▪️Four Kenyan boxers are among Africa’s Emerging Stars who will trade leather against the world’s best in the inaugural World Boxing (WB) U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok, a pathway to Youth Olympics in Dakar
March 5, 2026
African Youth Games bronze medallist Sonia Atieno, Ellah Demesi, Phelix Ochieng and newcomer Brian Arianda are the four boxers carrying the hopes of over 50 million Kenyans in this Youth Olympics qualifying boxing event in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 8-15.
The four confident boxers leave Nairobi on Friday, March 6, accompanied by Kenya’s national team head coach Musa Benjamin, his deputy David Munuhe and John Waweru.
They are viewed as a fresh generation of talent set to gain valuable experience and compete for spots in the 2026 Youth Olympics scheduled for Dakar, Senegal, from October 31- November 13.
Captain Atieno was bubbling with confidence when I spoke to her during their final workout at the Mathare Police Depot Gym in Nairobi on Wednesday, March 4.
“This time unlike in Angola I’ll fight in 65 kg, no cutting down weight, I’ll be very strong,” the 16-year-old Grade 10 student at Lions High School in Kisumu told boxersworld.co.ke
“I’m aiming for gold or silver, most important I want to qualify for Youth Olympics,” said the pride of Nyalenda slums in Kisumu, Kenya’s third largest city.
Atieno won a bronze medal in the 2025 African Youth Games in Angola, losing in the semi-finals to Tunisia’s Alma Zaara.
“I had to deny myself food to reduce weight to make it in the lightweight division, I was so weak,” said Atieno.
“I learnt a lot in the tournament, the allowance we were paid made our Christmas so enjoyable and also used part of it to pay for my school fees.”
Atieno’s sentiments are echoed by 16-year-old Ellah Demesi, a Grade 10 student at Shadrack Kimalel Secondary School.
“My allowance in Angola came in handy for Christmas shopping, we had a wonderful time, and this has inspired me to work harder in boxing, I gave all the money to my parents and they shared part of it to me for my personal needs. I’ll do the same from my Bangkok allowance.”
On the competition ahead, Ellah said: “I have high hopes of doing better than in Angola, I’m in top shape I’ve been training daily at my Kibra Youth Boxing Club.”
At the African Youth Games in Angola, Ellah lost to Tunisia’s Oueslatim Tashmin in the flyweight class while Phelix Ochieng was outpointed by DR Congo’s Mambu Mambone at featherweight.
“The experience I gained in Angola will help me perform better in Bangkok,” said Ochieng, a Grade 10 student at Raila Educational Centre in Kibra.
Newcomer Brian Arianda is thinking big ahead of the Futures Cup in Bangkok.
“I’m very happy to represent Kenya for the first time to test my boxing skills against opponents from outside my country,” said 16-year-old Arianda who is aiming to turn professional in the near future..
He started boxing in 2020, training at home in Onyonka Estate under coach Fred Obunga. Two years later he moved Mukuru Fight-4-Life Boxing Club where his boxing education was further sharpened by coach Benson Gicharu, a former international. Arianda is currently a member of Rongai Boxing Club.
Like his other compatriots, Arianda declined attending a boarding school in order to have more time in boxing. He is now doing online studies at Caplora Stem International.
“I’m comfortable doing my studies online, it gives me more time to engage in boxing, I’m aiming to become a pro boxer,” Arianda told boxersworld.co.ke.
Outside boxing, Arianda is intending to venture into aviation business.
“Currently I’m into poultry business at my rural home in Siaya, I have 50 ‘kienyeji’ chicken my grandmum takes care of the business,” said the ambitious Arianda.
Bangkok is buzzing with activity as the Kenyan youth aim to replicate the legends who shook the world in the 80s in the famous King’s Cup Championships. The Bangkok tournament serves as a crucial stepping stone for young fighters aiming for Olympic glory and probably professional boxing success.
The competition promises to be a spectacle of skill, strength and determination with fans and coaches cheering on the next generation of boxing champions.
Head coach Musa Benjamin is grateful to the Kenya government for financing their trip to Bangkok.
Musa, who is also the treasurer of the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK), said BFK funded the training of the four boxers.
“It’s been a challenge training our team because during the day they’re all in school until in the evening is when we team up with them,” said Musa while accepting their preparations have been inadequate for a tournament of this magnitude but he’s optimistic of positive results.
Successful boxers will book tickets to the 2026 Youth Olympics Games to be staged in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. It’s the first time an Olympic event is being held on African soil.
The Bangkok boxing tournament is the only qualification event for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.
Female boxers will compete in 10 categories, 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg and +80kg. The official female Olympic Youth categories are 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg and 60kg.
The male boxers will also participate in 10 weight classes, 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 90kg and +90kg. The official Youth Olympics categories for the men are the 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, and 70kg.
Boxers born between 2008 and 2009 age groups are eligible to participate in the Bangkok event but the eligibility for the Youth Olympic Games is for athletes who were born between November 14, 2008 to December 31, 2009.
