Sessionb5A

51 kg

Sebastián Guillermo Freire (Argentina) — Samet Gümüş (Turkey) 0:5

Meroj Sufidjonov (Tajikistan) — Fanglang Kambang (Nepal) 5:0

Mirlan Turkbay Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) — Ashu Ashu (India) 5:0

54 kg

Rafael Lozano Serrano (Spain) — Shafii Baki Hassan (Kenya) 5:0

Zalim Suleymanov (Azerbaijan) — Kaya Emmanuel Shongwe (Eswatini) 5:0

Patricio Said Calero Arias (Ecuador) — Sanjay Seidekmátov (Kyrgyzstan) 0:5

Eme Iraneseza (Rwanda) — Vyacheslav Rogozin (Russia) | Vyacheslav Rogozin (Russia) won by TKO in Round 2.

60 kg

Abdumalek Kholokov (Uzbekistan) — Kevin Andrés Mosquera Quintero (Ecuador) 5:0

Enrique Kakulov Mamedova (Spain) — Chave Gamedze (Eswatini) 5:0

Artyush Gomtsyan (Georgia) — Johennri Rosario (IBA Pro) 5:0

Mrema Rashidi Ibrahimu (Tanzania) — Muhammadali Ashiraliev (Azerbaijan) | Mrema Rashidi Ibrahimu (Tanzania) no-show, Muhammadali Ashiraliev wins.

75 kg

Saidjamshid Jafarov (Azerbaijan)— Michael Likalú (IBA Pro) 4:3

Ahmed Abdalla Ali Amr (Bahrain) — Amir Abbas (Romania) | Ahmed Abdalla Ali Amr (Bahrain) won via submission in Round 3.

Ankit Kumar (India) — Vahtang Arutyunyan (Armenia) | Vahtang Arutyunyan (Armenia) won by KO in Round 2.

Syrgak Abdyzhapar Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) — Fazliddin Erkinboev (Uzbekistan) 0:5

Session 5B

51 kg

Yabsra Tadele Zeleke (Ethiopia) — Armeniu André Santos dos Reis (Portugal) 0:5

Salfán Mejías Giovis (Cuba) — Nijat Huseynov (Azerbaijan) 4:3

Pasindu Godakandala (Sri Lanka) — Phanuwat Punnakorn (Thailand) 1:4

54 kg

Asilbek Jalilov (Uzbekistan) — Sadai Akhiskali (Turkey) 5:0

Amadu Mohammed (Ghana) — Manoj Kumar (India) 5:0

Artur Nagapetyan (Serbia) — Márcio Manuel Cardoso (Portugal) 5:0

Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag (Mongolia) — David Daniel de Pina (Cape Verde) 0:5

60 kg

Luke Cassar (Australia) — Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia) | Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia) won by TKO in Round 2.

Fahad Mulindwa (Uganda) — Washington Wabwire (Kenya) 0:5

Félix Mendes Júnior (Guinea-Bissau) — Ebenezer Ankrah (Ghana) | Ebenezer Ankrah (Ghana) won by TKO in Round 2.

Abdul Karim Batili (Mali) — Artur Bazeyan (Armenia) 0:5

75 kg

Sabirzhan Akkalykov (Kazakhstan) — Joshua Aaron Cousin (Seychelles) | Sabirzhan Akkalykov (Kazakhstan) won by KO in Round 2.

Merven Clair (Mauritius) — Tauhirimatea Toheriri-Hallett (New Zealand) 1:4

Juan Camilo González (Colombia) — Tarindu Roshan (IBA Pro 2) 5:0

Miroslav Kapuler-Ishchenko (Israel) — Edwin Okongo Owuor (Kenya) 4:1

Session 6A

51 kg

Naiki Lazy Leon Cummings (French Polynesia) — Ribbin Modise (Botswana) 4:1

Bair Batlaev (Russia) — Freddy Yamil Alvarado Masay (Bolivia) | Bair Batlaev (Russia) won by KO in Round 1.

Kelvin Michira Maina (Kenya) — Daniyal Sabit (Kazakhstan) 0:5

54 kg

Javaad Shamshir (Australia) — Wisdom Dube (Zimbabwe) | Javaad Shamshir (Australia) won by TKO in Round 2.

Mehdi Kazemi (Iran) — Rangsi Sao (Cameroon) 5:0

Yosua Holi Masihor (Indonesia) — Chandra Bahadur Thapa (Nepal) 0:5

André Guillaume Francis (Mauritius) — David Egoryan (Armenia) 0:5

60 kg

Akmal Ubaidov (Tajikistan) — Mohammad Mehdi Sahak (England / IBA) | Akmal Ubaidov (Tajikistan) won by TKO in Round 3.

Alen Rustemovski (North Macedonia) — Nicholas Devlin (Scotland) 5:0

Serik Temirzhanov (Kazakhstan) — Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (Mongolia) 5:0

Not held

75 kg

Kendu Steven (Papua New Guinea) — Alan Perry (Scotland) 0:5

Davron Bozorov (Moldova) — Desmond Court Amsterdam (Guyana) 4:3

David Shtepa (Germany) — Ayman Albasir (Libya) | Ayman Albasir (Libya) no-show.

