▪️Zambia tops Africa with two bronze medals by Patrick Chinyemba and Emmanuel Katema followed by Mali one bronze from Djibril Traore
▪️African boxers’ spirited efforts to progress to IBA Men’s World Championships finals came to a screeching halt when all three boxers in the semi-finals were eliminated
▪️Way forward Africa must seek economic independence to run their own boxing events without piggyback rides and governments must invest in boxing
12/12/2025
Ending eight years of “infertility” with three bronze medals, 12 boxers in the quarter-finals and 32 in pre-quarters is Africa’s success story in the 23rd edition of the IBA World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
Mali’s French-based Djibril Traore was the toast of Africa when he broke the eight-year dry spell by powering his way to the semi-finals leading Zambia’s star boxer Patrick Chinyemba and his compatriot Emmanuel Katema..
Traore outpointed Spain’s Sergio Martinez in the middleweight division, thanks to coach Rachid Hallaf who plotted the downfall of Martinez with a properly planned swarmer strategy which Traore executed with clinical efficiency giving the Spaniard no room to breathe.
After exhausting his energy against Martinez, boxing analysts feel Traore and other winning quarter-finalists needed one-day break ahead of the semis.There was no break and it took it’s toll on Traore against fresh Russian Ismail Mustagov who defeated the Malian boxer.
“Physically, I struggled to maintain the same intensity as in my previous fights due to accumulated fatigue but also because of my opponent’s excellent mobility,” said Traore and went on:.”So I don’t really have any excuses; he was simply better than me tonight, and I congratulate him.”
Traore knows what he will work on to improve on the weak areas.”I need to improve my positioning and footwork to be more explosive and less rushed in my attacks,” he told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
The stocky Malian boxer is excited he’s the first one to have broken the eight-year barren spell during which Africa missed medals at the 2021 and 2023 World Championships.
“Honestly, it’s a real pleasure. I’ve received tremendous support from my people, my friends, and Africans in general, which has motivated me a lot. I probably haven’t fully grasped the magnitude of this achievement yet,” said Traore on winning Africa’s first medal in eight years.
“Perhaps it’s due to today’s defeat, but my primary ambition was to become world champion and write an even more significant chapter in history. That said, it remains an incredible experience, and we’ll come back even better.”
Traore and the two Zambian boxers, Patrick Chinyemba and Emmanuel Katema, have each earned $75,000 for reaching the semi-finals and that’s $225,000 in total. Long live IBA, he says.
“This is an excellent initiative and a source of motivation for athletes. This sport demands enormous sacrifices; we train every day, and the fact that the IBA rewards boxers in this way demonstrates its recognition of the work done by the athletes and their teams (coaches, technical staff, federation, etc.). I thank the IBA for offering these opportunities to athletes,” said Traore whose coach Rachid Hallaf has several suggestions on how to raise Africa’s boxing standards.
“African boxing is not lacking in talent, but it lacks expertise and programs that allows athletes to compete internationally more often,” said Hallaf.
He went on: “It is therefore necessary to go to other continents to gain experience. On the continent, the African Championship is insufficient, and indeed, the idea of organising a major international tournament on African soil would be a huge step forward for all boxers and referees! This world championship was sorely lacking in African referees outside of Algeria and Morocco, and it is also important that our referees be recognized by the world boxing governing bodies.”
Hallaf’s views on R&Js were echoed by several African leaders I spoke to most of them saying that there’s need for a rotational system in sub-saharan Africa now elevated to Star-3. They argue the North African R&Js have eaten the cake for too long, and therefore should take a break.
“We can’t have the same R&Js in every World Championships, it’s high time the North Africans and the Zimbabwean gave others a chance,” one of the African officials said.
The five African R&Js in Dubai are Semlali Oumayma (Morocco), Aridhi Chokri (Tunisia), Ali Mohsen (Egypt), Mohamed Besmi (Algeria) and Steven Masiyambumbi (Zimbabwe).
Africa also has four International Technical Officials (ITOs) in the event; G.Rajcoomar also known as Raj from Mauritius, Mohamed Braham from Tunisia, Abdelilah Oughiri and Dr Mandani from Algeria.
As African delegates gather in Dubai for the IBA Congress they should put their heads together to seek economic independence to enable them fund their own tournaments with prize money to boot without relying on piggyback rides. The IBA has done a lot for Africa but they can’t carry the cross alone. Wake up Africa, the sleeping giant.
African governments will also have to invest more in boxing development. Supporting their teams with transport and accommodation expenses to attend major competitions is commendable but it’s not enough. Interestingly, most governments hardly bother with their team’s preparations, and don’t even attend the training sessions to monitor their progress and meet the boxers. Little wonder they don’t even know their boxers.
Kenya’s head coach Musa Benjamin said from what he had observed in Dubai, African teams have a mountain to climb against formidable opposition from the European Eastern bloc countries and Central Asia led by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
“Our brothers up against this European Eastern bloc boxers have their work cut out. They are very smart and tricky customers. They’re composed, sharp, fast and change positions quickly without compromising themselves,” said Musa.
“You don’t catch them off balance or off guard easily.It’s very difficult to get your rhythm against them. Generally, Africa have given a commendable account of themselves. Without regular tournaments -sometimes for a whole year – the performance here was incredible.”
The ball is in your court African delegates. Besides the Congress, have your own meeting in Dubai to plan on economic independence without which you will forever be economic slaves of Europe in boxing.
This habit of seeking positions at the top without implementation of any solid progress is the bane of Africa’s boxing leadership.
