▪️The Egyptian boxer displayed her best ever boxing to make up for Paris Olympics disappointment of returning home without throwing a punch

February 27, 2026

A powerful action-packed display of skill and aggression enabled Egypt’s Olympian Yomna Ayyad to score a shocking points win over fancied Kazakhstan’s Rimma Volossenko in the quarter-finals of the 77th Strandja Memorial International Tournament on Thursday, February 26, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Boxing as if her entire life depended on the outcome of this closely contested bout, Yomna squeezed a 3-2 points win over Volossenko.

Yomna jumped up in joy when she was declared the winner as a bewildered Volossenko appeared at sea not expecting to lose to the aggressive Egyptian boxer.

From the first bell, Yomna carried the fight to Volossenko, jabbing and combining smartly and defensive movement making it difficult for her flat-footed opponent to find the range.

This is Yomna’s most remarkable victory over an experienced opponent who won silver in last year’s Strandja Memorial, losing in the finals to Kosovo’s 2022 Women’s World Championships bronze medallist Sadiku Donjeta whom Yomna meets in the semi-finals.

This is another tough fight for Yomna but having overcome the Kazakh boxer, her morale is sky-high and it will not be a surprise if she beats the Tokyo Olympian and 2022 European bronze medallist Donjeta to move to the finals.

In addition to winning silver in the 2025 Strandja Memorial Championships and losing in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Women’s World Championships, Volassenko is well remembered for being among Kazakhstan’s 2021 crack squad which won eight gold medals in the Asian Women’s Championships.

Yomna’s sweet victory over Volossenko has made up for her disappointment at the 2024 Olympics in Paris where she was disqualified for failing to make the bantamweight division, returning home without throwing a punch. She has now moved up to lightweight and seems to be very comfortable.

She’s the only surviving African boxer following the elimination of 15 of them from the tournament.

Photos courtesy of Bulgaria Boxing Federation

▪️Seasoned warriors Abdul Wahid Omar and Amadu Mohammed bubbling with confidence ahead of 2025 National Individual Championships explosive showndown

February 27, 2026

The wait is over. Weeks of relentless agonizing roadwork and hard sparring sessions have culminated to this big day in Ghana boxing.

Yes it’s today from 6pm at the famous Bukom Boxing Arena, the venue for the highly anticipated finals of the 2025 National Individual Amateur Boxing Championships.

Finalists will step into the ring not just as boxers but as warriors aiming to etch their names into boxing immortality.

Hearts are pounding. And the stakes are high because the winners will make Ghana’s national team to participate in major events this year among them the Commonwealth Games and IBA Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships.

The atmosphere at Bukom Arena will definitely be electric, filled with the sound of local drumming, screaming coaches and wildly enthusiastic supporters carrying flags and others with painted faces. This isn’t just a fight. It’s a national pride event.

With most of the top boxers moving to pro boxing, the two senior international boxers in the ring today will be African Games bantamweight champion Amadu Mohammed and two-times Commonwealth Games medallist Abdul Wahid Omar who won bronze at flyweight in Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022 in the light-welterweight division.

A quarter-finalist at the 2023 Men’s World Championships, Amadu Mohamed was looking forward to improve on his performance in the 2025 Men’s Worlds in Dubai but was eliminated in the pre-quarters by the eventual bronze medallist, Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov after seeing off India’s Manoj Kumar 5-0 in the round of 32.

The southpaw Amadu, representing Sea View, has now moved up to featherweight, and will square it out with Reginald Lamptey of C.Q.B.F Club.

At 32 years, 2016 Olympian Abdul Wahid Omar has a wealth of experience under his belt. He will therefore be in no mood to be humiliated by his Wisdom Boxing Gym teammate Henry Owusu.

With their sterling show in the 2025 Africa Youth Championships behind them, the three gold medallists in Guinea, flyweight George Dowouna, bantamweight Mathew Ashittey and middleweight Desmond Pappoe are ready to graduate to the senior team.

Boxing for Will Power, Dowouna meets Ibrahim Doku of Black Panthers, Ashittey, who’ll represent Black Panthers, has a mountain to climb against the never-say-die Caleb Mensah of Wisdom Gym while Pappoe, representing Jamestown Boxing Club, will trade leather against Khalid of Fit Square.

