▪️Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface Mogunde named captain of Kenya’s Hit Squad for the $8.32 million Dubai Worlds
23/11/2025
Kenya will be represented by a full team of 13 boxers in the 23rd edition of the prestigious IBA World Championships scheduled for Dubai from December 2-13.
Kenya’s national team head coach Musa Benjamin announced the 13 boxers after the 5th and final leg of the Kenya National Boxing League in Kisumu on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde will captain the team that includes nine boxers making their debut in the richest ever boxing tournament on earth with $8.32 million at stake.
The winners prize money of $300,000 will see the boxer taking home 50% with 25% each going to the coaches and National Federations.
Mogunde, who started representing the national team in 2019 at the Rabat African Games, is a favourite for a medal at the peak of his career in the squared circle. He’s enjoying top form and therefore a podium finish will be in order.
“I believe this is my time to shine in Dubai, I’ve seen it all I’m confident of winning Kenya a medal,” a confident Mogunde told boxersworld.co.ke from Kisumu where he maintained his seven-year unbeaten run locally and was named the Best Boxer of the 2025 national league. This is Mogunde’s third participation in the World Championships.
“I have so much faith and I believe with God all things are possible,” says the modest, humble and reserved Mogunde who normally avoids unnecessary limelight.
Head coach Musa has injected new blood in the team giving a chance to nine boxers to make their debut in the World Championships.
The nine are minimumweight Silas Onyango, flyweight Kelvin “Young” Maina, bantamweight Dennis Muthama, featherweight Paul Omondi, lightweight Washington Wandera, light-welterweight Caleb Wandera, welterweight Wiseman Kavondo, cruiserweight Chrispin Ochanda and super-heavyweight Clinton Macharia.
In addition to Mogunde, the other three Dubai-bound regulars in the national team are African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong’o, two-time Africa Championships silver medallist Robert Okaka aka Man Man Ngori and Africa Zone 5 heavyweight silver medallist Peter “The Beast” Abuti.
Musa lauded the government through the sports ministry headed by Salim Mvurya for their consistent support of Kenya’s participation in the World Championships.
“I must thank the government for their continued assistance to the national team.You can’t teach experience so these competitions will help us improve a great deal,” Musa told boxersworld.co.ke
This is Kenya’s delegation to Dubai:
Minimumweight:Silas Onyango
Flyweight: Kelvin Maina
Bantamweight: Dennis Muthama
Featherweight: Paul Omondi
Lightweight: Washington Wandera
Light-welterweight: Caleb Wandera
Welterweight: Wiseman Kavondo
Light-middleweight: Boniface Mogunde (captain)
Middleweight: Edwin Okong’o
Light-heavyweight: Robert Okaka
Cruiserweight: Chrispin Ochanda
Heavyweight: Peter Abuti
Super-heavyweight: Clinton Macharia
Head coach: Musa Benjamin
Deputy head coach: David Munuhe
Trainer: John Waweru
Head of delegation: Anthony Otieno Ombok
Communication Director: Duncan Kuria
Reserves: flyweight Emmanuel Chondo, featherweight Mwinyi Kombo, heavyweight John Oyugi and light-heavyweight Humphrey Ochieng
Kenya has so far won two medals in the World Boxing Championships, all of them by the legendary Steve Muchoki who won light-flyweight silver in the inaugural World Championships in 1974 in Havana, Cuba.
Muchoki added gold in the 1978 World Championships in Belgrade. That was Kenya’s first gold and the only one so far by Kenya in the global event.
Kenya’s best ever performance in the boxing Worlds was in Belgrade 1978 with bantamweight Modesty Napunyi Oduori, featherweight George “Mosquito” Findo and middleweight Stephen “The Black Bomber” Moi losing in the quarter finals.
Kenya’s other fine show was at the 1982 and 2013 World Championships.
In Munich 1982, light-flyweight Ibrahim “Surf” Bilali and lightweight Hussein “Juba” Khalili lost in the quarters while Kamau “Pipino” Wanyoike was eliminated in the pre-quarters.
At the 2013 worlds in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Rayton “Boom Boom” Okwiri was the star of the Kenya team, winning three fights before losing in the pre-quarters or the round of 16.
Other boxers who made it and lost in the pre-quarters were flyweight Simon Mulinge and bantamweight Benson Gicharu following one victory each while middleweight Abaka won one fight and bowed out in the second round.
In the ensuing Men’s World Boxing Championships featuring the Kenyans in 2017, 2021 and 2023 none of them have won a single fight.
Over to you captain Boniface Mogunde and your team. Make Kenya proud in Dubai.
