▪️African champion Issam Bensayar contains Azerbaijan’s world champion Subhan Mamedov to go down fighting in the flyweight final bout

April 27, 2026

Morocco’s reigning African flyweight champion Issam Bensayar put up a gutsy and an aggressive show but lost on points to Azerbaijan’s world champion Subhan Mamedov in a closely contested flyweight (50kg) final at the World Boxing Cup in Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil on April 26, 2026,

The match, held at the Rafain Palace Hotel, marked a significant showdown in the first major tournament of the 2026 World Boxing calendar, featuring boxers competing for international ranking points.

Morocco topped the African countries winning one silver and a bronze by world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal.

The southpaw Bensayar reached the final after a hard-fought semifinal in which scored an upset points victory over Spain’s world bronze medallist in 2023 Martin Molina, while Mamedov was the top-seeded favourite, carrying his form as the 2025 IBA Men’s World Champion.

Mamedov’s victory was part of a strong showing for Azerbaijan, which had three boxers competing in the tournament finals.

The bout was contested at a fast pace, typical of the 50kg division. Mamedov utilized his superior technical experience and ring generalship to control the tempo of the fight.

Despite Bensayar’s agility and tactical attempts to disrupt Mamedov’s rhythm, the Azerbaijani boxer maintained composure and utilized sharp counter-punching to secure crucial points in the eyes of the judges.

Mamedov’s ability to stay calm under pressure allowed him to have a slight edge over game and courageous Bensayar who gave as much as he received though generally the bout did not produce the expected fireworks.

Bensayar, while competitive throughout, struggled to land consistent, clean shots against the steady defense of Mamedov.

Interestingly, Mamedov won by a unanimous decision but I thought a 3-2 decision would have been fair taking into account it was a closely contested affair which could have gone either way. Mamedov may have scored with more cleaner punches but he didn’t dominate as Bensayar also had his opponent on the backfoot with some nice shots.

The 25-year-old Bensayar made his international debut in the 2024 Africa Elite Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo, winning gold by defeating Fabrice Valerie of Mauritius in the finals.

Bensayar was among the 13 boxers – six men and seven women – who represented Morocco in Brazil.

The Vice President of Moroccan federation Nabil Hilmi said they intend to take part in most of the major events this year, and confirmed they will defend their IBA Africa title aiming to win it for the third time in a row.

“We will participate in all continental and world competitions this year,” Hilmi told boxersworld.co.ke, and said locally they have eight regional leagues and one professional league to keep boxers in shape and improve the standard of boxing.

▪️The night will be headlined by six reigning world champions who secured gold at the Dubai 2025 World Championships. Their participation ensures a technical standard of the highest calibre, as the IBA continues to elevate its athletes on a global professional stage

April 27, 2026

The International Boxing Association (IBA) officially confirms that Saint Petersburg, Russia, will host the IBA Pro Champions Night, a premier show tournament scheduled for May 4, 2026.

Taking place at the KSK Arena, the event is set to be one of the most significant fixtures on the sporting calendar, blending traditional elite boxing with the raw intensity of bare knuckle competition.

The night will be headlined by six reigning world champions who secured gold at the Dubai 2025 World Championships. Their participation ensures a technical standard of the highest calibre, as the IBA continues to elevate its athletes on a global professional stage.

In a move designed to broaden the evening’s appeal and spectacle, the programme will also feature high-stakes bare knuckle fights, adding a layer of grit and diversity to the night’s entertainment.

The KSK Arena is expected to be a focal point for the international boxing community, with a guest list comprising several of the sport’s most famous celebrities and renowned athletes.

While the full list of competing boxers and the specific bare knuckle matchups are currently being finalised, the IBA expects to release the complete fight card shortly.

This event represents a landmark moment for Saint Petersburg, promising an unforgettable atmosphere for fans of both traditional and modern combat disciplines.

Courtesy IBA

▪️He now meets Azerbaijan’s world champion Subhan Mamedov (pictured above) in what promises to be a closely contested final

▪️Another Moroccan boxer in the semis, world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal, went down on points to Serbia’s Sara Cirkovich 

April 26, 2026

Moroccan boxing sensation and reigning African flyweight champion Issam Bensayar (pictured below) has continued his meteoric rise on the international stage, punching his way to the final of the World Boxing Cup in Brazil.

In a highly anticipated semi-finals showdown, Bensayar secured a well-deserved victory over Spanish world bronze medalist Martin Molina Salvador.