Teocharis Tsausidis (Greece) — Ismail Mutsolgov (Russia) 0:5

Session 6B 

51 kg

Lenik Fernandes (Cape Verde) — Luis Enrique Guaman Zambrano (Ecuador) | Lenik Fernandes (Cape Verde) won by KO in Round 3.

Ion Plinga (Moldova) — Juma Juma Atumani (Tanzania) | Juma Juma Atumani (Tanzania) no-show.

54 kg

Saken Bibossynov (Kazakhstan) — Katlego Keorapetse (Botswana) 5:0

Sultan Alnuaimi (UAE) — Faqi Issa (Tanzania) | Faqi Issa (Tanzania) won by TKO in Round 2.

Ravindu Jainata Kumara (Sri Lanka) — Chen Weiqing (China) 4:3

Anushervon Fazylov (Tajikistan) — Mwengo Mwale (Zambia) 1:4

60 kg

Rysbek Bektenov (Kyrgyzstan) — Ariol Zeneli (Albania) 4:1

Arilson da Silva Gonçalves (Brazil) — Mohit Thakur (India) 5:0

Mikaele Ravalaca (Fiji) — Haymanot Desalegn Zevdu (Ethiopia) 0:5

Mandlenkosi Marusenga (Zimbabwe) — Vsevolod Shumkov (Russia) | Vsevolod Shumkov (Russia) won by TKO in Round 3.

75 kg

Malakai Katene (Australia) — Djibril Traore (Mali) | Djibril Traore (Mali) won by TKO in Round 3.

Mohammed Yazmin Usait (Sri Lanka) — Kyle Marcel (Saint Lucia) 5:0

Sergio Martínez (Spain) — Diogo Marcelino da Silva Semedo (Portugal) | Sergio Martínez (Spain) won by KO in Round 2.

Shohobjon Shukurov (Tajikistan) — Christian Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe) 5:0

Results courtesy Sportaran

▪️Issa Faki is the toast of Tanzania in Day 3 of World Championships as the total number of African boxers in the last 16 rises to 18 with a total of 29 wins and 55 losses so far
▪️Plus the full results of Day Three

The total number of African boxers in the pre-quarters shot up to 18 as ten more qualified in Day Three of the World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

The 10 African boxers who qualified for the pre-quarters in Day Three are Tanzania’s Issa Faki, two Ghanaian boxers bantamweight Amadu Mohammed and lightweight Ebener Ankrah, Cape Verde’s Olympic bronze medallist David Pina and compatriot Lenick Fernandes, Kenya’s Washington Wandera, Zambia’s two boxers Andrew Chilata and Mwengo Mwale, Ethiopia’s lightweight Haymanot Desalegn and Mali’s Djibril Traore. They join eight others who qualified for the round of 16 in Day Two of the World Championships in which $8.32 million is at stake with gold medallists winning $300,000, silver $150,000, bronze $50,000 and $10,000 for quarter-finalists.

Africa Zone 3 bantamweight bronze medallist Issa Faki brought joy to Tanzania’s boxing fraternity giving the largest East African country their first victory in the World Championships in 51 years since Emmanuel Mlundwa’s points win over Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Pereira in the inaugural 1974 World Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba.

Faki stopped United Arab Emirate’s Sultan Alnuaini in the second round of one of the bantamweight round of 32 bouts. Mid-way through the second round Faki unleashed a combination of unanswered punches to the head, forcing the female referee to give the UAE boxer a standing count after which she waved it off with Sultan’s body language in obvious disagreement with her decision to stop the fight.

Commenting on Faki’s historic victory, Emmanuel Mlundwa – the Father of pro boxing in Tanzania – congratulated the young boxer and the Boxing Federation of Tanzania under the leadership of the industrious Lukelo Willilo.

“Faki’s victory shows the standard of boxing in Tanzania is now improving, and it’s an inspiration to the upcoming boxers,” Mlundwa, the founder of pro boxing in Tanzania in 1982, told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.

Mlundwa was among the four Tanzanian pioneer boxers who represented their country in the 1974 World Championships. Others were welterweight Wilbert Musa, middleweight Felix Joseph Massawe and light-heavyweight Joseph Magesa Wambura.

Cape Verde’s Olympic flyweight bronze medallist David Pina and Kenya’s Washington Wandera were the most impressive African winners in Day Three.

Pina produced a masterclass show of accurate scoring on the blackfoot and body movement to outpoint Mongolia’s Gan-erdene Gankhuyag, and meets top seed Spain’s southpaw Raphael Serrano who beat Kenya’s Shaffi Bakari.

“Serrano is not a threat to me I’ve met good boxers from Spain and beat them like bronze medallist in the last world championships Martin Molina,” said Pina, adding: “I spoke to my coach from Portugal and we hatched a game plan to defeat him. It was a good fight our strategy with my coach worked very well. I’m now focusing on my next fight, I don’t see any boxer to deny me winning $300,000 and the gold medal.”