There’s also World Youth Championships quarter-finalist Ebenezer Ankrah knocking on the doors of the senior team. He battles Wisdom Gym’s James Okoe at lightweight.

Tonight’s event is crucial for the new Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) executive under President Alhaji Dauda Fuseni having unveiled their new logo on Thursday, February 26 to signal the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana boxing.

▪️As Yomna moved to the quarter-finals, six other African boxers including Algeria’s highly regarded Ichrak Chaib were sent packing

February 26, 2026

Egypt’s African Games bronze medallist Yomna Ayyad (pictured) saved Africa from further humiliation when she powered her way to the quarter-finals of the Strandja International Boxing Tournament on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Yomna beat Brazil’s Silva Rafaela Marques 4-1, and now meets tough Kazakhstan’s lightweight Rimma Volossenko in today’s quarter-finals.

A bantamweight bronze medallist at the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana, Yomna has now moved up to lightweight.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yomna, the first Egyptian female boxer to qualify for the Olympics, was disqualified failing to make the bantamweight category by 700 grams. She therefore returned home without throwing a punch. She was due to fight tough Uzbek boxer Nigina Uktamova.

Yomna was the only African winner among the seven boxers in action on Day 3 of the Strandja International on February 25, 2026.

Two-time African Championships gold medallist and Solidarity Games champion Ichrak Chaib of Algeria was one of the six African losers, going down 5-0 to Turkey’s Berfin Kabak at welterweight. In all, four Algerian boxers were defeated, adding more miseries to the North Africans’ team.

Results of the African boxers at the Strandja International Tournament:

Women’s lightweight

Egypt’s Yomna Ayyad outpointed Brazil’s Silva Rafaela Marques 4-1

Algeria’s Melissa Hamda was beaten 5-0 by Ukraine’s Veronika Korets

Men’s lightweight

Egypt’s Hossam Seifel Yazal lost 5-0 to Azerbaijan’s Mahammadali Ashiraliyev

Women’s welterweight

Algeria’s Ichrak Chaib was beaten 5-0 by Turkey’s Berfin Kabak

Men’s light-heavyweight

Algeria’s Mustapha Abdou was beaten 5-0 by Bulgaria’s William Cholov

Men’s super-heavyweight

Algeria’s Abderrahim Magtaa lost 4-1 to Bulgaria’s Yordan Morejoh

Men’s light-heavyweight

Egypt’s Fares Elsharkawi narrowly lost 3-2 to Ukraine’s Dzhamal Kaliiev

boxersworld.co.ke

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25 February 2026

Katie Taylor will bring the curtain down on her decorated career with a farewell fight in Dublin this summer.

The two-weight undisputed world champion has not fought since she won her trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano in New York last July.

On Wednesday, the 39-year-old Irishwoman said she remains hopeful her swansong fight will take place at Croke Park.

“I just want to fight in Dublin to end my career,” she told RTE.

“Obviously we’re still hoping for Croke Park – we’re hanging on to a bit of hope that it can happen.

“If it doesn’t happen there are plenty of options there. I have obviously fought in the 3Arena a couple of times, the Aviva Stadium is also there.

“Croke Park would be top of the list.”

On her career, Taylor added: “It has been an amazing journey, the whole lot of it, over these last 20 years.

“I have had the highs and lows. It has been an incredible, remarkable career and I always wanted to end it here in Ireland.”

Courtesy www.bbc.com

▪️It’s a new beginning for boxing in the continent with the influential IBA Africa Interim President General Luyoyo promising to deliver and to use his wide network to compliment IBA’s financial support for boxing in Africa

February 26, 2026

A wave of excitement and exuberant joy engulfed Africa boxing on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, when International Boxing Association (IBA) President, Umar Kremlev, announced the appointment of DR Congo’s federation President, Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, the head of the newly-created IBA Africa.

In his letter of appointment, President Kremlev said the IBA Board of Directors settled on General Luyoyo in recognition of his leadership qualities, charisma and contribution to Africa boxing development.

Here’s Kremlev’s letter of appointment dated February 25, 2026:

“Dear Mr. Illunga,

Following the recent decision of the IBA Board of Directors, I would like to extend you my sincere congratulations on your appointment as IBA Africa Interim President.

“In accordance with Article 49.2 of the IBA Constitution 2025, the Continental Unit Presidents for IBA Asia and IBA Africa are appointed by the Board and serve as Directors with immediate effect. In this capacity, you will assume full voting rights as a member of the IBA Board.