Bensayar’s significant victory over Molina has been received with excitement in Africa’s boxing fraternity viewed as sweet revenge following Molina’s controversial win over Zambia’s African Games champion Patrick Chinyemba at the 2023 Men’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Another Moroccan boxer in the semis, world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal, lost 3-0 to Serbia’s world bronze medallist Sara Cirkovich in their second fight having met in the semi-finals of the 2025 Worlds with Bertal winning on points.

Bensayar’s fight was described as a strong, competitive matchup where the Moroccan displayed admirable technical skills and immense fighting spirit to overcome the seasoned Spanish boxer.

This win highlights the strengthening position of Moroccan boxing on the international stage and brings Bensayar closer to a major world title.

Before meeting Molina, Bensayar decisioned Kazakhstan’s world championships quarter-finalist Daniyal Sabit who was beaten by Zambia’s renowned Patrick Chinyemba in the last eight of Dubai Men’s Worlds.

The Moroccan is now facing Azerbaijan’s world champion Subhan Mamedov in the finals tonight.

A graduate of Agjabedi Boxing School, the 19-year-old Mamedov, who is also U23 European champion, made history at the 2025 Dubai Worlds as Azerbaijan’s youngest ever world champion following his 4-3 victory over fancied Russian Edmond Khudoyan in the minimumweight category.

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▪️The bitter truth to the comedians is that the IBA and WB are no longer in conflict they’re fuelling, and with the new centralized structure, the old AFBC executive has zero functional power

April 26, 2026

In the dusty corners of African boxing administration, a tiny group of former AFBC officials – backed by a disgruntled NFs leader – is wasting time fighting against their own shadow.

They are throwing punches at an empty ring, shouting accusations at the International Boxing Association (IBA) while holding up tattered banners of a “resistance” that no one else is watching. So frustrated and desperate, they’re are now seeking solace in some myopic African Whatsapp forums where they spend the whole day releasing pent-up emotions to one or two of their short-sighted sympathisers.

Their cause, once perhaps legitimate, has become an empty, echo-chamber crusade, fighting to bring down an organization that is actively consolidating its global grip, not collapsing. It’s only a mad man who can attempt to bring down a baobab tree using a razor blade. That’s what the comedians are doing.

The tragicomedy is that these ex-officials, who are joined on their dusty path by disgruntled anti-IBA bigots, are fighting a war that ended months ago. They scream “down with IBA” while ignoring the reality on the ground: the IBA has already restructured, establishing IBA Africa, stripping old, stagnant structures of their power.

These gifted comedians have rejected the legitimacy of reforms, calling for a “unity” that only isolates them further.

Behaving like punch-drunk boxers, the comedians have dug their heads deep in the sand, ignoring the glaring fact that IBA has moved to a centralized model, placing all operational authority in the hands of the IBA Continental Operations Desk.

They are simply fighting a “shadow” of the past, unaware that the IBA is already collaborating with IBA Africa Interim President General Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo with an intention to provide funds for the smooth operation of the new management structure and organise tournaments which will financially empower African boxers.

The funniest, and saddest part? These officials are desperately trying to align with splinter groups, oblivious to the fact that the broader boxing landscape has shifted.

While they fight their own shadow, the IBA has moved forward, and the supposed “conflict” they are fueling is a relic of the past.

They are like boxers who don’t hear the final bell, still swinging, still looking for a fight, while the crowd has already left the arena to watch the main event.

The bitter truth to the comedians is that the IBA and WB are no longer in conflict they’re fuelling, and with the new centralized structure, the old AFBC executive has zero functional power. They’re now in the deep waters of shark-infested ocean crying for help before being ripped apart.

The “fight” against the IBA is now just a sad, solitary dance—a performance of outrage that does nothing to the inevitable progress of African boxing under new unified management led by General Luyoyo. They are not fighting the IBA; they are fighting their own irrelevance. And in this fight, the shadow is winning.

At WB-affiliated African Boxing, they actually have no clout other than being mere cheer leaders while the real power barons – respected boxing leaders – are silently working towards a better future for African boxers. They’re aware that it’s only through concerted efforts that African boxing will prosper and produce world beaters.

Meanwhile, let’s keep on enjoying the daily free shows by the versatile comedians as the serious-minded African boxing leaders focus on the bigger picture.

▪️World champ Widad Bertal meets Serbian European champion and world bronze medallist Sara Cirkovic for the second time 

April 25, 2026

Moroccans, world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal and Africa flyweight gold medallist, Issam Bensayar are the only two boxers from Africa in today’s semi-finals of the World Boxing Cup in Brazil.

Bertal shocked Poland’s world number 7 ranked Wiktoria Rogalinska whom she outpointed in the quarter-finals.

