▪️Zambia’s Clement Zulu, Comoros’ Abdourahim Mohamed and Angola’s Kelson Neto mint bronze medals
September 11, 2026
Three African warriors went down swinging today at the Daurian Cup International Youth Boxing Tournament, securing a trio of hard-fought bronze medals after fierce semi-final battles in Chita, Russia.
While the semi-final run ended in heartbreak for three of the continent’s rising stars, Africa’s golden dream remains alive.
All eyes now turn to Saturday’s finals, where Zambia’s explosive flyweight prospect, Daniel Mwanza, stands as the continent’s lone hope for gold.
Zambia’s bantamweight Clement Zulu was the first to step into the ring. The Lusaka-based Evergreen Club fighter faced a monumental task against Damir Tuychiev, a heavily favored standout from Russia’s top-tier squad. Despite a valiant, gritty performance from Zulu, the experienced Russian controlled the distance to take a 5-0 unanimous decision.
In the light-welterweight division, Comoros’ Abdourahim Mohamed made his tournament debut in the semifinals after receiving a late bye, according to the competition’s Media and Communication Manager Vladislav Dubrovskiy. Lacking the ring time of his opponent, Mohamed ran straight into a buzzsaw in Roman Yaroshenko of Russia’s B-team, dropping a 5-0 decision.
High expectations followed Angola’s heavy-hitting middleweight Kelson Neto into his semi-final bout. However, Neto met his match in Uzbekistan’s highly polished Alixan Shaxbazov, who put on a technical clinic to secure a unanimous decision victory, halting the Angolan’s golden ambitions.
Despite the semi-final exits, Zambian coach Dennis Zimba—a former lightweight silver medalist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games—refused to be discouraged.
“I’m happy for Clement. He fought with huge heart, he just needs a bit more polishing,” Zimba told boxersworld.co.ke in a phone interview from Chita.
Reflecting on Zulu’s brilliant quarter-final victory over Kyrgyzstan’s stubborn Nursultan Duishenaliev, Zimba noted how tactical discipline made the difference.
“I told Clement to establish the jab and work the long uppercut to the body because the Kyrgyzstan boxer was shorter. He followed the blueprint perfectly.”
When asked about the perceived class divide between African boxers and powerhouse continents like Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Zimba dismissed the critics.
“The gap isn’t as huge as people think. African boxers are right there,” Zimba insisted.
“It’s purely a matter of infrastructure. Give us well-equipped gyms, proper preparation, and international exposure, and we can beat anyone in the world.”
Africa’s attention now pivots to Saturday, September 12, as 18-year-old Daniel Mwanza looks to replicate the historic gold-medal feat achieved by South Africa’s Ayabonga Meko in 2025.
Mwanza’s journey began in 2021 as a 13-year-old cadet at Lusaka’s Exodus Boxing Academy.
“I vividly remember there were about 100 kids when he started, but only six stuck it out,” recalled Ariel Banda, Mwanza’s coach at Exodus Academy then and now Zambia’s current Technical Director.
“Even as a cadet, he was doing wonders. The boy is a special talent.”
Driven by the legacy of Zambian boxing icons like world bronze medalist Patrick “Baddo” Chinyemba, African Games silver medalist Mwengo Mwale, and continental champion Andrew Chilata, Mwanza isn’t blinking ahead of his final showdown.
Standing between the young Zambian and a gold medal is Russia’s top seed, Nikita Lopatiev. Fighting a local favorite in front of a hostile Russian crowd doesn’t bother the teenager one bit.
“I don’t fear the Russians, even on their home turf,” a bubbling Mwanza said ahead of the final.
“I’m going to beat him just like I beat the other one,” roared the daring Mwanza.
September 11 semi-final results
(Winner is listed first)
54 kg
Dаmir Tuychiev (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — Clement Zulu (Zambia) 🇿🇲 — 5:0
Iverson Acosta Gonzalez (Cuba) 🇨🇺 — Stanislav Makarov (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — 5:0
57 kg
Imam Magomedov (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — Yaroslav Timashev (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — 3:2
Maxim Tsydenzhapov (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — Uladzislau Zhardzetski (Belarus) 🇧🇾 — 5:0
60 kg
Jahongir Kamolov (Tajikistan) 🇹🇯 — Mikhail Melnichonak (Belarus) 🇧🇾 — 5:0
Umar Orusbaev (Kyrgyzstan) 🇰🇬 — Andrey Kotusov (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — 4:1
63.5 kg
Roman Yaroshenko (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — Abdurahim Mohamed (Comoros) 🇰🇲 — 5:0
Jahongir Zayniddinov (Uzbekistan) 🇺🇿 — Matvey Shestakov (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — 5:0
67 kg
Dorzhi Tsydenov (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — Sameeh Zoabi (Israel) 🇮🇱 — 5:0
Amirali Mehrabi (Iran) 🇮🇷 — Eldiyar Tenisbekov (Kyrgyzstan) 🇰🇬 — 5:0
71 kg
Diyorbek Murodilloyev (Uzbekistan) 🇺🇿 — Timur Strishny (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — ABR (referee stopped the bout after seconds’ retirement)
Ahmadi Arvaz (Kyrgyzstan) 🇰🇬 — Nikita Chmunevich (Belarus) 🇧🇾 — 5:0
75 kg
Magomed-Rasul Magomedov (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — Sarmat Kumaritov (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — 5:0
Alikhan Shakhbazov (Uzbekistan) 🇺🇿 — Kelson Neto (Angola) 🇦🇴 — 5:0
80 kg
Armen Arutyunyan (Russia-1) 🇷🇺 — Usman Karapov (Kyrgyzstan) 🇰🇬 — 3:2
Evgeny Korneyev (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — Zakhar Lozovoy (Russia-2) 🇷🇺 — 3:2
boxersworld.co.ke