“I trust that, with your understanding of the needs and aspirations of African National Federations as well as your established network across the continent, you are well positioned to contribute positively to the continued development of boxing in Africa.

“Close and constructive cooperation with the IBA Continental Desk will be important to ensure strong coordination, transparency, and sound governance, enabling us to serve the African boxing family effectively and responsibly.

“I look forward to working with you in a spirit of unity and shared responsibility within the IBA family. Please accept my sincere best wishes for success in this important role. I am confident that, through collective effort and good governance, African boxing will continue to move forward with the leadership it deserves.”

General Luyoyo’s appointment follows IBA’s new management structure in which they have dissolved all five continental confederations.

In the new IBA Policy on Centralised Operations of Continental Units, the dissolved continental confederations have been replaced by Continental Units namely IBA Africa, IBA America, IBA Asia, IBA Europe and IBA Oceania.

A structure of the Continental Unit will include a Continental Unit President and other staff hired by the IBA to be responsible for managing and developing all forms of boxing in the Continental Units.

All the Continental Units will be under a single global operational structure known as IBA Continental Operations Desk (IBA COD) taking charge of former continental offices.

IBA COD assumes full responsibility for global adminstrative service delivery under the direct authority of the IBA Secretary-General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE on behalf of the IBA President.

General Luyoyo has accepted the appointment, promising to adhere to the new management structure which he said was long overdue in view of the leadership wrangles that have bedevilled Africa’s boxing management.

“I’m thrilled by my appointment as the Interim President IBA Africa. I thank IBA President Umar Kremlev and Secretary-General & CEO Chris Roberts for showing their confidence in my leadership. I promise I will deliver and also initiate my own development plans to compliment IBA’s support for Africa boxing,” said a jovial Luyoyo.

Born 53 years ago in Lubumbashi, General Luyoyo, who resides in DR Congo’s capital city Kinshasa, has emerged as a significant figure in the development of boxing in Africa.

A senior officer in DR Congo’s Police service, Luyoyo has served as the President of Congolese Boxing Federation from 2018 and was one time the Vice President of the defunct Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC).

Luyoyo is held in high esteem by the boxing fraternity in DR Congo and Africa as a whole for his managerial accumen in organizing major events including the highly successful 2024 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Africa Boxing Championships in Kinshasa.

He is also involved in promoting professional boxing through Luyoyo Promotions which was involved in the crowning of WBC Africa cruiserweight champion Makabu Ilunga who captured the vacant WBC Africa title with a third round KO victory over Egypt’s Wagdy Attia at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa in 2024.

The IBA Africa Interim President is also the brainchild of the inaugural AFBC Pro Boxing Night staged early 2025 in Tunisia, the major aim being to financially empower Africa’s amateur boxers by taking part in pro boxing bouts.

In an interview with boxersworld.co.ke ahead of the Tunisia pro boxing show, Luyoyo said: “We have to start from somewhere, we can’t be relying on IBA to do everything for us. We must initiate and fund our own tournaments that can in future attract foreign boxers, we have the resources in Africa if properly tapped.”

Luyoyo has landed running in his new appointment. He’s now in the process of naming his IBA Africa team, and embark on preparations for the expected visit of celebrated former pro boxers, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. They will battle it out in an exhibition match on April 25 in Kinshasa. The supporting bouts will feature some of Africa’s top amateur boxers.

The other important tournament Luyoyo will be charged with organising is the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships. He has indicated an interest to stage it again in case other countries are unable to do so. Kinshasa will definitely be a fitting choice to celebrate his appointment as IBA Africa President.

▪️Kabwe has become Zambia’s first ever 3-Star referee and judge following Nairobi’s certification course in 2025 

February 25, 2026

For years, the sound of boxers trading leather and the electric atmosphere of local Zambian fight nights have been the soundtrack to Warrant Officer 1 Darius Kabwe’s life.

Kabwe, a dedicated Zambia National Service officer, walked into the boxing arena not just as an official, but with the pride of a nation on his shoulders. Known for his keen eye and authoritative, yet fair hand in the ring, he dreamt of reaching the pinnacle of international officiating.

