African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong'o (left) finally returned to local action outpointing George Cosby in the semi-finals of the Kenya National Boxing League third leg at Nakuru's Madison Square Garden on Friday, September 19.
AFRICAN GAMES CHAMP OKONG’O BACK WITH A BANG!, JAKABABA AND OKAKA SET FOR A BRUISING FOURTH SHOWDOWN
▪️ Nakuru’s Madison Square Garden on fire as boxers eye national team places for the Zone 3 Championships with impressive Nakuru County’s Caleb Wandera silencing Kenyan international Ethan Maina
African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong’o finally returned to local action today, September 19, 2025, in the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League at the Madison Square Garden, Nakuru.
Okong’o put up a dominant show to outpoint George Cosby of Police who is a bronze medallist at the 2019 African Games.
Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde was in a class of his own.
Since representing KDF in the 2024 African Military Games in Abuja where he won gold, Okong’o has been missing in local action owing to pressing issues at his place of work.
He’s one of the boxers expected to represent Kenya in the Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi from October 15-25.
Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde was in a class of his own in stopping Laikipia’s Clinton Mutua in the second round while Africa super-heavyweight silver medallist Clinton Macharia moved to the final beating KDF’s Eric Otengo on abandonment in the first round.
Nakuru County’s big-punching Caleb Wandera maintained his impressive performance dominating international Ethan Maina enroute to a deserved 3-0 points victory. He has definitely caught the selector’s eyes ahead of Zone 3 Championships.
Twice Africa Championships bronze medallist Robert Okaka aka Man Man Ngori and his arch-rival Humphrey “Jakababa” Ochieng are set for another bruising showdown in the finals on Saturday, September 20. It will be the fourth time they’ll be meeting with Okaka having won all the three fights. Okaka stopped Nakuru County’s Oliver Omondi in the first round of the light-heavyweight semi-finals while Jakaba stopped Mombasa’s Lazaro Odote.
Semi-final results of the Kenya National Boxing League third leg in Nakuru on September 19, 2025.
Another mouth-watering final is the featherweight duel between rivals Chris Juma of Nairobi and Prisons’ Mwinyi Kombo.
In the only women’s semi-final bout today, Boxgirls’ international flyweight Lencer Akinyi outpointed national champion Sheila Auma of Kibra.
Diouf Muimi of Police (right) was controversially declared the winner of the flyweight bout won clean by KDF's Kelvin Maina (left) but the three judges stole his well deserved win
Third leg of the popular BFK Kenya National Boxing League takes off in style in Nakuru the Home of Boxing with mixed fortunes for top boxers
An exciting start to the third leg of the popular BFK Kenya National Boxing League with a total of 88 boxers – 78 men and 10 women – in action in the three-day event at Nakuru’s famous Madison Square Garden.
Among the highlights on the first day, September 18, 2025, was the defeat of Africa bronze medallists Shaffi Bakari and Alloys Vincent, rivals Chris Juma and Mwinyi Kombo winning their bouts and Africa Military Games flyweight champion Kelvin “Young” Maina’s victory was stolen in broad daylight by the judges.
For the second time in row, Africa bronze medallist Shaffi Bakari of Police lost to KDF’s Dennis Muthama at bantamweight. Muthama outpointed Shaffi in the second leg of the league in Mombasa in July.
Africa light-welterweight bronze medallist, Alloys Vincent, now employed by Kenya Prisons, went down on points 2-1 to Nairobi’s Wiseman Kavondo while Kelvin Maina’s clean victory was stolen by the three judges who declared Diouf Muimi of Police the controversial winner.
The KDF boxer, who is the reigning Africa Military Games flyweight champion, was obviously the better boxer scoring neatly and moving out fast as Diouf struggled to find the range.
Diouf switched to southpaw stance in the second round but still failed to land telling blows on the swifter and smarter KDF boxer who went on piling points.
It was definitely a bad day in the office for the promising Diouf. He knows deep down his heart he lost the fight but when contacted Diouf insisted he is the winner.
