▪️Tiago Muxanga defied all odds to clinch the Commonwealth Silver Super-Welterweight title by decisioning Britain’s Asinia Byfiel
February 18, 2026
Mozambican boxer Tiago Muxanga is the new Commonwealth Silver Super-Welterweight Champion.
Muxanga extended his winning streak on Sunday, February 15, 2026, by defeating British opponent Asinia Byfield by split decision at the “Fearless” event in the United Kingdom. Tiago attacked relentlessly, unsettling his opponent and claiming the prestigious title at the Top Tier Boxing event in Essex, south-east England. The silver title is the second most important Commonwealth belt in pro boxing.
With the victory over Byfield in a closely contested fight, Muxanga became the first Mozambican to achieve such a feat in professional boxing. All four of his professional bouts have ended in victory, cementing his rising status on the international stage.
Born in Mafalala, Maputo, 25-year-old Tiago Osório Muxanga is one of Mozambique’s most prominent boxers, balancing both professional and amateur competition. Last December, he impressed at the 2025 IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reaching the quarter-finals.
Tiago’s deserved victory caught the attention of Mozambican President Daniel Chapo.
In his congratulatory message, President Chapo said the victory projects Mozambique onto the international stage of professional boxing and reinforces the country’s prestige abroad.
“The victory represents a milestone of great importance for national sport,” said Chapo.
In response, Tiago Muxanga expressed gratitude for the presidential recognition and the support he has received throughout his sporting career. The boxer also took the opportunity to request better conditions that would allow him to consolidate his career.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the support and attention I have received throughout my career. The support has been crucial to my professional growth and the continuation of my work, with dedication and responsibility ,” Muxanga wrote on his social media.
Muxanga further added, respectfully, his hope that he could count on the consideration of the President of the Republic regarding the improvement of his conditions, namely housing support and benefits that contribute to the stability and enhancement of his career, proudly reinforcing: “I am Mozambican.”
*Muxanga’s trainer Marlee Dann exuded confidence*
Ahead of the fight, Muxanga’s Plymouth-based trainer Marlee Dann said he was confident his ‘exceptional’ fighter will ‘come through’
Marlee Dann was quoted in The Herald saying Tiago Muxanga is taking a ‘risk’ when he takes on Asinia Byfield for the Silver Commonwealth super-welterweight crown.
Plymouth-trained rising star Tiago Muxanga faces potentially the longest contest of his career when he takes on Asinia Byfield for the Silver Commonwealth super-welterweight crown this weekend.
Muxanga, the latest protege of Intense ABC trainer Marlee Dann, takes on 36-year-old Byfield in a contest which would be 10 rounds if it goes the distance at the Brentwood Centre in Essex on Sunday.
The former Olympian, originally from Mozambique, has only been tested up to five rounds since joining the paid ranks – although that was because he stopped Harvey Collison with more than three rounds to spare in his last outing.
But Dann said Byfield will not be an easy opponent to face, having been well conditioned to the rigours of 10-round contests in a 25-fight record that includes 18 wins.
Dann told The Herald: “He [Byfield] is very capable – he is a good fighter, I’m not going to lie. He’s capable.”
But he backs the explosive Muxanga to wear down Byfield and add a first professional title to his growing reputation.
“I think it’s very early,” he said. “To fight a 10-round fight in your first three fights is very unusual, but it’s ambitious from the manager and ambitious from everyone.
“But Tiago is a former Olympian and has boxed at a very, very high level, so what does he do now?
“Does he fight a bunch of journeymen who turn up just to provide the rounds, or do you put him into real fights that are going to benefit him?
“I think it’s a winnable fight, I think Asinia Byfield is an excellent fighter, but I think Tiago is an exceptional fighter. So I think the quality should come through.”
Byfield will be in the away corner on Sunday, in a clash which tops a bill also being streamed on sports channel DAZN, starting at 4pm.
But Dann said taking on the Reading man will be considered a risk for Muxanga, as Byfield has fought from New York to Dubai in a varied and colourful career.
Dann said: “Absolutely it’s a risk; Asinia Byfield is a good fighter, and I think he’s experienced over the rounds, and Tiago isn’t.
“But I think Tiago’s quality will show through; Tiago will be far too much and should be able to find the shot.”
Yet Muxanga’s own reputation is growing, not least due to the way in which he dismantled Collison in a statement win at York Hall last December, sending the Southampton man to the canvas twice before the clash was waved off.
Dann said: “Everyone knows his [Muxanga’s] reputation now, and so does Asinia Byfield; but Asinia Byfield is a very ballsy character and has got a lot of bottle.
“He [Byfield] has fought very good people through his entire career and his only losses have come from elite-level fighters away from home.
“He’s beat people who have been undefeated, and he is a very capable man. He’s very big and very unorthodox.
“He is a southpaw and orthodox, he comes forward and he can go back; he is a good fighter.”
Capturing the Silver Commonwealth would also be following in the trajectory of stablemate Constantin Ursu, who is now in the final stages of preparation for his British Welterweight title contest in Derby on February 28.
Courtesy plymouthherald.co.uk and clubofmozambique.com