Now he has fulfilled his dream, rising to the top of IBA officiating hierarchy after successfully going through a certification course held in 2025 in Nairobi during the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championships at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

“It’s one of the happiest moments in my life, I’m very happy for this big achievement, I worked hard for it,” Kabwe told boxersworld.co.ke

The journey to the IBA 3-Star Referee and Judge (R&J) certification was anything but easy. It required years of rigorous training, countless local bouts, and the mastery of complex, lightning-fast technical evaluations.

When the news finally broke that he had obtained the prestigious certification, it was a game changer for Zambia boxing.

Kabwe’s achievement was met with immense pride from the Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) and the entire sports fraternity.

ZBF Secretary-General, Humphrey Kasosolwa, said it directly puts Zambia on the map, ensuring that Zambian officials are respected, recognized, and trusted on the global stage.

“We are extremely happy with this development because it puts Zambia on the map. Having an IBA 3-Star Referee and Judge means our country is now visible and respected in global officiating structures,” Kasosolwa said, adding: “This certification puts our country in a position to be represented at the highest level of international boxing. It also makes it easier for Zambian officials to be recognized and trusted on the global stage.”

He went on: “Kabwe’s qualification opens doors not only for international assignments but also for the growth of local officiating standards.

“It will be easier now for him to be recognized and selected for major tournaments, and it sets a benchmark for other Zambian officials to aspire to.”

As a 3-Star R&J, Kabwe can now officiate in prestigious events such as the Olympic Games and World Championships.

His success has ignited inspiration across Zambia, raising the profile of local officiating and proving that with dedication, a Zambian R&J can stand among the best in the world.

Kabwe’s involvement with boxing is not accidental. He is a former boxer and knows the pain of a punch.

His boxing journey began in 1987 in Chambishi Town on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia.

“That is where my passion for the sport was born and where I laid the foundation for my career in boxing,” Kabwe told boxersworld.co.ke in a telephone interview from Lusaka.

“A close friend influenced me to join boxing, my first club was Chambeshi ABC and my first coaches were the late Manford Royd and his brother Patrick Royd.”

It did not take long for the determined Kabwe to climb through the ropes for his first competition at paperweight.

“That same year 1987 I took part in my first competition in Chilabombwe Copperbelt and I won. I then moved to Lusaka in 1993 and joined the Green Eagles Boxing Club of Zambia National Service. My coach was the late Laston Mukobe.

“I continued competing actively until 2005. My final fight was at the World Military Games in Pretoria, South Africa, where I lost in the light-heavyweight quarter-finals against the late Kenyan Joseph Ndere. That bout marked the end of my career as an active boxer.” Besides paperweight and light-heavyweight, Kabwe also fought at bantam, lightweight and light-welterweight.

In 2007, Kabwe, now Warrant Officer One with Zambia National Service , was appointed assistant club coach, transitioning from being a boxer to developing other upcoming pugilists.

His journey in boxing, however, did not stop there.

When Zambia hosted the Region Five Games for Southern Region countries in 2012, the Zambia Boxing Federation organized a National Referees and Judges course.

“I enrolled, successfully completed the course, and was selected to officiate at the Region Five Games. That opportunity gave me the confidence to pursue officiating seriously as a Referee and Judge,” said Kabwe with a deserved sense of pride.

He was still determined to move higher in the international officiating ranks. In 2017, he obtained 1-Star Referee and Judge certification in Sudan. Two years later he upgraded to 2-Star level in Gaborone, Botswana.

In 2025, he financed his trip to Kenya to attend 3-Star certification course held concurrently with the Africa Zone 3 Championships.

“I’m happy I passed my exams to successfully attain the prestigious 3-Star Referee and Judge certification,” said Kabwe.

“I feel very proud for this achievement becoming the first Zambian to attain the 3-Star Referee and Judge status — a historic milestone for both myself and Zambian boxing.”

Kabwe has now set the bar higher for other R&Js in Zambia to work harder to emulate him. We wish Kabwe all the best hoping to see him at the IBA World Championships rubbing shoulders with best R&Js in the world.

▪️Sierra Leone’s coach William Brereton cries foul citing questionable officiating. “My boxer won last two rounds 3-2 how she lost is not convincing,” says Josefien’s coach

February 25, 2026

It was a painful day for African boxers with all seven of them in action swept away by a tidal wave of punches on Day Two of the 77th edition of Strandja International Tournament in Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

In what is likened to a powerful tsunami, the loss of the seven boxers left a trail of broken spirits and shattered dreams in its wake.