“I won the fight,” is all he told boxersworld.co.ke without specifying how he won because he hardly hit the target.
Kelvin was heartbroken when reached for comment on the decision of the three judges whose motive to score in favour of Diouf is unclear.
“I’m totally pissed off, this is not good for boxing, we boxers sacrifice so much only to be demoralised by judges, they don’t even know the pain of a punch and the many hours we sweat it out training in the gym,” said a very disappointed Kelvin.
“Such decisions are in bad taste for the sport but I leave the rest to God, it’s so unfair. Hata Diouf mwenyewe anajua amebebwa hakushinda (even my opponent knows he was given victory he didn’t sweat for it).”
Asked whether Diouf hurt him with any punch, Kelvin said: “He didn’t hit me with any serious blow, I evaded his attacks making him miss, he ended with a cut on the right eye.”
Interestingly, the judges will continue officiating as if nothing happened yet there’s a serious issue here which demands punitive action.
Rival featherweights Mwinyi Kombo and Chris Juma remained in contention and are likely to meet in the finals.
Juma outpointed Molo’s Eric Ondicho while Mwinyi beat Kongowea’s Frank Oduo and Euticas Njau of G44.
International minimumweight Sillus Onyango was beaten 2-1 by KDF’s Stanley Mathenge while KDF’s lightweight Washington Wandera kept alive his hopes of making it in Kenya’s team for Africa Zone 3 Championships by winning his two fights. He defeated Robert Gichuhi of Nairobi and Kisumu’s Humphrey Onyango.
Kenya's current longest ever serving boxing referee & judge, Mwangi Muthoga aka Don King reads the Riot Act to the R&Js officiating in the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League in Nakuru starting today, September 18..... Picture design by Duncan Kuria aka Sugar Ray
He has appealed for impartiality and professionalism among the R&Js who will officiate in the third leg of the national league in Nakuru to avoid killing the dreams of innocent boxers and i⁹⁸n the process turnishing the image of Boxing Federation of Kenya
One of Kenya’s most accomplished boxing referee & judge, Mwangi Muthoga aka Don King, has over the years maintained a loud silence on what has now become the cancer of boxing: biased officiating.
Seoul 1988 Olympics theft: One of the most controversial decisions in boxing’s history* In a gesture of reconciliation and sportsmanship, South Korean boxer Park Si-hun returned his 1988 Seoul Olympics gold medal to American boxer Roy Jones Jr.. The controversial decision that awarded Park the gold over the clearly dominant Jones was considered one of the biggest misjudgments in sports history, with Park himself acknowledging the unfairness of the outcome. The medal was returned in May 2023, 36 years after the Olympics, after Park visited Jones’s ranch in Florida to personally give him the medal, an act which brought tears to Jones’s eyes and provided a long-awaited closure for both boxers. In the light-middleweight final, Roy Jones Jr. dominated his opponent, Park Si-hun, landing significantly more punches. Despite this dominance, Park won the gold medal by a controversial 3-2 split decision, *courtesy of biased officiating by shameless judges who robbed Jones Jr a clearcut victory.
In the 36 years he operated as an R&J before stepping out in 2018, Muthoga’s hands were tied and could therefore not discuss this controversial issue publicly. But now that he is unattached, Muthoga has finally come out of his protective shell, speaking candidly to boxersworld.co.ke on this worldwide and age-old ‘disease’ of dubious officiating.
A former boxer at the famous Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club, Muthoga pulls no punches commenting on this scourge.
“I hate biased officiating because you’re killing the dreams of an innocent boxer as well as demoralising the coach who has spent a lot of time in the gym hoping to produce a champion,” says Muthoga.
“Throughout my officiating days and I can say it with authority I’ve never been involved in biased officiating, it’s bad, and as a former boxer I know how it feels when a boxer, his coach and fans know that he/she clearly dominated a bout only to be robbed by the judges due to their own selfishness. We have to speak out openly about biased officiating as the biggest enemy in competitive boxing.”
