the second round for an eight count with his stinging left hook but the Kasarani Youth boxer recovered his poise to win 4-1 on points to remain unbeaten. The victory keeps Juma’s unblemished record intact as he continues his rise in the division.

Like Ben Juma, KDF’s world championships quarter-finalist, Robert Okaka aka Man Ngori, also maintained his unbeaten run to stop Sombea’s Oliver Omondi in the second round. The Sombea boxer was twice on his knees for eight counts, courtesy of Okaka’s digging body blows. It’s encouraging to see Man Ngori mastering hitting hard downstairs.

Okaka’s teammate, flyweight landlord Kelvin “Young” Maina was in sparkling form “evicting” all his tenants. He proved why he is the WB Africa and Africa Military Games flyweight champion.

In the final bout, Maina made easy work of Meru’s Morgan Baraka enroute to a 5-0 points win. He had earlier seen off Abdallah Juma, Morris Kimani and Douglas Omondi in tough fights in which he was fully stretched but the gutsy soldier had the last laugh.

Prisons’ international Alloys Vincent avenged his first leg defeat by Sombea’s national champion Ayub Waweru to win 3-2 at light-welterweight in a keenly and action-packed contest. Soon after the first bell, Waweru put Vincent on his guard with a relentless combinations but the Prisons boxer, despite visiting the canvas, remained calm opting to box rather than engaging in a slugging match with Waweru who’s more of a slugger than an outside boxer.

Major Upset:

In one of the biggest shocks of the leg, G44 Boxing Club’s rising giant killer Emmanuel Odhiambo snapped the unbeaten streak of Africa Military Games champion Dennis Muthama of KDF, signaling a bold changing of the guard at bantamweight. In the finals, Odhiambo unanimously outpointed Reuben Oketch of Kisumu’s Summit Club.

It was nice seeing Paul Omondi, Wiseman Kavondo and Caleb Wandera back in the league after completing their training at Police Training College in Kiganjo. While Omondi and Kavondo came out unscathed, Wandera was stopped in the second round by Ayub Waweru in the semi-finals with featherweight Omondi beating Sombea’s Erick Ondicho 5-0 and welterweight southpaw Kavondo stopping Homabay’s Fabregas Otieno in the first round in the finals.

KDF’s Mbotela-bred Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor maintained his dominance in the light-middleweight berth, beating Sombea’s Maxwell Michael on first round abandonment.

Reigning African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong’o once again proved he has no challenge in the middleweight division, unanimously outpointing Steve Onyango of Police.

There’s no respite for Police’s Cosby Ouma who will have to seriously rethink his boxing future. He was again beaten, this time by KDF’s Anthony Mwangi at cruiserweight on a 5-0 decision.

Hezron Maganga – son of the late international Fred “Sachi” Sabat – returned to the league defeating Prisons’ Isaac Omondi via first round abandonment.

In the opening women’s light-flyweight bout, WB Africa champion Grace Atieno outpointed Kasarani Youth’s Damacline Boyani 4-1 in a well balanced fight with Boyani giving her all but Atieno proved to be the better boxer. It’s the second time in a row Atieno has beaten Boyani.

Police’s international minimumweight Silas Onyango had little difficulty in hammering Prisons’ Steve Alikiba 5-0.

With momentum firmly on their side, KDF now look poised to regain the league crown in the season finale in Nanyuki, while upstarts like Sombea, Kasarani Youth and G44 have served notice that the established order is under serious threat but it will not be easy to break the stranglehold of KDF and Police at the top.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Emmanuel Odhiambo ends Dennis Muthama’s unbeaten run

▪️Birthday girl Akinyi thrills home fans ahead of her birthday on Saturday

▪️Corporal Mbithe forcefully responds with an emphatic 5-0 win over rival Lencer Akinyi to avenge Vihiga shocker and chalk up her seventh win over the Nairobi boxer

November 13, 2026

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) bantamweight star Dennis Muthama suffered a stunning 3-2 upset defeat to G44’s rising giant killer Emmanuel Odhiambo during the semi-finals of the fourth leg of the Kenya National Boxing League at the Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu on Friday, November 13, 2026

The loss brings a painful end to the Africa Military Games champion’s unbeaten streak this season.