For the second time Bertal now meets tough Serbian European champion (senior and U23) Sara Cirkovic.

Bertal beat the Serbian 4-3 on bout review in the semi-finals of the 2025 Women’s World Championships in Serbia.

The Moroccan went on to claim Africa’s second gold by a female boxer in the World Championships, beating Turkey’s Hatice Akbas in the finals.

“Bertal and Bensayar are the ambassadors of Africa, I hope they’ll go all the way if the officiating is fair,” Moroccan Federation Vice-President Nabil Hilmi told boxersworld.co.ke.

Hilmi said his two boxers, Africa female light-flyweight champion Yasmine Mouttaki and middleweight Akram Masmoudi were denied victories by the judges.

“Yasmine lost unfairly to a Chinese boxer in the quarter-finals, and Akram the same lost to Brazilian,” said Hilmi.

Bensayar, who won flyweight gold in the 2024 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships in Kinshasa, will take on Spain’s 2023 World Championships bronze medallists and European champion in 2022 Martin Molina Salvador in the semi-finals.

Africa’s boxing fraternity has yet to forget Molina’s unpopular points win over Zambia’s Patrick “Baddo” Chinyemba in the World Championships three years ago in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Victory for Bensayar will cool the Africans for a revenge well earned.

▪️They’re both hot medal prospects in this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

April 25, 2026

The 2025 Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championship in Nairobi proved to be a defining moment for Ugandan women’s boxing, with featherweight Fatuma “The Thunder” Nabikolo and Emily Nakalema underlining their status as top-tier talents by securing gold medals.

Their dominant performances established them as essential selections for any serious coach prioritizing excellence, skill, and championship mentality in their squad when selecting his/her team for a major international tournament.

Fatuma demonstrated exceptional skill in the 57kg division, securing the gold medal with a comprehensive and clinical 5-0 victory over Congo’s Phoba Kerene in the finals, highlighting her technical superiority, confidence and endurance on the continental stage.

Emily Nakalema showcased natural power in the ring, notably overpowering Tanzania’s Salma Yahya to win her gold medal with a first round stoppage win, showcasing the type of aggressive, finishing capability that coaches look for in high-pressure tournaments.

The performances of Fatuma and Nakalema, along with other “Bombers” (Uganda’s national boxing team), saw Uganda leave Nairobi with a total of 15 medals, displaying superb tactical boxing that once made Uganda one of the world’s boxing superpowers.

Both Fatuma and Nakalema demonstrated that they can win when it matters most, making them key figures for future international competitions..

Their ability to manage top-tier competition and secure technical knockouts or unanimous decisions makes them undeniably the first names on a team sheet for top-level competition for any professional coach worth his/her salt.

The success of Fatuma and Nakalema during the Africa Zone 3 tournament featuring strong competition from DR Congo and Kenya, solidified their places as premier female boxers in Uganda and the wider region.

Glasgow here comes Uganda’s two fearless boxers ready to take on the best in the squared circle.

▪️Vuyolwethu has reassured her fans that this is not a permanent retirement but a strategic pause to rebuild her life outside the ring 

April 25, 2026

South African international boxing sensation Dila Vuyolwethu aka Skolo is trading her gloves for textbooks, announcing a temporary hiatus from boxing in 2026 to finalize her studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

A bronze medallist at the 2024 Africa Elite Championships, Vuyolwethu, who has previously spoken openly about overcoming a severe three-year battle with drug addiction, has made the conscious decision to pause her boxing career to prioritize education.

This academic powerhouse is set to graduate in May, 2026 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology, a milestone she describes as crucial to her life’s purpose outside the ring.

“Boxing taught me how to fight, but education is teaching me how to live,” Vuyolwethu told boxersworld.co.ke following the announcement of sidestepping the ring.

Having represented South Africa in various international tournaments from 2018, Vuyolwethu has reassured fans that this is not a permanent retirement, but a strategic pause to rebuild her life and career structure.

She has confirmed her commitment to return to the squared circle in 2027, stronger and with a degree in hand. She will however move to the paid ranks.

“I have several responsibilities, that’s why I want to make some money in pro boxing,” she said but remained non-committal on whether she will rejoin the national team.

Vuyolwethu’s planned break marks a new chapter in a story of remarkable resilience, focusing on long-term sustainability rather than short-term success.

“Right now I am at the university of Cape Town furthering my education,” she told me, adding: “I will be graduating in the first week of May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, so I’m unable to attend boxing gym as this degree course is so demanding. I spend most of my time at school from 7am to 4pm in the afternoon come back very tired and still have to plan for the following day. I have decided to take a step back from boxing for now and focus on my studies. People can expect my return to competitions in 2027 but as a professional boxer.