Park Si-hun and Roy Jones Jr (right) battle it out in the controversial light-middleweight final of 1988 Seoul Olympics. Despite dominating the Korean, the American shockingly “lost” but Park eventually saw the light and travelled all the way to the US to hand over Jones Jr his “stolen” gold medal
For this reason, the widely travelled Muthoga has appealed for fairness, integrity and impartiality among the judges who will officiate in the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League taking place at Nakuru’s Madison Square Garden from today, September 18-20.
“With the Zone 3 Championships happening next month most boxers will try their best to impress BFK selectors for possible inclusion in the national team, it’s therefore important for judges and refs to be extra careful on how they officiate in the three-day national league,” Muthoga cautioned. The Africa Zone 3 Championships is scheduled for October 15-25 in Nairobi.
“This league,” says Muthoga, “will be very crucial because of Zone 3 so all the R&Js must be cautious not to kill the dreams of boxers.
“They must be neutral that is why they wear a white shirt, they should be firm and fair in their decisions otherwise they have no business being in Nakuru, I’m very serious on this issue and I’m telling them to exercise caution because we don’t want to see fans booing an unpopular decision and throwing chairs at the Madison Square Garden due to an unfair decision, we want to see them conduct themselves with maturity and dignity to show why they qualified to be R&Js.”
Muthoga went on:”As we all know dubious officiating is a worldwide problem, we’ve seen it in big international competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Africa Elite Championships. Our own most famous boxer in Kenya the late Philip Waruinge was twice a victim of poor officiating in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
“Recently we saw a Korean boxer handing over a gold medal to American boxer Roy Jones Jr because he could no longer live with the guilt of keeping a gold medal he felt should have been awarded to the American boxer robbed of victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. That was a very courageous decision by the Korean boxer speaking volumes on the degree of decay in boxing officiating.
“During my 36 years in officiating I’ve seen several unpopular decisions that left me wondering why some R&Js you’re working with can be so unprofessional, I kept on asking myself how would such officials feel if it was their son or daughter being robbed in the ring? It’s so painful and unbearable that’s why we see boxers openly shedding tears in anger after being denied victory they clearly deserved.”
Muthoga says Kenya is no exception on biased officiating with some boxers reportedly deciding to call it quits from boxing in protest.
“We have seen it in our own country especially in the league. A boxer wins clean but my colleagues in white shirts deny the boxer victory for reasons known to themselves. It’s very shameful, we must stop it once and for all because you’re tarnishing the image of BFK led by our respected President Anthony Otieno “Jamal” whose positive contribution to the growth of boxing should be complemented with decent and fair officiating.
“Otherwise I’m very impressed with most of our R&Js, they’re doing a good job and conduct themselves professionally but a few of the R&Js have their own agenda. I want them to know we will not remain silent anymore, we will call them out and recommend stringent measurers against them even if it means banning them so be it. I remind the head of the R&Js to hold a meeting with them before all tournaments to tell them what’s expected of R&Ja while on duty.”
Muthoga, however, adviced R&Js to always stand firm if they feel they’re right in decisions they make in the course of their duties to avoid being influenced by fans or officials. He cites the 2006 Commonwealth Games when a Canadian coach was unimpressed by Muthoga stopping the bout.
“During the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, I stopped a fight involving a boxer from Canada. The coach was very mad with me but since I had made the right decision I was not worried I stood by my decision,” recalls Muthoga.
He also gives an example of some fights in which fans complain of biased officiating just because a boxer was aggressive throwing many punches at his opponent but in reality he was punching the guard, butting (punching with the wrong side of the gloves) or missing the target. Since most fans are not conversant with how judges score points they’ll cry foul when the decision is not in favour of the attacking boxer.
“In such cases you’ll find that the boxer supposedly being attacked guarded himself/herself well, and scored with few but accurate punches,” explains Muthoga who got involved with R&J in 1982 on quitting active boxing in 1980.