For keen followers of the league, Odhiambo’s victory was a long time coming. He had previously announced his intent during the second leg in Mombasa, where he stood his ground and repeatedly shook Muthama before narrowly losing a 3-2 decision. With the rivalry now tied, their upcoming rematch in Nanyuki promises to be a thriller.

It was a rough outing overall for KDF, who were rattled early in the session when their minimumweight boxer, Abdi Mohammed, fell 4-1 to Prisons’ Ali Kiba. Kiba now advances to a tough final showdown against Kenya Police international Sylus Onyango, who punched his way through the other semi-final.

In the women’s division, African minimumweight champion Grace Atieno of Nairobi set up a final against her close friend and ring rival, Damacline Boyani, on Saturday, November 14. The southpaw Atieno wasted no time in her semi-final bout, stopping Sombea’s Rahma Mohammed in the very first round. Boyani punched her ticket to their second career final clash with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision over Mombasa’s Dora Mkacharo.

As Muthama digested his bitter defeat to Odhiambo, the lakeside city of Kisumu came alive with thunderous cheers and flying leather when African champion Juliet Akinyi delivered an early birthday gift to her home crowd, even as the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) women asserted their dominance in the fourth leg of the National Boxing League.

Fighting under the banner of local club Summit, Akinyi refused to disappoint her adoring fans. She put on a forceful show of speed and precision to dismantle KDF’s Agnes Wambua in a commanding 4-1 victory.

The triumph marked Akinyi’s second straight win over Wambua and gave the hometown star every reason to uncork the champagne early ahead of her 21st birthday celebrations tomorrow, November 14.

Soldiers stamp authority in women’s finals

While Wambua fell short against the lakeside queen, her loss did little to slow down the KDF juggernaut. The soldiers flexed their muscles across the rest of the first women’s finals, with Veronica Mbithe, Cynthia Mwai, and Friza Asiko cruising to emphatic victories.

Corporal Veronica Mbithe was in clinical form as she avenged the Vihiga defeat against her fierce rival, Lencer Akinyi. Mbithe secured a unanimous decision to exact sweet revenge for her shock defeat to Lencer during the third leg in Vihiga—a loss that had snapped Mbithe’s streak. With this win, Mbithe extended her head-to-head dominance to seven victories against Lencer.

Cynthia Mwai was in a ruthless mood. Unleashing a barrage of heavy, punishing combinations, she forced a third-round stoppage against Trans Nzoia’s Carolyne Wekesa.

African light-middleweight champion Friza Asiko added to KDF’s gold rush by cleanly outpointing Nairobi’s national novices title holder, Clare Okwaluma.

In other standout women’s bouts:

• Elizabeth Akinyi of Kentrack, an Africa silver medallist, showed her class with a whitewash 5-0 decision over Sombea’s Winono Okwaru.

• Locally unbeaten Amina Martha maintained her spotless domestic record, comfortably dispatching her familiar foe, Mombasa’s Frida Mercy. Amina is unbeaten locally for seven years.

KDF may have taken an early lead with eight boxers in the semis but the early losses was a big blow and sweet coffee to their arch-rivals and defending champions, Kenya Police.

KDF muscled eight boxers into the semi-finals, holding a razor-thin advantage over Police, who qualified seven pugilists. Breathing heavily down the necks of the two uniformed forces is Rift Valley powerhouse Sombea, who marched into the last four with an impressive six boxers.

The rest of the semi-final slots were fiercely contested across the clubs:

• Prisons and Nairobi tied with five semi-finalists each.

• Mombasa, Meru, and hosts Summit of Kisumu secured three slots apiece.

• Kasarani Youth entered two boxers.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️KDF and fierce rivals Police have each qualified five boxers for the finals—though the soldiers already hold an early edge after cruiserweight Anthony Mwangi outpointed Nairobi’s Glenstone Agade 4-1 in one of Saturday’s finals

November 14, 2026

Boxing fans in the lakeside city are bracing for pure ring warfare today, Saturday, November 14, as high-riding unbeaten sensation Ben Juma of Kasarani Youth collides with Kenya Police’s Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo in a mouthwatering lightweight final at the fourth leg of the Kenya National Boxing League at Ofafa Memorial Hall.