Kenya’s Wandera took Uganda’s Fahad Mulindwa to class with clean easy boxing enroute to a points victory. Unable to land any telling blow owing to his failure to find the range, Mulindwa punched the air for the better part of the fight.

“I thank God for winning and relying on him to guard me in next fight,” said Wandera who used his height advantage effectively. Wandera now meets Latvia’s Matvejs Prokudins in the pre-quarters. He saw off Australia’s Luke Casaar via a TKO in the second round.

Wandera’s compatriots, bantamweight Shaffi Bakari, flyweight Kelvin Maina and middleweight Edwin Okong’o gave a good account of themselves but lost on points, getting the nod of their head coach Musa Benjamin.

In his daily assessment of his team Musa was impressed by their gutsy performance and thought some of them should have won. Over to you Musa.

“I feel the four had the desire and hunger to win today’s bouts. Shaffi gave his all but lost to a very good boxer, probably the 2025 bantamweight IBA world Champion. The southpaw was very quick both on his feet and hands which Shaffi had no answer to. Kelvin Maina was okay though we need to work on his punching power. Otherwise his movement and composure was great.
Okon’go should have stopped his guy but took so much time to get his momentum. Basically,the gap is narrowing and the team is on the right trajectory.”

That’s Kenya’s head Musa Benjamin with his daily analysis of his boxers.

While Kenya is chasing its first medal in 47 years in the World Championships since Steve Muchoki’s gold at the 1978 World Championships, Uganda and Ghana are eyeing their first medals in 51 years in the World Championships.

Amon Kotey won Ghana’s first and only medal so far in 1974 while Ayub Kalule’s gold and Joseph Nsubuga’s bronze were the first and last medals so far by Ugandan boxers.

▪️A total of 28 African boxers will step through the ropes in Day Three of IBA World Championships as Tanzania’s two boxers are time-barrred for weigh-in

Zambia’s polished lightweight southpaw Andrew Chilata has qualified to the last 16 of the Dubai World Championships without throwing a punch.

Breaking the good news, Zambia’s Boxing Federation President Boniface Sokoni told boxersworld.co.ke that Chilata’s opponent did not show up during the weigh-in.

“That’s good for us, we believe this time Chilata will go past the quarter-finals” said a delighted Sokoni.

Chilata, his compatriot Patrick Chinyemba and Ghana’s Amadu Mohammed were the most impressive African boxers at the 2023 World Championships in Uzbekistan where they made it to the quarter finals.

Two Tanzania boxers Rashid Mrema and flyweight Juma Ranadhan have conceded walkovers to their opponents after arriving late for the weigh-in.

Contacted, the President of the Boxing Federation of Tanzania Lukelo Willilo absolved the boxers from blame.

“They just arrived today in Dubai because of visa problem I fail to understand why they were time-barrred,” said Willilo.

The only Tanzanian boxer in action today is Africa Zone 3 bantamweight bronze medallist Issa Faki who meets Sultan Alnuaimi of UAE.

Cape Verde’s Olympic flyweight bronze David Pina starts his campaign for the top $300,000 prize money at stake against Mongolia’s Gan-erdene Gankhuyag. Pina has moved up to bantamweight.

Pina and four Kenyan boxers lead Africa’s challenge tonight with a total of 28 African boxers in action.

The four Kenyan boxers are flyweight Kelvin Maina, bantamweight Shaffi Bakari, lightweight Washington Wandera and middleweight Edwin Okong’o.

The age-old rivalry between Kenya and Uganda will be revived when Wandera battles Uganda’s Fahad Mulindwa in the round of 32.

Shaffi meets tough top seed Rafael Serrano of Spain, Maina will face Kazakhstan’s stubborn Daniyal Sabit and Okong’o fights Israel’s Miroslav Ishchenko.

▪️The eight African boxers qualified for the round of 16 in Day Two of the ongoing $8.32 million IBA World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium
▪️The total number of African boxers eliminated rose to 39 with 20 more bundled out on Friday after 19 lost on Day One. A total of 20 have so far won their fights

06/12/2025

Eight African boxers punched their way to the round of 16 as 20 more lost their fights to increase the total number of casualties to 39 as the IBA World Boxing Championships entered Day Two at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Friday, December 5, 2025.

The eight African boxers in the pre-quarters are Botswana’s minimumweight Kobamelo Molatlhegi, two Tunisians, welterweight Zachariah Ramadhani and light-heavyweight Youssef Rafrati, two Ugandans welterweight Bob Turyatemba and super-heavyweight Mark Ziikama, Kenya’s light-heavyweight Robert Okaka and Cameroon’s Zacharie Mvogo.

They are now just a stone’s throw away from entering the money bracket as quarter-finalists will earn $10,000 in the richest ever tournament since 2021 when the IBA introduced prize money to empower boxers instead of just presenting them with the traditional medals which can’t put food on their tables.

Kobamelo outpointed Papua New Guinea’s David Ome 5-0, Zakaria Romdhani stopped Cambodia’s Sophors Vy in the second round, Bob Teryatekba beat Seychelles’ Andrique Allisop 5-0, Robert Okaka defeated Estonia’s Anton Vinogrado 4-1, Youssef Rafrafi beat Latvia’s Aleksandrs Malinovkis 5-0, Adriano Kiana outpointed IBN-India’s Harpal Singh 5-0, Mark Ziikama got a walkover against Libya’s Adim Adele and Zacharie Mvogo got a walkover against Zimbabwe’s Anesu Motsi.