The seven casualties included four Algerian boxers who were overwhelmed by their opponents’ swirling force of power despite putting up a lot of resistance.

Sierra Leone’s coach William Brereton is surprised his boxer, Josefien Betist, lost 3-2 points despite winning the last two rounds in the lightweight bout against Romania’s Claudia Nechita.

“We won, that was bad decision,” Brereton told boxersworld.co.ke in a telephone interview from Sofia, wondering how they lost yet Josefien won the last two rounds.

“I genuinely thought she won the fight. Score card reads she lost the first round 4-1 which she did enough to take the round. Josefien won the last two rounds 3-2, winning two out three rounds on judges cards but surprisingly lost the bout 3-2 because of Judges going different ways in different rounds. Her opponent was holding a lot. Overall great experience we move on.”

The first victim in the annihilation was Algeria’s twice silver medallist in the Africa Elite Championships, Fatiha Mansouri, who was beaten 4-1 by Uzbekistan’s Zhazira Urakbayeva in women’s flyweight while Egypt’s Aly Habiba lost 4-1 to Bulgaria’s Poptoleva Venelina in another women’s flyweight bout.

Algeria’s female light-middleweight Djouher Benane was no match for Germany’s Leonie Muller going down 5-0.

Egypt’s men’s bantamweight Amir Kelany was beaten 5-0 by Ukraine’s Maksym Zymenko, Algeria’s women’s bantamweight Douaa Rovaz lost 5-0 to England’s Lauren Mackie with Algeria’s men’s heavyweight Oussama Arbia Mohamed beaten 5-0 by Ukraine’s Bogdan Tolmachov.

The second day of the tournament was most successful for the Kazakhstan national team. Victories were achieved in both the women’s (54 kg, 70 kg) and men’s categories (55 kg, 65 kg, 85 kg, and 90 kg). Boxers from Uzbekistan earned seven victories.

Full Results of Day Two – Strandja Cup 2026 (February 24)

51 kg — Women (Round of 32)

Maki Klotzer (Germany) – Gulsevar Ganieva (Uzbekistan) 5:0

Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) – Mungunsaran Balsan (Mongolia) 3:2

Zhazira Urakbayeva (Kazakhstan) – Fatiha Mansouri (Algeria) 4:1

Jennifer Lozano (USA) – Feruza Kazakova (Uzbekistan) 1:4

Venelina Poptoleva (Bulgaria) – Habiba Ali (Egypt) 4:1

Eda Nur Kilicci (Turkey) – Kelsey Oakley (England) 0:5

Anita Adisheva (Kazakhstan) – Kaitlyn Fryers (Ireland) 0:5

54 kg — Women (Round of 16)

Tala Habbas (Bulgaria) – Zhayna Shekerbekova (Kazakhstan) 0:5

Yoselin Perez (USA) – Tatiana Obermayer (Germany) 5:0

Lauren Mackie (England) – Duaa Rouaz (Algeria) 5:0

Helen Jones (Wales) – Jennifer Lehane (Ireland) 0:5

Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg (Mongolia) – Anel Sakysh (Kazakhstan) 0:5

Inna Statkevych (Ukraine) – Ana Livia Linhares (Brazil) 2:3

Monique Suraci (Australia) – Elina Bazarova (Kazakhstan) 1:4

Aysen Taskin (Turkey) – Uzukamol Yunusova (Uzbekistan) 5:0

60 kg — Women (Round of 32)

Kelly McLaughlin (Ireland) – Gizem Ozer (Turkey) 0:5

Lucy Kings-Whittley (England) – Rebeca de Lima Santos (Brazil) 2:3

Claudia Nechita (Romania) – Jozefin Betist (Slovenia) 3:2

 65 kg — Women (Round of 32)

Andra Crinuta Sebe (Romania) – Carlotta Schunemann (Germany) 4:1

70 kg — Women (Round of 16)

Lekisha Pergoliti (Australia) – Oysha Toirova (Uzbekistan) 5:0

Leonie Müller (Germany) – Jouher Benane (Algeria) 5:0

Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) – Chantelle Reid (England) 2:3

Madina Nursheva (Kazakhstan) – Dilara Sak (Turkey) 4:1

55 kg — Men (Round of 16)