Unbeaten across three straight legs, Juma has emerged as one of the biggest revelations of the 2026 season—injecting fresh energy into Kenyan boxing alongside his younger brother, Chris Juma, as a fearless new generation storms the national stage.

A vicious body puncher, Ben Juma boasts three consecutive league victories over KDF’s 2022 African champion Samuel Njau and has already crowned himself the undisputed king of the lightweights.

“I’m warning Kombo to be extra careful, otherwise he will not finish the three rounds. I am fully charged for this fight,” a defiant Juma told boxersworld.co.ke.

However, standing across the ring is a seasoned assassin. To survive Kombo, Juma must keep a watertight guard or risk an early trip to the canvas courtesy of the policeman’s lightning-fast left hook. With both ring generals evenly matched and primed to trade furious leather, Kisumu fans are guaranteed to be on the edge of their seats.

Juma punched his way to the finale by stopping Nairobi’s Eugene Omondi in the semi-finals, while Kombo outclassed Mombasa’s Ramadhan Ngala.

Grudge match at light-welterweight

If the lightweight clash promises fireworks, the light-welterweight final is a certified powder keg.

Prisons’ 2024 Africa bronze medallist Alloys Vincent squares off against Sombea’s national champion Ayub Waweru in a rematch of their first-leg thriller in Nakuru, where Waweru edged out a close 3-2 decision after both men traded heavy bombs.

Waweru stormed into today’s final in ruthless fashion—rudely welcoming big-punching Police international Caleb Wandera back to the local scene with a shocking second-round stoppage in the semi-finals.

Vincent, a national team mainstay since his debut at the 2024 African Games in Accra, earned his shot at redemption with a dominant 5-0 shutout over Mombasa’s Abdullah Juma.

KDF and Police locked in fierce team battle

In the overall team standings, the KDF women’s squad has already clinched the fourth leg with 14 points to stretch their overall lead to 33 points.

Soldiers stamp authority in women’s finals

Agnes Wambua may have lost 4-1 against the lakeside queen, Juliet Akinyi at cruiserweight but her loss did little to slow down the KDF juggernaut. The soldiers flexed their muscles across the rest of the women’s finals, with Veronica Mbithe, Cynthia Mwai, Tracy Mueni, and Friza Asiko cruising to emphatic victories.

Corporal Veronica Mbithe was in clinical form as she avenged the Vihiga defeat against her rival, Lencer Akinyi. Mbithe secured a unanimous decision to exact sweet revenge for her shock defeat to Lencer during the third leg in Vihiga—a loss that had snapped Mbithe’s streak. With this win, Mbithe extended her head-to-head dominance to seven victories against Lencer.

Lightweight Tracy Mueni made short work of Molo’s Nasra Nyambura stopping her in the third round. Cynthia Mwai was in a ruthless mood. Unleashing a barrage of heavy punishing combinations, she forced a third-round stoppage against Trans Nzoia’s Carolyne Wekesa.

African light-middleweight champion Friza Asiko was in the driver’s seat, outpointing Nairobi’s national novices title holder, Clare Okwaluma.

In other standout women’s bouts:

• Elizabeth Akinyi of Kentrack, an Africa silver medallist, showed her class with a whitewash 5-0 decision over Sombea’s Winono Okwaru.

• Locally unbeaten Amina Martha maintained her spotless domestic record, comfortably dispatching her familiar foe, Mombasa’s Frida Mercy. Amina is unbeaten locally for seven years.

KDF men’s team has not been as dominant as they were in the second and third legs, suffering a major semi-final upset with the elimination of star pugilist Dennis Muthama and Abdi Mohammed.

Still, KDF and fierce rivals Police have each qualified five boxers for the finals—though the soldiers already hold an early edge after cruiserweight Anthony Mwangi outpointed Nairobi’s Glenstone Agade 4-1 in one of Saturday’s final bouts.

KDF’s remaining finalists:

Flyweight: Kelvin “Young” Maina (WB Africa champion)

Light-middleweight: Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor

Middleweight: Edwin Okong’o (African Games champion) who meets Steve Onyango of Police.