In all, Africa won nine bouts in Day Two and lost 20 to increase the total losses to 39 after the defeat of 19 boxers in Day One.

The other African winner was Cape Verde’s featherweight Elisandro Silva Sanches who beat Joseph Kesny of Sint Maarten to qualify for the round of 32. Sint Maarten is a Dutch constituent country in the Caribbean.

With five boxers in action, Kenya had high hopes of more winners following bantamweight Shaffi Bakari’s first ever victory in the the World Championships in Day One but it’s only Robert Okaka aka Man Man Ngori who won his light-heavyweight fight 4-1 against Estonia’s Anton Vinogrado to emerge as one of the most impressive African winners. The other four boxers lost their fights, minimumweight Silus Onyango, welterweight Wiseman Kavondo, cruiserweight Chrispin Ochanda and super-heavyweight Clinton Macharia whose 5-0 defeat to Smiahlikau Uladzislau of Belarus did not go down well with head coach Musa Benjamin who also felt his boxers should have done better in an interview with boxersworld.co.ke.

“Most of today’s fights were winnable except for Wiseman’s bout,” said Musa and went on: “We are very unhappy with Clinton who won the first round only to become complacent in the 2nd and final round.Ochanda was too cautious and Silas was unable to cut the ring well to effectively beat his opponent.”

On the strategy he used for Okaka to carry the day, Musa said he decided Okaka to switch into a pressure fighter to mess up the game of his Estonian opponent.

“Okaka had to be necessarily aggressive, stepping forward throwing lots of punches eventually subduing his clever and smart opponent. Still a lot of rough edges but with good attitude.”

Full results of the African boxers in Day Two of the World Boxing Championships in Dubai.

Minimumweight

Botswana’s Kobamelo Molatlhegi outpointed Papua New Guinea’s David Ome 5-0

Ethiopia’s Abel Alemu lost 5-0 to Nepal’s Prasad Upreti

Tanzania’s Ally Salim Ngwando lost 5-0 to IBN-India’s Davendra Singh

Zambia’s Nene Maonga lost 5-0 to Kyrgyzstan’s Anvarzhan Khodzhiev

Kenya’s Silus Onyango lost 5-0 to Sri Lanka’s Danil Hasika

Welterweight

Eswatini’s Khayelihle Mkhabela lost 5-0 to Brazil’s Casio Olivera

Zambia’s Gerald Kabinda lost 4-1 to Kazakhstan’s Sanatali Toltayev

Tunisia’s Zakaria Romdhani stopped Cambodia’s Sophors Sy in the second round

Uganda’s Bob Turyatemba outpointed Andrique Allisop of the Seychelles

South Africa’s Simankele Damesi lost 5-0 to Mongolia’s Jandos Askhar

Gambia’s Sheikh Sarr was stopped in round one by Azerbaijan’s Zaur Gahramanov

Mozambican Delphina Marime lost 4-3 to Almaz Orozbekov of Kyrgyzstan

Kenya’s Wiseman Kavondo was stopped in round two by Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov

Super-heavyweight

Kenya’s Clinton Macharia was beaten 5-0 by Smiahlikau of Uladzislau of Belarus

Uganda’s Mark Ziikama got a walkover against Libya’s Adim Adel

Cameroon’s Zacharie Mvogo got a walkover against Zimbabwe’s Anesu Motsi

Angola’s Jordilson Luvo was stopped in the second round by Yannick Putoa of French Polynesia

Light-heavyweight

Burkina Faso’s Tene Gueswende Ebener was stopped in the first round by Kazakhstan’s Yerassy Zhakekov

Kenya’s Robert Okaka outpointed 4-1 Anton Vinogrado of IBN-Estonia

Tunisia’s Youssef Rafrafi beat Latvia’s Aleksandrs Malinovskis 5-0

Cameroon’s Brandone Ngon a Ngon lost 4-1 to Armenia’s Artush Hovhannisyan

Ben Ali Otana of Cote d’Ivoire lost to John Didier of Saint Lucia

Uganda’s Abubakar Malindi was stopped in round two by Spain’s Jalidov Gaturova

Cruiserweight

Cape Verde’s Israel Nzewi was stopped in the second round by Spain’s Fresneda Ricardo

Niger’s Abdoul Kader Issaka lost 5-0 to Tajikistan’s Karimoz Parviz

Kenya’s Chrispin Ochanda lost 5-0 to Moldova’s Andrei Chiriaco

Angola’s Adriano Kiana beat 5-0 IBN-India’s Harpal Singh

Featherweight

Cape Verde’s Elisandro Silva Sanches beat Joseph Kesny of Sint Maarten

Picture design by Duncan Kuria

▪️ Olympic bronze medallist David Pina and Patrick Chinyemba likely to strike it rich in Dubai both eyeing $300,000

▪️Africa yet to win a medal since 2017 Men’s Worlds

06/12/2025

The spirit of Pan-Africanism was very much alive between Cape Verde’s Olympic bronze medallist David Pina and Zambia’s African Games flyweight champ Patrick Chinyemba whey met in Dubai.