Zidan Hunbatov (Azerbaijan) – Zhirayr Sargsyan (Armenia) 5:0

Amir Kelani (Egypt) – Maksym Zimenko (Ukraine) 0:5

Lado Karchava (Georgia) – Baran Kirkgozler (Turkey) 0:5

Yasen Radev (Bulgaria) – Meylis Shaduddiyev (Turkmenistan) 5:0

Abdulaziz Abdunazarov (Uzbekistan) – Baglan Kenzhibek (Kazakhstan) 0:5

Gor Ayvazyan (Georgia) – Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu (Mongolia) WO

Lorenzo Patricio (USA) – Timur Kabdeshov (Kazakhstan) 4:1

Samandar Olimov (Uzbekistan) – Ali El Sari (Germany) 5:0

 65 kg — Men (Round of 32)

Maksud Khasmetov (Azerbaijan) – Patrise Mugalzai (England) 2:3

Abdikarim Abdigalym (Kazakhstan) – Abdulloh Madaminov (Uzbekistan) 0:5

Dean Clancy (Ireland) – Enes Refik Ciftci (Turkey) RSC R1 1:07 | Win for Dean Clancy (Ireland)

Enkhtur Tegshjargal (Mongolia) – Yuri Falcao Reis (Brazil) 1:4

Zaur Gakhramanov (Azerbaijan) – Ilya Kalinin (Kazakhstan) 1:4

Lasha Gagnidze (Georgia) – Victorio Iliev (Bulgaria) 4:1

Malik Hasanov (Azerbaijan) – Giacomo Giannotti (Italy) 4:0 R2 1:42

Yigit Us (Turkey) – Marcus Luther (USA) | RSC R2 2:51, win for Marcus Luther (USA)

Yertugan Zeinullinov (Kazakhstan) – Jason Nevin (Ireland) 3:1

85 kg — Men (Round of 16)

Akmaljon Isroilov (Uzbekistan) – Nathan Ojo (Ireland) 5:0

Saba Kvinikadze (Georgia) – Sultanbek Aibaruly (Kazakhstan) 0:5

Razvan Ciobanu (Romania) – Rahat Mollamuradov (Turkmenistan) | Razvan Ciobanu (Romania) did not appear

Danylo Zhasan (Ukraine) – Daniel Komarek (Czech Republic) 5:0

Norbek Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) – Matei Nastasyuk (Romania) 5:0

Michael Deruish (Austria) – Kristian Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 0:5

Matvii Razhba (Ukraine) – Samet Ersoy (Turkey) 5:0

Paolo Caruso (Italy) – Bekzat Tangatar (Kazakhstan) 2:3

90 kg — Men (Round of 16)

Isaias Santos Ribeiro Filho (Brazil) – Jack Marley (Ireland) 5:0

Turabek Khabibullaev (Uzbekistan) – Teagan Stott (England) RSC R2 2:50 | Win for Turabek Khabibullaev (Uzbekistan)

Daulet Tulemissov (Kazakhstan) – Semion Boldyrev (Bulgaria) 5:0

Jorge Luis Maieta (Romania) – Joseph Avignon (USA) 0:5

Taulant Jakupi (Kosovo) – Dean Nwokedi Chime (Italy) 0:5

Bogdan Tolmachov (Ukraine) – Mohamed Oussama Arbia (Algeria) 5:0

Samir Sobirov (Uzbekistan) – Vitalii Walter (Germany) 5:0

Roselin Bachevski (Bulgaria) – Nurmagamed Yusupov (Kazakhstan) DSQ R1 1:42 | Win for Nurmagamed Yusupov (Kazakhstan)

Full results courtesy of sportaran.com

▪️Four Algerian boxers including twice Africa Elite Championships silver medallist Fatiha Mansouri (pictured) lead Africa’s onslaught 

February 24, 2026

It’s Day Two in the 77th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, often referred to as the “mini World Championship.”

The tournament serves as a fierce battlefield for elite boxers, and in today’s action seven African boxers are determined to test themselves against the world’s best.

Amidst the European and Asian dominance, several African boxers are expected to make their mark with grit and skill.

Among the seven African boxers in action are two-time silver medallist in the Africa Elite Championships, Algeria’s Fatiha Mansouri and Sierra Leone’s prominent lightweight Josefien Betist.