Light-heavyweight: Robert Okaka, aka “Man Ngori” (IBA Men’s World Championships quarter-finalist)

Police’s five finalists:

Minimumweight: Silas Onyango

Featherweight: Paul Omondi

Lightweight: Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo

Welterweight: Wiseman Kavondo

Middleweight: Steve Onyango (WB Africa bronze medallist)

Chasing pack ready to spoil the party

Breathing down the necks of the two disciplined forces are the new rulers of Rift Valley boxing, Sombea, who have marched four fighters into the finals.

Prisons boast two finalists—and have already put points on the board after heavyweight Isaac Omondi defeated Summit’s Dickens Ochieng on Saturday—while Kasarani Youth have two contenders and Meru, tutored by former international George Odindo, have one.

Meanwhile, in the sole women’s final on today’s card, Nairobi’s Africa minimumweight champion Grace Atieno, currently in spanking form, will take on Kasarani Youth’s Damacline Boyani for the second time having defeated the former street girl in their first encounter.

▪️On the menu are three explosive fights: Flyweight landlord Kelvin Maina vs Douglas Omondi, Dennis Muthama vs Emmanuel Odhiambo and Caleb Wandera vs Ayub Waweru

November 13, 2026

Kisumu boxing fans are in for an unforgettable treat today as the 45-year-old Kenya National Boxing League storms into the semi-finals and seven thrilling finals at the historic Ofafa Memorial Hall.

With pride, titles, and bitter rivalries on the line, the lakeside city is braced for all-out ring warfare—headlined by blockbuster clashes in the flyweight, bantamweight, and light-welterweight divisions.

Akinyi puts friendship aside ahead of 21st birthday

It is a massive homecoming for newly crowned continental queen Juliet Akinyi, who steps into the ring before her local fans for the first time since winning gold on her international debut at the inaugural WB Africa Championships at Kasarani Indoor Arena in October in Nairobi.

The big-punching cruiserweight faces her friend KDF’s Agnes Wambua in a highly charged rematch. When the two first met in Nairobi in 2024, Akinyi made quick work of Wambua, stopping her in the very first round.

With her father and coach, Fredrick Odwenyo, alongside family and friends watching at ringside—and her 21st birthday coming up tomorrow, Saturday, November 14—Akinyi is leaving nothing to chance.

“My whole family will be watching, including my dad and coach Fredrick Odwenyo and my friends. I can’t afford to lose,” Akinyi told boxersworld.co.ke.

“Agnes is my friend, but when in the ring we forget about that closeness. My image is at stake, and I don’t want her to mess up my birthday with a defeat.”

Flyweight “Landlord” Maina faces southpaw acid test

In the flyweight semi-finals, division “landlord” Kelvin “Young” Maina faces a stern examination against Kibra Youth’s dangerous southpaw, Douglas Omondi.

Fresh off being fully stretched by Kasarani Youth’s Morris Kimani in the quarter-finals, Maina—the reigning WB Africa and Africa Military Games champion—knows he cannot afford to slip.

Omondi arrives in Kisumu brimming with confidence after a standout international debut in Russia this year; though he lost the bout, his gritty performance sent a clear warning shot to Maina and the rest of the division. To survive, the KDF soldier must measure his distance carefully and pull the trigger at the exact right moment, or risk firing blanks.

Bantamweight grudge match: Muthama vs. Odhiambo

A fierce bantamweight war is brewing as KDF’s Africa Military Games champion, Dennis Muthama, locks horns with G44’s ambitious Emmanuel Odhiambo.
Muthama barely escaped with a razor-thin 3-2 split-decision win over the stubborn Odhiambo during the second leg at Mombasa’s Mama Ngina Waterfront.

Coached by former international Julius Theuri, Odhiambo is hungry to finish the job today, forcing Muthama to fully arm himself to avoid an upset.

Fireworks in light-welterweight and lightweight

Bombs are guaranteed to fly in the light-welterweight division as hard-hitting Police boxer Caleb Wandera returns to action fresh from completing his training at Kiganjo.

Wandera collides with national champion Ayub Waweru of Sombea in an explosive showdown where a trip to the canvas looks almost certain for either fighter. While both men carry heavy hands, Wandera boasts the more lethal weapons in his armoury. The survivor of this slugfest will meet either Prisons’ Alloys Vincent or Mombasa’s Abdullah Juma in the final.