Their Paris Olympics quarter-finals clash was celebrated in Africa even before they fought.

Reason? One of them would advance to the semis to assure Africa of a medal in the bag.

The big question remained: who between the two would make it to the semis?

Pina outwitted Chinyemba to win Cape Verde’s first ever Olympic medal. He dropped a suspicious points defeat to Uzbekistan’s hero Hasanboy Dusmatov in semis. In Dubai, Pina has moved up to bantamweight

He still feels he beat Dusmatov, and is therefore relying on Chinyemba to avenge the Paris defeat.

“Dusmatov must fall in Dubai,” says Chinyemba.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️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.

4/12/ 2025

SESSION 1A

ELITE MEN 57–60 KG (Lightweight)

Kevin Andres Mosquera Quintero (Ecuador) defeated

Austin Tyler Lenehan (IBN-U) — WP 5:0

Yohenrry Rosario (IBA-P) defeated

Luka Veljovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) — WO R1

Mahammadali Ashiraliyev (Azerbaijan) defeated

Wisdom Barnor (Sierra Leone) — WP 5:0

Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia) defeated

Georgios Pleas (Greece) — WP 5:0

Abdoul Karim Bathily (Mali) defeated

Khagendra Roka Magar (Nepal) — WP 4:3 (BR 0:2)

ELITE MEN 63.5–67 KG (Welterweight)

Rashield Williams (Bahamas) defeated

Jason Wulf (Samoa) — RSC R2 1:07

Praveen Kumar (IBA-I) defeated

Amaun Yawari (Afghanistan) — ABD R2 1:29

ELITE MEN 67–71 KG (Light Middleweight)

Alban Beqiri (Albania) defeated

Adolphe Sylva (Sweden) — WP 3:1

ELITE MEN 75–80 KG (Light Heavyweight)

Bayram Malkan (IBN-T) defeated

Rody Diosnel Riquelme Lopez (Paraguay) — RSC-I R2 0:44

Tautuarii Ricardo Norman Nena (French Polynesia) defeated

Harassiya Waththe Waththe Rathnasiri (Sri Lanka) — WP 4:0

Javokhir Ummataliev (Uzbekistan) defeated

Dasheil Fabrice Fanchette (Seychelles) — WP 5:0

ELITE MEN 86–92 KG (Heavyweight)

Agustin Matias Veron (Argentina) defeated

Akash Kachari (IBA-I) — WP 5:0

Bakyt Toktosun Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) defeated

Peter Abuti Alwanga (Kenya) — WP 4:1

Andrei Zaplitni (Moldova) defeated

Aleksey Sevastyanov (IBN-P) — WO R1

SESSION 1B

ELITE MEN 57–60 KG (Lightweight)

Mohamad Mehdi Sahak (IBN-E) defeated

Maximillian Brechthefield Makana (Solomon Islands) — WP 5:0

Muayid Abdulhakim Okashah (Libya) defeated

Abdoul Madjid Amadou Hassane (Niger) — NC R1

Ariol Zeneli (Albania) defeated

Thichakorn Srisakul (Thailand) — WP 5

Arilson Da Silva Goncalves (Brazil) defeated

Yhlas Gylychjanov (Turkmenistan) — WP 5:0

Mandhlenkosi Marusenga (Zimbabwe) defeated

Mphatso Makwinja (Malawi) — WP 5:0

ELITE MEN 63.5–67 KG (Welterweight)

Thomas Ian Casazza (Argentina) defeated

Dimitrios Nikolaou (Greece) — WP 5:0

Leo John Francis Church (Scotland) defeated

Cheikh Tidiane Diop (Senegal) — WP 3:1

ELITE MEN 67–71 KG (Light Middleweight)

Tiago Osorio Muxanga (Mozambique) won vs

Mohamed Sa Yacouba Laouali Baro (Niger) — WO R1

ELITE MEN 75–80 KG (Light Heavyweight)

Tevita Lauhingoa Malupo (Tonga) defeated

Tamba James Bafor (Sierra Leone) — KO R1 1:37

Aleksandrs Malinovskis (Latvia) defeated

Meysam Gheshlaghi (IBA-P) — WO R1

Pravesh Kumar (IBA-I) defeated

Christopher Luteke (DR Congo) — WP 5:2 (BR 2:0)

Abubaker Malindi Mutyaba (Uganda) defeated

Vadim Staver (IBN-M) — WO R1

ELITE MEN 86–92 KG (Heavyweight)

Kalil Luan Brasil Paiva (Brazil) defeated

Giorgi Tchigladze (Georgia) — WP 4:1

Karamba Kebe (Senegal) defeated

Andre Lucien Tiodah Tchoupa (Cameroon) — WP 5:0

SESSION 2A

54 KG

David Zekerya Kedir (Ethiopia) — Shaffi Bakari Hassan (Kenya) 0:5

Manuel Paolo Banguine (Mozambique) — Anushervon Fazylov (Tajikistan) 0:5

63.5 KG

Stelios Kirsanidis (Greece) — Tabiso Selbi Dlamini (Eswatini) 5:0

Ntandoenkosi Nyongoloza (Zimbabwe) — Pacific Niyonzima (Rwanda) 0:5

71 KG

Khalida Ahimdah (Libya) — Youssouf Diallo (Guinea) | Youssouf Diallo did not appear.