Here’s the seven African boxers fighting today

Flyweight (W)

Fatiha Mansouri (Algeria) vs Zhazira Urakbayeva (Uzbekistan)

Aly Habiba (Egypt) vs Poptoleva Venelina (Bulgaria)

Light-middleweight (W)

Djouher Benane (Algeria) vs Leonie Muller (Germany)

Bantamweight (M)

Amir Kelany (Egypt) vs Maksym Zymenko (Ukraine)

Bantamweight (W)

Douaa Rouaz (Algeria) vs Lauren Mackie (England)

Lightweight (W)

Josefien Betist (Sierra Leone) vs Claudia Nechita (Romania)

Heavyweight (M)

Oussama Arabia Mohamed (Algeria) vs Bogdan Tolmachov (Ukraine)

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ireland and Armenia boxers shine on the opening day of this prestigious tournament

February 24, 2026

Egyptian team had a split opening day, with one boxer securing a win and another falling in their respective bout on Day One of the 77th Strandja Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Solidarity Games light-middleweight champion Ahmed Hekal was outpointed 4-1 by Byramdurdy Nurmuhammedov of Turkmenistan while light-heavyweight Fares Elsharkawi moved to the pre-quarters defeating Romania’s Petrica Muset Eduard. The referee stopped the bout at 1:59 of the third round due to the Romanian boxer sustaining an injury.

The first day of the 77th International Tournament “Strandja Cup 2026” turned out to be intense and productive. Boxers from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa contested 56 bouts across eight weight categories — from 50 kg to over 90 kg.

During the day, the following were recorded:
— 2 wins by knockout (KO)
— 2 referee stoppages due to injury (RSC-I)
— The majority of bouts ended in victories on points

On the opening day, representatives of more than 20 countries entered the ring. The highest number of victories was achieved by athletes from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ireland, and Armenia, confirming the high level of preparation of these national teams.

Armenian boxers secured 4 wins in 5 bouts. However, there was also a controversial judging decision in one of the fights involving an Armenian boxer

All Results of Day 1 of the Strandja Cup 2026 (February 23)

Weight category up to 50 kg (Flyweight)

Asilbek Jalilov (Uzbekistan)
def. Bekzat Aldamzharov (Kazakhstan) — 5:0

Rudolf Garboan (Armenia)
def. Resul Arslanov (Turkmenistan) — 5:0

Bilalhabashi Nazarov (Azerbaijan)
def. Louis Rooney (Ireland) — 4:1

Siyovush Muhammadiyev (Ukraine)
def. Iliya Kalchev (Bulgaria) — 4:1

Battulga Aldarkhishig (Mongolia)
def. Ergunal Sebahtin (Bulgaria) — 5:0

Weight Category up to 55 kg (Bantamweight)

Baglan Kenzhibek (Kazakhstan)
def. Nijat Huseynov (Azerbaijan) — 5:0

Gor Ayvazyan (Georgia)
def. Semih Gumus (Turkey) — 5:0

Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu (Mongolia)
def. Oleg Chulyacheev (Ukraine) — 5:0

Lorenzo Patricio (USA)
def. Michael Douglas Trindade da Silva (Brazil) — 3:2

Timur Kabdeshov (Kazakhstan)
def. Paddy Joyce (Ireland) — 5:0

Samandar Olimov (Uzbekistan)
def. Elmir Nabiyev (Ukraine) — 5:0

Ali El Sari (Germany)
def. Zalimkhan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan) — 5:0

*Weight category up to 60 kg (Lightweight)*

Mahammadali Ashiraliyev (Azerbaijan)
def. Michele Baldassi (Italy) — 3:2

Salim Ellis-Bey (USA)
def. Ruslan Kuzeubaev (Kazakhstan) — 3:2

Artur Bazeyan (Armenia)
def. Adam Hession (Ireland) — 4:1

Lundaa Gantumur (Mongolia)
def. Biibars Zheksen (Kazakhstan) — 4:1

Luiz Gabriel Nascimento Oliveira (Brazil)
def. Mahammad Gasimzada (Azerbaijan) — 5:0