“My last competition was the Provincial Championships in 2025 in which I won a gold medal and crowned the best boxer. I could not go to nationals because I was busy in school.

“I also took part in the University Games but I was fighting in the bantamweight class in December, 2025 without having trained because I was busy with my final year examinations.”

In a previous interview with boxersworld.co.ke, Vuyolwethu said the 2024 season was her most successful ever, winning medals in all tournaments she participated and put the icing on the cake with her first ever medal in the African Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships held in DR Congo’s capital city, Kinshasa.

The charming and affable South African star boxer has made tremendous progression ever since she made her international debut in the Africa Youth Men’s and Women’s Championships in Casablanca, Morocco in 2018 winning a bronze medal in the flyweight division. She lost 5-0 in the semi-finals to Algeria’s Yasmine Khither.

“I was still new in the international stage, some sceptics expected me to fold back but I was confident, I just lacked experience,” Vuyolwethu told boxersworld.co.ke on her impressive show in Morocco.

“I was so excited winning a medal in my debut for my country.”

After the Africa Youth Championships in Morocco, Vuyolwethu, then 18 years old, maintained her consistency, winning flyweight gold in the Mandela Centenary youth tournament featuring Swaziland and Lesotho in Eastern Cape. Her brilliant performance also earned her the best boxer award in the female category.

Vuyolwethu’s ascendancy in 2018 continued unabated, winning her second gold medal in Region Five Games in Botswana.

She graduated to the national senior team in 2019 but a shoulder injury temporarily scuttled her relentless march to the top.

Her morale was further dampened in 2020 following the death of her beloved grandmother Ann Rose Dila.

“The death of my grand mum killed me emotionally” recalls Vuyolwethu but through her unwavering determination and resilience, she bounced back with a bang in 2021 during which she won the national title and was unbeaten in the national team selections emerging the top light-flyweight.

The steady march to glory was now unstoppable. At the inaugural International University World Cup Combat Games in Turkey she bagged a bronze medal and a silver in the Zone 4 Championships in Maputo in 2022.

Two unsuccessful attempts in the African Men’s and Women’s Championships in 2022 and 2023 toughened Vuyolwethu’s resolve to do better, culminating in her first medal – a bronze – in the premier African boxing event held in Kinshasa, DR Congo in 2024.

“I can say that’s my most memorable achievement because I didn’t win any medal in the African Championships in 2022 and 2023. Standing in the podium in Kinshasa meant a lot to me.”

Vuyolwethu was defeated 4-1 in the minimumweight semi-finals by Morocco’s debutant El Harouad Hafsa but she was not convinced.

“They robbed me I won the fight, the Moroccan did nothing in the ring,” said Vuyolwethu who also won a silver medal in the inaugural Mandela African Boxing Cup in Durban.

▪️The Zone 4 event will take place in Namibia’s northern province town of Katima Mulilo from May 3-11

April 24, 2026

The gloves are off and the stakes are high as Namibia prepares to host the prestigious IBA Africa Zone 4 Boxing Championships from May 3–11, 2026.

For nine intense days, the northern province town of Katima Mulilo will become the epicenter of regional pugilism, featuring the best emerging and established talent from across Southern Africa.

The Secretaty-General of IBA Africa Zone 4, Taolo Tlouetsile, confirmed Namibia will host the 2026 event for Southern African countries.

“I can confirm that the preparations are going well. We received positive feedback from NFs,” Taolo told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from Botswana.

He went on: “We hope the turnout will be much better from the previous edition. We have the support from IBA Africa to train coaches and R & Js.” We’ll have certification courses for IBA Star 1 for coaches and the IBA Star 1 and 2 for R & Js.”

Taolo said the following eight countries have confirmed participation:

1. Namibia 🇳🇦 13 men and 8 women

2. Malawi 🇲🇼 3 men and 2 women, 1 manager and 1 coach

3. Lesotho 🇱🇸 8 men and 4 women, executive rep, 1 manager, and 3 coaches

4. Zambia 🇿🇲 9 men and 8 women

5. Seychelles 🇸🇨 4 men, and 2 coaches

6. Comoros 🇰🇲 waiting for their team list

7. Eswatini 🇸🇿 waiting for their list

8. SANABO 🇿🇦 waiting for their list

Defending champions Mozambique is among the six countries yet to confirm participation. Here they are:

1. Botswana 🇧🇼

2. Madagascar 🇲🇬

3. Mauritius 🇲🇺

4. Mozambique 🇲🇿

5. Angola 🇦🇴

6. Zimbabwe

Mozambique won the five-nation 2025 Zone 4 Championships in Maputo with 10 gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Eswatini placed second 5-3-8 followed by Botswana 2-2-3, Lesotho 2-1-5 and wooden spoonists Seychelles 1-1-0.