Meanwhile, a mouthwatering lightweight final is loading between Kasarani Youth’s rising star Ben Juma and Kenya Police’s Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo—provided both navigate their semi-final hurdles today. Juma squares off against Nairobi’s Eugene Omondi, while Kombo battles Mombasa’s Ramadhan Kombo.

Revenge and redemption in the women’s finals

Alongside the Akinyi vs. Wambua cruiserweight clash, five other women’s finals and one men’s final will light up the Ofafa Memorial Hall canvas today:
• *Mbithe out for blood:* Corporal Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe steps into the ring burning for revenge against Nairobi rival Lencer Akinyi.

After dominating Lencer with six consecutive wins, Mbithe suffered a shock first defeat to her in the third leg in Vihiga—a blemish she is determined to erase today.
• Mwai returns inspired:KDF’s polished light-welterweight Cynthia Mwai makes a highly motivated return against Carolyne Wekesa of Trans Nzoia.

Having recently completed her military training and secured a steady monthly income, Mwai enters the ring sharper and more inspired than ever.

▪️Roberts announced that the IBA is preparing a new project for 2027 that will offer competitive opportunities and prize money.

November 12, 2026

IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE addressed the 64th World Boxing Council (WBC) Annual Convention in Acapulco, Mexico. He presented six years of growth at the International Boxing Association (IBA) and invited the boxing community to work together on developing young boxers.

Roberts spoke on the third day of the convention at Palacio Mundo Imperial and thanked WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and the members of the WBC Board of Governors for the invitation.

Looking back at the IBA’s journey under the direct guidance of Mr. Umar Kremlev, Roberts said the organisation’s work now reaches well beyond competition, into social projects and programmes that strengthen the sport as a whole. “This is what we have been doing over the last six years. We are developing many projects in the social space and trying to look at the entire sporting ecosystem of boxing through different types of initiatives,” he said.

The main theme of his address was the pathway for young boxers from junior and youth categories to elite level. Roberts announced that the IBA is preparing a new project for 2027 that will offer competitive opportunities and prize money.

“We are looking at a new project for next year that will offer opportunities and prize money, creating the conditions for success for the boxers you represent, especially young athletes who are beginning their careers,” he said.

He invited the delegates and promoters at the convention to work with the IBA so that their boxers can compete at its international events. “I would encourage you to work with us to help some of your boxers develop from the junior and youth categories through the senior and elite levels, so they can participate in some of our events,” Roberts said.

“Points make prizes, prizes make money, and money will help the boxers,” he added.

Roberts explained that these rewards help improve training conditions and support boxers’ development, particularly in countries where resources for boxing remain limited.

He also outlined the IBA’s upcoming calendar, which begins with the IBA President’s Cup in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the end of 2026.

“We have a great event coming at the end of the year in Istanbul, the President’s Cup, followed by a women’s version next year and then onwards to the men’s World Championships,” he said.

After the presentation, Sulaimán thanked Roberts and confirmed that he had held discussions with IBA President Umar Kremlev.

“We have met and held discussions. There are areas where we are not compatible, but there are also areas where we are very much aligned, such as social responsibility, supporting amateur boxing programs, and helping developing countries,” Sulaimán said.

“I appreciate your coming here to make this presentation. The WBC continues to build relationships and always keeps its doors open to mutual collaboration,” he continued. “We hope that the areas where we are not currently aligned can find common ground in the future.”

Courtesy IBA

▪️“I am not completely satisfied with this medal because I wanted to win gold,” She told olympic.com

November 13, 2026

Africa’s quest for a boxing gold medal at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar has come to a sad and painful end after Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah suffered a 5-0 defeat in the women’s minimumweight (48kg) final.

Facing India’s Gunjan Gunjan at the Dakar Expo Center, Bensalah was outpointed by unanimous decision, leaving the continent without a top-podium finish in the event.

Despite a valiant run to the title clash—which included victories over Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide and Italy’s Michela Guglielmon—Bensalah settles for a hard-earned silver medal as Gunjan claims the gold.Meanwhile Bouthaina Bensalah spoke to Olympic.com after the fight.

On making the podium:

“It is the result of quality work. It is the fruit of my hard work and, above all, my discipline.”

