▪️The die is cast no retreat no surrender for the African pugilists in Day Two of IBA’s $8.32 million Men’s World Boxing Championships
05/12/2025
Thirty African boxers among them five Kenyans will trade leather in Day Two of the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in the sweltering heat at Dubai Tennis Stadium.
Twice Africa light-heavyweight silver medallist Robert Okaka aka Man Man Ngori is the only one among the five who has tested the waters in IBA’s flagship event in 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan where the Kenyan warriors ended 10-year winless streak in the global event with three boxers Hezron Magaga, Boniface Mogunde and David Karanja winning one fight each.
Okaka lost but he has since then improved tremendously. He’s longer fighting and throwing aimless punches using unnecessary force. He’s now a textbook boxer.
He has realised the importance of using addition and subtraction maths in the ring. And of course going for carpet bombing when the need arises. In any case he’s a soldier. Today Okaka fights Anton Vinogrado of IBN-Estonia.
The other four Kenyans in action, Africa Zone 3 minimumweight champion Siylus Onyango, Africa Zone 3 welterweight bronze medallist Wiseman Kavondo, Africa Zone 3 cruiserweight silver medallist Chrispin Ochanda – a product of late coach Jonte – and Africa super-heavyweight silver medallist are all taking part in the World Championships for the first time.
Swarming Onyango meets Sri Lanka’s Danil Hasika, southpaw Kavondo battles Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov, Ochanda has a date with Moldova’s Andrei Chiriakov and Macharia meets Uladzislau Smialikau of Belarus.
There’s also an explosive all-African super-heavyweight clash between Cameroon’s Africa Zone 3 champion Zacharie Mvogo and Zimbabwe’s strongman Anesu Motsi.