Glamour girls Alcinda Dos Santos and Rady Gramane and Armando Sigauque were among the international boxers who won the 10 gold medals.

Alcinda defeated Eswatini’s Lindelwa Fakundze at light-middleweight in the finals, middleweight Gramane beat compatriot Rabia Pedro and Sigauque outpointed Lesotho’s Toka Litabe..

Mozambique therefore enters the ring with a massive target on their back, having cemented their status as a regional powerhouse. However, Namibia—fueled by a passionate home crowd and a desire to dominate on home soil—promises to turn the ring into a fortress.

With local pride on the line and elite bragging rights at stake, this tournament is set to be a war for regional supremacy.

▪️Bertal and compatriot Africa flyweight champion Issam Bensayar won their first fights in the ongoing World Boxing Cup in Brazil

April 23, 2026

Putting behind a shaky start in the ongoing World Boxing Cup in Brazil, Morocco’s world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal (pictured) and Africa flyweight champion Issam Bensayar won their opening bouts on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Bertal beat Hungary’s Hanna Lakotoa 5-0 in women’s bantamweight.

Known for her aggressive ring craft and showboating, Bertal didn’t just win; she commanded the ring, displaying relentless agility and precision, proving that her technical brilliance is unmatched on the global stage as seen in winning gold at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Serbia.

Bertal’s compatriot, Issam Bensayar, who is the reigning Africa flyweight champion, proved his mettle by matching the high energy of his teammate, navigating a challenging bout with strategic movement and decisive striking to ensure the Moroccan flag flew high with a convincing 5-0 victory over Ireland’s Louis Rooney.

The other Moroccans in action on Day Three, Africa light-middleweight champion Saida Lahmidi and middleweight Akram El Massmoudi lost their fights with the latter losing 5-0 to Brazil’s Thauan Silva and Saida going down 4-0 to China’s world champion Liu Yang, a gold medallist in the welterweight division at the 2023 Women’s World Championships and Paris Olympics silver medallist. She also won silver at the 2019 Women’s World Championships.

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▪️Only two Moroccan boxers, two-time African champion Yasmine Mouttaki and Wissal Fakhit have won their fights 

▪️The results so far show four African countries Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya are in Brazil for the World Boxing Cup

April 22, 2026

The dreams of 13 African boxers died on Brazilian canvas in the opening stages of the World Boxing Cup in Foz Do Iguaca, Brazil.

They arrived in South America representing the grit of their respective nations, but have been left with the heavy lessons of elite global competition.

The tournament, aimed at testing the world’s best, turned into a harsh reality check for the African hopefuls.

The tactical superiority of seasoned European and South American fighters left little room for error. One by one, the African pugilists were forced to succumb to judges’ decisions or forced stoppages, their journey ending far earlier than anticipated.

Only two African boxers – all Moroccans – have chalked up victories in the first two days, April 20 and April 21, 2026.

The two all Moroccan winners are two-time African champion flyweight Yasmine Mouttaki (pictured) and minimumweight Wissal Fakhir who stopped Tunisia’s Wafa Hafsi in the third round while Mouttaki, world bronze medallist in 2023, was on top her game beating Mexico’s Valeria Ameparan.

The 13 boxers eliminated are lightweight Imad Azoui, middleweight Mounia Toutire, light-middleweight Reda Enniche, bantamweight Othman Chadghour and light-welterweight Ellalouva Mohamed all of them from Morocco..

Others are light-heavyweight Youssef Rafrafi,minimumweight Wafa Hafsi, featherweight Islem Ferchichi, flyweight Nour El Houda, light-welterweight Hussein Atia all Tunisians, Egypt’s light-heavyweight Fares Elsharkam, Libyans heavyweight Adim Adel and light-welterweight Salah Aldeen.

The results highlight the glaring, urgent need for more high-profile international exposure and specialized coaching in the technical nuances of the sport in Africa.

There will be no medals for the 13 boxers. Yet, in the silent, empty changing rooms of Brazil, the groundwork for the next generation was laid. They came as hopefuls, and they return as battle-hardened carrying the bitter taste of defeat that, for some, will fuel a fire for a stronger, smarter comeback.

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