75 KG

Likalu Michael (Pro-IBA) — Qasem Abudabaa (Palestine) 4:1

Vakhtang Arutyunyan (Armenia) — Abdul Baki Adamu (Niger) | Abdul Baki Adamu did not appear.

Amadou Kardo Keitta (Liberia) — Syrgak Abdyzhapar Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) | Amadou Kardo Keitta did not appear.

Enes Methew Kasilika (Tanzania) — Joshua Aaron Cousin (Seychelles) | Joshua Aaron Cousin won by TKO in Round 1.

92 KG

Miroslav Kapuler-Ishchenko (Israel) — Osward Talaka (Solomon Islands) 5:0

Magomed Yusupov (Kazakhstan) — Navruz Djafoev (Tajikistan) | Yusupov won by KO in Round 1.

Mzobanazi Moyo (Zimbabwe) — Leo Nicholson (Australia) | Leo Nicholson won by KO in Round 1.

Michael Shuster (Cook Islands) — Narek Manasyan (Armenia) | Michael Shuster did not appear.

SESSION 2B

63.5 KG

Anas Sleiman (Palestine) — Sayat Ilyasov (Uzbekistan) | Sayat Ilyasov won by TKO in Round 3.

Fiston Maya (DR Congo) — Ilya Popov (Russia) 0:5

Matias Arosemena (Ecuador) — David Karabas (Czech Republic) | David Karabas won by TKO in Round 1.

Davaadagai Altangerel (Mongolia) — Michael Lederman (Australia) 4:1

71 KG

Afino Caesar (Indonesia) — Ararat Arutyunyan (Armenia) 0:5

75 KG

Avelino Benjamin Luzito (Angola) — Alan Perry (Scotland) 1:4

Téoharis Tsausidis (Greece) — Ismail Aroud (Italy – IBA) | Ismail Aroud did not appear.

Vinnie Mandari (England – IBA) — Djibril Traore (Mali) 3:4

Innocent Mugenga (Rwanda) — Mohammed Yazmin Usait (Sri Lanka) 0:5

David Chama (DR Congo) — Shukurov Shokhobzhon (Tajikistan) | David Chama did not appear.

92 KG

Vagkan Nanitsanyan (Greece) — Daniel Lokshtein (Germany) 5:0

Antonio Bu Abdalla (Lebanon) — Unaloto Tuleau Havea (Tonga) | Unaloto Tuleau Havea won by TKO in Round 1.

Abdullah Rajapov (Cambodia) — Symphorien Njinou Mudnat (Gabon) | Symphorien Njinou Mudnat did not appear.

Results courtesy Sportaran

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▪️Significant victories for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Seychelles as Africa heavyweight champion Karamba Kebe moves to the last 16 with Kenya’s Shaffi Bakari winning his first ever fight in the World Championships 

5/12/2025

Eleven African boxers won their opening fights as 19 others fell by the wayside in Day One of Men’s World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

A big day for Rwanda’s five-man team. They made their World Championships debut with a bang starting with victory through light-welterweight Pacifique Niyonzima whose historic win over Zimbabwe’s Nyongoloza Ntandoyenkosi makes him the first ever Rwandese winner in the World Championships. Congrats Pacifique.

Uganda’s middleweight Abubakar Malindi and Mandela Cup middleweight champion Joshua Cousin of the Seychelles won their debut fights as both are taking part in the World Championships for the first time. Uganda is being represented by five boxers including Africa Zone 3 light-welterweight champion Farahat Manirola all of them making their debut in the World Championships.

Malindi won through a walkover while Cousin, who started representing the national team three years ago, stopped Tanzania’s rookie Enzi Kasilika in the first round.

What a day to remember for Kenya’s bantamweight Shaffi Bakari who won his first ever fight in the World Championships in his fourth appearance at the global event.

Shaffi outpointed Ethiopia’s Zekenya Kedir in the bantamweight round of 64 and now meets Spain’s top seed Lozano Serrano in the round of 32.The Kenyan policeman made his debut in the World Championships in 2017 and was also at the 2021 and 2023 World Championships without a win in all the three world tournaments.

Kenya’s head Musa Benjamin was satisfied with Shaffi’s sweet victory.

“For Shaffi against the Ethiopian it was simply about sticking to the basics, boxing at long range, making his opponent miss and no mixing it up with him we’re happy,” said Musa who explained why the first Kenyan in action, heavyweight Peter Abuti, lost to Kyrgyzstan’s southpaw Toktosun Bakyt in the round of 32.

“Abuti was slow off the blocks losing the first round making it difficult to come back.Got his rhythm half way second round when he started putting his punches together,” Musa told boxersworld.co.ke

Abuti said his southpaw opponent confused him.