On the colour of the medal:

“I am not completely satisfied with this medal because I wanted to win gold.”

On the competition:

“I am satisfied with my performance throughout the competition, although I was not in my best shape today.”

On how she will celebrate the medal:

“It’s actually a surprise. I am going to go home and see what my parents have prepared.”

On her medal dedication:

“I dedicate this medal to the Algerian people. This medal is for Algeria and for Africa as well.”

▪️Africa had 28 boxers in action with three female pugilists making it to the semi-finals and one in the finals

November 12, 2026

Africa’s quest for Youth Olympic boxing glory suffered a brutal reality check on Wednesday, November 11, as the continent’s gold medal hopes were reduced to a single fighter.

Out of 28 boxers representing Africa at the Dakar Youth Olympics, only Algeria’s minimumweight sensation, Bouthaina Bensalah, survived the semi-final pounding to book a spot in today’s finals.

Bensalah, the 2025 African Youth Games silver medalist, kept the continental flag flying by the narrowest of margins, grinding out a thrilling 3-2 split-decision victory over Italy’s Michela Guglielmon.

However, the celebratory mood in the African camp quickly soured as the continent’s remaining two semi-finalists were decisively beaten:

• Cerine Kessal (Algeria): The flyweight hopeful suffered a lopsided 5-0 unanimous defeat against Venezuela’s South American Youth Games champion, Grenyelis Garcia.

• Menatalla Ibrahim (Egypt) In the lightweight division, Ibrahim was completely outclassed, dropping a 5-0 whitewash to Uzbekistan’s Rushanabonu Isoeva.

 A wake-up call in the ring

Walking away from a home-continent tournament with just one finalist out of 28 entrants marks a sobering, disastrous outing for African amateur boxing.

The results have laid bare a widening gulf in class between Africa’s young pugilists and their counterparts from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Boxing analysts point to a glaring culprit behind the slump: severe ring rust. While European and Asian confederations boast packed, competitive year-round calendars, African fighters continue to suffer from a chronic lack of international exposure and regular high-level tournaments in the continent known more for petty squabbles among its National Federations, myopism, inconsistent government funding and greed for positions at the expense of development.

For now, the weight of an entire continent rests squarely on Bouthaina Bensalah’s shoulders as she steps into the ring today to fight for pride—and Africa’s lone shot at boxing gold against India’s Gunjan Gunjan in the finals.

In the meantime, Africa – the sleeping giant – will continue snoring as Europe, Asia and the Americas keep their boxers busy with constant quality tournaments.

▪️World Championships pre-quarter finalist featherweight Paul Omondi, Caleb Wandera and Wiseman Kavondo are back in Police team for the Kisumu fourth leg battle

November 11, 2026

Stung by the runaway dominance of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), defending Kenya National Boxing League champions Kenya Police—popularly known as Chafua Chafua—have recalled three of their most lethal weapons ahead of the fourth leg of the league in Kisumu from November 12-14, 2026.

Police coach James Wasao, a former international, has drafted in 2025 Africa Zone 3 bronze medallists Paul Omondi (featherweight), Caleb “Sugu” Wandera (light-welterweight), and polished southpaw Wiseman Kavondo (welterweight) for the three-day showdown at Ofafa Memorial Hall starting this Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14.

According to Wasao, the trio missed the opening three legs of the season while undergoing mandatory training at the Police Training College in Kiganjo. Their return injects massive firepower into the defending champions’ camp, who currently trail KDF by 22 points on the league standings. KDF leads the table with 72 points, followed by Police (50), Nakuru’s Sombea (23), Kasarani Youth (21), and fifth-placed Kenya Prisons (19).

Ring analysts view the reinforcements as a clear warning to the soldiers that the lakeside city will be anything but a walk in the park.

In the featherweight division, Kibra Youth Boxing Club product Paul Omondi faces an immediate acid test against reigning Kenya Open champion Chris Juma and G44’s Euticus Wanjau. Omondi’s return has prompted coach Wasao to shift Mwinyi Kombo, alias “Giant Killer,” up to lightweight. There, Kombo joins a stacked bracket featuring unbeaten destroyer Ben Juma and Washington Wandera, who also returns to action after missing the first three legs. With KDF’s stylish Samuel Njau—who lost thrice to Ben Juma in the earlier legs—sidelined by work commitments, Ben Juma will have to elevate his game against Kombo and a fresh Wandera to prove he is the undisputed lightweight king.