Selahattin Cinibulak (Turkey)
def. Abdurakhmon Makhmudjonov (Uzbekistan) — 3:2

William Hewitt (England)
def. Giorgi Kapanadze (Georgia) — 5:0

Ramon Santos da Conceicao (Brazil)
def. Giuseppe Canonico (Italy) — 5:0

Owain Harris-Allan (Wales)
def. Tolga Kaya (Turkey) — 4:1

Radoslav Rosenov (Bulgaria)
def. Tagi Nasibov (Azerbaijan) — 4:1

Alen Rustomovski (North Macedonia)
def. Vasile Scalco (Romania) — 5:0

Buyandalai Bayarkhuu (Mongolia)
def. Jude Gallagher (Ireland) — 3:2

Mohamed Siala (Germany)
def. Jeronimo Saint-Louis (Haiti) — 5:0

*Weight category up to 70 kg (Light Middleweight)*

Randy Botikali (Germany)
def. Shpetim Bajoku (Kosovo) — 5:0

Farukh Tokhtasunov (Kazakhstan)
def. Arsen Chabyan (Austria) — 5:0

Bayramdurdy Nurmuhammedov (Turkmenistan)
def. Ahmed Hekal (Egypt) — 4:1

Terry McEntee (Ireland)
def. Ahmet Pekel (Turkey) — 5:0

Kaian Oliveira Reis (Brazil)
def. Daniel Adrian Grigorie (Romania) — 5:0

Magomed Shakhidov (Germany)
def. Tihomir Zaykov (Bulgaria) — 5:0

Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar (Mongolia)
def. Alexey Shiryaev (Bulgaria) — 4:1

Harutyun Hakobkokhyan (Armenia)
def. Kelvin Sokuessa (Czech Republic) — 3:2

Lavant Brownlee (USA)
def. Luka Nikabadze (Georgia) — 5:0

Muhammadsabyr Bazarbay uulu (Kazakhstan)
def. Abdulaziz Zhurakulov (Uzbekistan) — 5:0

John McConnell (Ireland)
def. Gianluigi Malanga (Italy) — 4:1

Weight category up to 75 kg (Middleweight)

Marat Mikayelyan (Armenia)
def. Stelian Strahilov (Bulgaria) — 5:0

Gabriele Guidi Rontanti (Italy)
def. Giorgi Natroshvili (Georgia) — 4:1

Orlando Holley-Sotomi (Wales)
def. Alperen Yilmaz (Turkey) — 4:1

Fazliddin Erkinboev (Uzbekistan)
def. Dalai Ganzorig (Mongolia) — 5:0

Weight category up to 80 kg (Light Heavyweight)

Cristian Sarsilli (Italy)
def. Yazmyrat Babishev (Turkmenistan) — 5:0

Lucky Aimuafua (Austria)
def. Emre Parlak (Turkey) — 5:0

Luka Matchutadze (Georgia)
def. Mert Aybuga (Turkey) — 3:1

Jamal Kuliev (Ukraine)
def. Anvar Nasredinov (Cameroon) — 5:0

Fares Elsharkawi (Egypt)
*def. Eduard Petrica Muset (Romania) — RSC-I, Round 3 (1:59)*
*(referee stopped contest due to injury)*

Dimeji Shittu (England)
def. Daniel Pitt (Wales) — 5:0

Josh Olaniyan (Ireland)
def. Murad Allahverdiyev (Azerbaijan) — 5:0

Robbie Gonzalez (USA)
def. Dias Molzhigitov (Kazakhstan) — 4:1

Wanderley de Souza Pereira (Brazil)
def. Kelyn Cassidy (Ireland) — KO, Round 2 (0:55)

Kaua dos Santos Bellini (Brazil)
def. Sanzhar-Ali Begaliev (Kazakhstan) — 5:0

Javokhir Ummataliev (Uzbekistan)
def. Nikolay Dishkov (Bulgaria) — 5:0

*Weight category up to 90 kg (Heavyweight)*

Samir Sobirov (Uzbekistan)
def. Yunus Emre Taskin (Turkey) — 5:0

Vitaliy Walter (Germany)
def. Stoyan Petrov (Bulgaria) — ABD, Round 2
(opponent retired)

Roselin Bachevski (Bulgaria)
def. Narek Manasyan (Armenia) — 3:2
(on a tied score, victory awarded by preference)

Nurmagamed Yussupov (Kazakhstan)
def. Connor Williams (Wales) — 4:0

*Weight category over 90 kg (Super Heavyweight)*

Dimitar Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
def. Sabuhi Alizada (Azerbaijan) — RSC-I, Round 1 (2:17)
(referee stopped contest due to injury)

Courtesy sportaran.com