“It was the first I met a southpaw I had difficulties in coping up but I’ll make amends,” said Abuti, a product of Mbotela Boxing Club’s famous coach Raphael Kamuya aka Kamwana.

Looking ahead to Shaffi’s next fight against top seed Lozano Serrano of Spain Musa said it they will be cautious and aggressive in their approach.

“Against the top seed, Shaffi will have to be sharp, quick in changing positions after firing so as to avoid the counters. He’s got the momentum now and he’s gonna fight till he drops.” Good luck to the Kenyan boxer.

Senegal’s 31-year-old Africa heavyweight champion Karamba Kebe recovered from a shaky first round to beat Cameroon’s Andre Tchoupa by a unanimous decision.

The southpaw French-based Kebe, who changed his citizenship five years ago to become a Senegalise national, was caught by Tchoupa’s cracking left hook on the jaw but he swallowed the punch showing no effect at all. Kebe, a silver and gold medallist in the 2023 and 2024 African Elite Championships, dominated the remaining two rounds to carry the day. He now meets Brazil’s Luan Kalil Paiva in the pre-quarters.

The other African winners were Mali’s lightweight Bathily Abdou Karim who beat Nepal’s Rocar Magar, Libya’s Okasha Muayid, Zimbabwe’s Murusenga Mandhlenkosi outpointed Malawi’s Makwinja Mphatso, Mozambican pro boxer Tiago Muxanga got a walkover, Uganda’s Abubaker Malindi won on a walkover, Rwanda’s Pacifique Niyonzima, Libya’s Khalida Ahmeedah beat Guinea’s Youssouf Diallo, Seychelles’ Joshua Cousin and Mali’s Traore Djibril beat Vinny Mandar of IBN-Italy.

Making his second appearance in the World Championships, Africa Zone 4 light-welterweight silver medallist Thabiso Dlamini lost on points to Stelios Kirsanidis of Greece. He was gracious in defeat.

“Losing is part of the sport we accept every decision made by the judges,” said Thabiso, one of the six boxers representing Eswatini in Dubai.

Despite the loss, Thabiso said he will continue working hard focusing on a major achievement in the ring.

“I didn’t box very well in the first round but then in the second round I came to the party, I was impressed with my overall performance and I won’t stop training until good things are coming my way, I’m taking it as a learning experience to do even better next time and special thanks to President Umar Kremlev for making sure that we are also part of the games and of course my country for giving me this opportunity,” said Thabiso.

▪️A visa hitch knocks out DR Congo’s star boxer David Tshama.The rest of DRC boxers are however in the mix
▪️Nigerian Boxing Federation Vice-President Imadu Imonlei disowns the boxers from the populous West African nation describing them as imposters representing themselves in Dubai but a top African boxing official waters down the allegation saying they’re legitimately in the tournament

4/12/2025

The richest ever boxing tournament on earth – the 23rd edition of Men’s World Boxing Championships – starts today at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium with 33 boxers from Africa in action.

Among the prominent boxers who’ll trade leather today are Senegal’s Africa heavyweight champion Karamba Kebe, Mozambican Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tiago Muxanga now a pro boxer based in England, Seychelles Mandela Cup middleweight champion Joshua Cousin, DR Congo’s Mandela Cup bronze medallist Mbaya Mulumba, Eswatini’s boxing’s posterboy Thabiso Dlamini, 2019 African Games silver medallist Shaffi Bakari of Kenya and compatriot Africa Zone 3 silver medalist Peter “The Beast” Abuti and Gabon’s Mandela Cup gold medallist Moundat Njinnou.

A visa hitch has knocked out DR Congo’s star boxer David Tshama but the rest of DRC boxers including three-time African champion Pita Kabeji will be in action in this glamorous $8.32 million tournament which has attracted Cuba’s celebrated multiple Olympic and world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz and top Central Asian boxers such as Uzbekistan’s two-time Olympic gold medallist and defending world flyweight champion Hasanboy Dusmatov

Nigerian Boxing Federation Vice-President Imadu Imonlei has warned the Nigerian boxers in Dubai of dire consequences because they have not been cleared by the federation and the government.

“They will face the consequence of illegal representation as will be decided by the board of the federation,” Imonlei told boxersworld.co.ke

Imonlei went on: “They are there representing themselves and not Nigeria. They were not registeted by the Nigerian Boxing Federation, it will be illegal for them to fly the Nigerian flag as a country.”

A top African boxing official has watered down Imonlei’s comments saying it’s wrong to deny innocent boxers a chance to take part in the world event owing to petty boxing politics.

Nigeria and India are among World Boxing affiliates who have denied their boxers a chance to take part in this immensely rich tournament in Dubai yet IBA has allowed dual membership to enable boxers take part in any tournament of their choice. IBA is focused on empowering boxers financially, and with the Golden Era initiative in motion the future is very for young ambitious boxers worldwide under IBA’s commercialisation of boxing.