The light-welterweight division promises fireworks with the return of hard-hitting Caleb “Sugu” Wandera. He faces a steep climb against Kenya Open champion Ayub Waweru of Sombea, KDF’s vastly improved Pius Macharia, Prisons’ Aloice Vincent—who defeated Macharia in the third-leg finals in Vihiga—and Kasarani Youth’s tough-as-nails Elvis Lincoln.

At welterweight, southpaw Wiseman Kavondo is out to reclaim his throne, though he must navigate stiff resistance from KDF’s Fred Omondi, Kisumu’s Joshua Onyango, and Prisons’ Francis Riziki.

While Police welcome back key stars, they will miss Kenya’s top light-middleweight, Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde, who is away on family commitments. Stepping into his shoes is veteran Joseph “Shigs” Shigali, also known as Msee wa Ndechu. Shigali is spoiling for revenge against KDF’s omena-charged Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor. Oduor beat Shigali in the Vihiga finals in a fierce Eastlands mtaa derby pitting Mbotela against Jericho—two Nairobi estates famous for their 1970s street rivalries—and Shigali has vowed to silence Oduor in Kisumu.

In the middleweight berth, Police have named WB Africa bronze medallist Steve Onyango, who recently helped Kenya clinch the overall WB African Championships title (five gold, three silver, six bronze). He is set for a tough clash against KDF’s African Games champion, Edwin Okong’o.

In the lower weights, Wasao has brought back minimumweight Sylus Onyango, who is eager to avenge his first-leg upset defeat to Nakuru’s Joseph Moses. Kasarani Youth’s Morris Kimani and KDF’s Ali Mohammed are also in the mix, though Nairobi’s Clinton “Canelo” Omondi of Kibra Youth misses out due to weight issues.

The flyweight division is set for another explosive chapter. Police have stuck with third-leg winner Abdullah Juma, who scored a controversial upset victory over KDF’s reigning WB Africa champion and self-proclaimed division “landlord,” Kelvin “Young” Maina. KDF officials still insist Maina was robbed in Vihiga, setting the stage for a tense rematch. Also looking to steal the show at flyweight are Prisons’ Moses Kilavuka, Sombea’s Isaac Karanja, and Kibra Youth southpaw Douglas Omondi, who arrives on the back of an impressive international debut in Russia this year.

▪️Nine boxers sent packing, bringing to 25 the total number of African pugilists eliminated in the Youth Olympics

▪️Sub-Saharan wipeout leaves North African trio, Algerians Bothaina Bensalah and Cerine Kessal alongside Egypt’s Menatallah Ibrahim as the only ones remaining in the boxing competition

November 11, 2026

Africa’s bruising campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games suffered another heavy blow on Tuesday, November 10, as nine more fighters crashed out during the second session of the quarter-finals, reports boxersworld.co.ke.

Out of 11 African boxers who stepped into the ring, only two survived the bloodbath. The latest wave of defeats pushes the continent’s elimination tally to a staggering 25 boxers, leaving just three fighters standing ahead of today’s semi-finals.

Egypt’s lightweight Menatalla Ibrahim delivered the knockout punch of the day, stopping China’s Jiaen Wang at 1:13 of the second round.

Algeria’s minimumweight Bothaina Bensalah served up a cold dish of revenge, outpointing Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide 5-0. The dominant unanimous decision avenged Bensalah’s painful loss to Ayomide in the 2025 African Youth Games final in Luanda, Angola.

Bensalah and Ibrahim now join flyweight Cerine Kessal (Algeria) to form a strictly North African trio carrying the entire continent’s medal hopes into Wednesday’s semi-finals, after boxers from Sub-Saharan Africa were completely wiped out of the tournament.