He first attended a National R&J Course conducted by Trevor Hill and Mal Duffy in Nakuru. Among other rookies in attendance were Isaac Mbote, John Wachira and David Matheu.
“I started as a judge, then Trevor allowed us to do both refereeing and judging,” says Muthoga and at the 1987 African Games in Nairobi, he qualified as an international R&J in a Continental Course.
Muthoga’s first trip outside the country was in 1986 to Nigeria where he officiated in the Presidents Cup match between the hosts and Kenya.
“I felt very inspired by the trip, I saw myself with a future in refereeing and judging. I’m grateful to Star-3 R&Js Captain Trevor Hill, Humphrey Wamba and Cornelius Monteiro for inspiring me.”
Muthoga’s confidence was further enhanced whe he was selected to officiate in the 1990 King’s Cup Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I felt great making my first ever trip outside Africa, it’s a moment I can’t forget,” Muthoga recalls with a deserved sense of pride.
“It gave me more confidence officiating in such a big tournament, my dream was becoming a reality, hearing my name being called out as one of the R&Js made me feel proud of myself.”
His next stop was at the 1995 African Games in Harare, Zimbabwe, then 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, 1999 African Games in South Africa, 2003 African Games in Abuja, Nigeria, 2007 African Games in Algeria , 2011 Maputo African Games, 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, 2008 Olympic Games qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia, 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India, 2014 Presidents Cup in Sri Lanka, 2014 African Elite Championships in East London, South Africa.
Muthoga’s last major assignment was in the 2018 First Indian Open Championships after which he stopped officiating.
He looks back with pride and satisfaction his globe-trotting assignments.
“I never imagined I would one day travel in all these countries because as a boxer I was not in the national team but through being an R&J I managed to fly allover the world,” says Muthoga.
“I officiated in over 6000 bouts, my record book is very good I’m proud of myself for what I achieved.”
Muthoga’s most painful setback was his ruthless demotion as a Star-3 R&J in 2009. He attained this highest level in R&J in 2009 while officiating in the Presidents Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hardly had Muthoga settled down to enjoy his promotion when he received the shocking news that he had been demoted back to Star-2 by AIBA at a time when his morale was sky-high.
Reason? That he had missed officiating in two international tournaments yet it was not his fault.
“It was such a big shock to me, and I was not to blame because the ABA could not get funding from the government to enable me travel outside the country.
“I felt like I had been invited for a delicious dish of pilau then it’s quickly removed from the table without having a single bite, anyway I finally accepted my fate and moved on.”
As a boxer, Muthoga got involved in the sport in 1972 at the Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club under coach Maxie McCullough, Gabriel “Style” Musonye and later Peter Morris. Among his peers then at the club were Sammy Kigos, John Mwangi and Chris “Kawasaki” Kariuki. Kigos and Kawasaki later joined KDF, Mwangi moved to Prisons and Muthoga joined Kenya Police in 1975.
Under the tutelage of Gabriel “Style” Musonye, a former Nakuru ABC international, Muthoga won the 1974 Rift Valley Novices title as a light-flyweight. He then took part in the 1975 National Novices Championships at YMCA in Nairobi. In that same year he fought his way to the finals of the National Intermediates at Desai Memorial Hall, losing in the finals to Philip Kigera who later joined Prisons.
Among his accolades is becoming the 1979 Police light-flyweight champion defeating Africa champion Sande Odanga in the semi-finals and outpointing stubborn southpaw Peter “Kerugoya” Gichuhi in the finals.
Muthoga left Police in 1979 to venture into private business and in 1980 hanged his gloves, switching to R&J in 1982.
PITCHED BATTLE IN TANGA AS NGOME VOWS TO DETHRONE CHAMPS JKT MAKAU MAKUU
▪️ A total of 97 boxers from 15 clubs are taking part in the National Club Championships
Tanzania’s National Club Boxing Championships started on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in Tanga.