Confusion also surrounds Cameroon’s representation with Professor Binyom Pierre Rene, who says he’s the legally elected President of the federation, disowning the Cameroon boxers in Dubai

“As elected president of Cameroonian Boxing Federation, the three boxers are not recognised by the Cameroonian Boxing Federation,” said Rene, adding:”None of them is licenced to our federation, and the government has not cleared them.”

Contacted, Andre Basile Kalong, the Secretary General of the federation and former AFBC Secretary General side-stepped the issue, referring me to the coach.Cameroon is embroiled in a leadership dispute.

Africa is currently starved of success in Men’s World Boxing Championships. It’s eight years now no country from Africa has won a medal in the global tournament since the 2017 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, where Cameroon’s super-heavyweight Fokou Fosso, now campaigning as a pro in Australia, bagged a bronze medal.

Eswatini’s medal hope in Dubai Thabo Dlamini is optimistic the medal drought will end this time around.

“It’s possible we just have to believe in ourselves and put our mind to do it , it’s our time,” Dlamini told boxersworld.co.ke

“On my side I’m ready, I have prepared well for this tournament I know it won’t be a walk in the park but will do our level best. I’m hoping my experience will come in handy.”

The 33 African boxers in action today, December 4, 2025:

Lightweight round of 64

Wisdom Barnor (Sierra Leone) vs Ashiraliyev Mahamnadali (Azerbaijan)

Abdou Karim Bathily (Mali) vs Roka Magar (Nepal)

Light-heavyweight

Fanchette Dashelli (Seychelles) vs Ummataliev Javorkhir (Uzbekistan)

Heavyweight round of 32

Peter Abuti (Kenya) vs Toktosun Bakyt (KGZ)

Lightweight

Amadou Hasaane Abdoul (Nigeria) vs Okasha Muayid (Libya)

Makwinja Mphatso (Malawi) vs Marusenga Mandhlenkosi (Zimbabwe)

Welterweight round of 64

Diop Cheikh Tidiane (Senegal) vs Leo John Francis (Scotland)

Light-middleweight round of 64

Tiago Muxanga (Mozambique) vs Sadjad Yacouba (Nigeria)

Light-heavyweight round of 64

Tamba James Bafaor (Sierra Leone) vs Tevita Lauhingoa (Tonga)

Kumar Pravesh (IBN India) vs Christopher Luteke (DR Congo)

Abubaker Malindi (Uganda) vs Staver Vadim (IBN -Malta)

Heavyweight round of 64

Karamba Kebe (Senegal) vs Andre Lucien (Cameroon)

Bantamweight round of 64

Shaffi Bakari (Kenya) vs Zekenya Kedir (Ethiopia)

Manuel Paulo (Mozambique) vs Anushervon Fazylov (Tajikistan)

Light-welterweight round of 64

Thabiso Dlamini (Eswatini) vs Stelios Kirsanidis (Greece)

Nyongoloza Ntandoyenkosi (Zimbabwe) vs Pacifique Niyonzima (Rwanda)

Light-middleweight round of 64

Khalida Ahmeedah (Libya) vs Youssouf Diallo (Guinea)

Middleweight round of. 64

Abduloul Adamou (Nigeria) vs Vakhtang Harutyunyan (Armenia)

Amadou Keita (Liberia) vs Uulu Syrgak (KGZ)

Kasilila Enzi Mathew (Tanzania) vs Joshua Cousin (Seychelles)

Heavyweight round of 32

Mzobanzi Moyo (Zimbabwe) vs Leo Nicolson (Australia)

Light-welterweight round of 64

Mbaya Mulumba (DR Congo) vs Vsllia Popov (Russia)

Middleweight round of 64

Avelino Benjamin (Angola) vs Traore Djibril (Mali)

Innocent Mugenga (Rwanda) vs Mohammed Yazmin (Sri Lanka)

Light-heavyweight round of 32

Moundat Njinnou (Gabon) vs Abdullah Rajapov (Cambodia)

▪️I finished the rice and small chicken in a few minutes but positively it helped me to maintain my weight

03/12/2025

What a thrilling and memorable maiden flight for Africa Zone 3 light-welterweight bronze medallist Caleb “Sugu” Wandera.

He felt like a king in the plane being served by the smiling cabin crew in his first ever flight since he was born, thanks to boxing which has enabled him to be where he is now.

“It was like a dream finally realised, I was so happy to be in the Emirates flight high up in the sky but I was not worried,” said Wandera, one of the three boxers in the 13-man Kenya team in their maiden flight together with featherweight Philip Omondi and welterweight Wiseman Kavondo.

“There was no ugali, I was served ka-small chicken and rice, I enjoyed the meal though to a Luhya like me that like drinking water,” Wandera jokingly told boxersworld.co.ke. He hails from Busia County in Western Kenya Region.

“Positively the tiny meal helped me to maintain my weight,” said Wandera, a pressure fighter with piston-like punches who is capable of absorbing any punch in the ring.

“I’m overjoyed to be in Dubai, a very attractive city I’ve just been seeing online.

“I thank God for everything and looking forward to the World Championships.”

Wandera, formerly based in Nakuru representing Flamingo Boxing Club, has relocated to Nairobi and is now employed by the Kenya Police.