Today’s Semi-Final Showdown (November 11):

• Minimumweight: Bothaina Bensalah (Algeria) vs. Michela Guglielmon (Italy)

• Lightweight: Menatalla Ibrahim (Egypt) vs. Rushabonu Idea (Uzbekistan)

• Flyweight: Cerine Kessal (Algeria) vs. Grenyelis Garcia (Venezuela)

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Sixteen African boxers have so far been eliminated, 12 are still on the battlefield with 11 featuring in today’s quarter-finals while one is in the semi-finals

November 10, 2026

Algeria’s female flyweight Cerine Kessal delivered a vital lifeline for African boxing on Monday, November 9, 2026, guaranteeing the continent its first medal of the Dakar Youth Olympics by fighting her way to the semi-finals.
Her triumph, however, proved to be the lone bright spot on a bruising day for the host continent.

Seven other African boxers—including host nation Senegal’s final remaining hopeful Khadidiatou Boiro—were eliminated during the opening round of quarter-finals.

Kessal made quick work of Bhupal’s Sangay Peldon, forcing a referee stoppage at 1:28 of the second round. With a podium finish now assured regardless of her next result, the Algerian advances to a difficult semi-final clash against Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia—a formidable test that could prove to be her toughest hurdle yet.

Garcia, tipped by boxing analysts as one of the hot prospects for gold, booked her spot in the final four with a dominant display against Kenya’s Ellah Demesi, securing a first-round stoppage in 2:02.

Capitalizing on her superior reach, the South American Youth Games champion overwhelmed Demesi with a relentless barrage of head shots. After the Kenyan took three standing counts without mounting an effective response, the referee stepped in to wave off the bout.

While Demesi, who celebrated her 17th birthday on September 29 this year, struggled to find her spark on the day, the bout offers her valuable experience as she looks to improve for future international tournaments but at the big stage she has to be fast, aggressive, increase her work rate, show more fire and an appetite for victory. Otherwise she’s a talented boxer with a bright future.

Botswana’s Precious Masaba stepped into the ring looking to avenge Demesi’s earlier loss to Canada’s Mehreen Khakh at the World U-19 Futures Cup in Bangkok. Masaba started strong, taking the fight to the Canadian southpaw in an aggressive opening round. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second. Khakh took control of the exchanges, repeatedly catching Masaba with a sharp left cross that resulted in three counts and another referee stoppage, compounding Africa’s rough outing.

For host nation Senegal, the disappointment continued. With two boxers already eliminated earlier in the tournament, local hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of female featherweight Khadidiatou Boiro. Entering the ring determined to turn the tide for the hosts, Boiro ultimately suffered a similar fate, bowing out in the quarter-finals to bring Senegal’s home boxing campaign to an early close. She lost 5-0 to Kazakhstan’s Aknur Tursyngali.

While the females chalked up one victory, all the three African male boxers in the quarters were bundled out.

Libya’s bantamweight Emran Bawi was the first victim going down to Australia’s Marley Dodd, Gambia’s bantamweight Alieu Sanyang lost 5-0 to Canada’s Lisandro Garcia and welterweight Fahd Wazir was stopped in 2:59 of the second round.

Meanwhile, 11 African boxers take to the ring in today’s quarter-finals, one of the highlights being women’s minimumweight rematch between Nigeria’s African Youth Games champion Mayowa Ayomide and Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah. The Algerian is seeking to avenge a points loss to Mayowa in the finals of the African Youth Games in 2025 in Luanda, Angola.

The quarter-finals pairings involving the African boxers:

Men

Flyweight
Namibia’s Kalenga Abraham vs India’s Ambekar Lairen

Lightweight
Togo’s Blaise Agoda vs Thailand’s Siwa Chainarong

Mauritius’ Julian Agathe vs Puerto Rico’s Torres Santiago

Seychelles’ Franco Zialor vs China’s Zhengkun Zhang

Light-middleweight
Ghana’s Amartey Tagoe vs UAE’s Mohamed Moaaz

Egypt’s Ahmed Mobarak vs Great Britain’s Michael Maughan

Women

Minimumweight
Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide vs Algeria’s Bothaina Bensalah

Bantamweight
Morocco’s Manar Adnane vs Japan’s Yura Kanemaru

Egypt’s Hajer Elsherbiny Wahba vs Maral Tolepbergen

Lightweight
Egypt’s Menatalla Ibrahim vs China’s Jiaen Wang

boxersworld.co.ke