A total of 97 boxers from 15 clubs are taking part in this important event. The clubs are drawn from Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Kagera, Arusha, Iringa and Dodoma.
Speaking to boxersworld.co.ke, Boxing Federation of Tanzania President – the man who has been working overnight in the current renaissance of boxing in Tanzania – said the clubs taking part are MMJKT, Ngome, Magereza, Arusha Police, Tanga Central, Tanga Centra B, Makorora, Kagera A and B, Iringa Boxing Club, General Chande, Band Coy, JKT Mgulani, Jeba and Amboni.
“This is one of our premier competitions I’m very impressed with the huge entry,” said Willilo.
“Defending champions JKT Makau Makuu have won the tournament four times in succession and have been taunting their rivals Ngome to be ready to cheer them for another stellar performance.”
Boxing analysts opine while the defending champions JKT Makau Makuu are favoured to maintain their domination, this time around they face formidable opposition from Ngome, Magereza and Police with Ngome vowing to end the domination of JKT.
The finals are slated for Saturday, September 20, and from the look of things a pitched battle is in the offing.
KAZAKHSTAN TOPS THE MEDAL TABLE AT THE INAUGURAL WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 THANKS TO VICTORY IN THE FINAL BOUT OF THE COMPETITION
A thrilling final day of action at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool saw Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay defeat Jahhongir Zokirov of Uzbekistan in the 520th and final bout of the competition to win the super-heavyweight (M90kg+) gold medal and ensure his country topped the final medal table with seven golds, one silver and two bronze.
Although Uzbekistan secured a higher medal count with 11, it won fewer golds and had to settle for second place in the medal table, with six golds, two silver and three bronze.
After 10 days of high-class competition at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, the final day evolved into a shoot-out between the two Asian superpowers which, remarkably, won every one of the men’s categories between them.
It proved to be a superb closing day for Kazakhstan which won seven of the eight finals its boxers contested, the only reverse coming in the first bout of the day when Nazym Kyzaibay lost to India’s Minakshi Minakshi at light-flyweight (W48kg).
The final outcome at the top of the medal table hinged on two direct match-ups between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which came out on top in both.
The women’s welterweight (W65kg) final between Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva was one of the best bouts of the day and after two hard fought rounds between, the Uzbek seemed to have the upper hand. However, the combination of a point off from the referee and terrific onslaught by Abikeyeva saw the Kazak fight back to win 3-0 on the judges’ scorecards. It was a similar story in the last bout of the night where Oralbay won the final round on four judges’ cards to secure the narrowest of 3-2 victories.
Speaking via an interpreter in the mixed zone after her welterweight victory, Abikeyev said: “Today is the final. I set a personal goal before Liverpool to become a two-time world champion. Thank God, I reached it. This is the first one. This is for my grandfather. Thanks for the support, Kazakhstan.”
Other countries which won gold medals on the day included India, Chinese Taipei, Brazil and Ireland – all of them coming in the women’s categories.
The day began with nine bouts in the afternoon session which saw victories for Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay at flyweight (M50kg) and Makhmud Sabrykhan at bantamweight (M55kg), while Uzbekistan enjoyed success with wins for welterweight (65kg) Asadkhuja Muydinkhjaev, light-heavyweight Javokhir Ummataliev and heavyweight (W90kg) Turabek Khabibullaev.
The pick of the bouts was the women’s lightweight final between Brazil’s Rebecca De Lima Santos and Aneta Rygielska of Poland. The contest could have gone either way and hinged on a strong second round from the Brazilian, which managed to give her a big enough lead to weather a final round onslaught from the Pole and edge the result 3-2.
Another boxer to impress was Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke, who took control of her middleweight final from first bell and was rarely troubled on route to a 5-0 win over Busra Isildar of Turkey.
O’Rourke said: “I feel incredible, it hasn’t even sunk in yet. Just the whole buzz and the atmosphere here is just, I’m overwhelmed with excitement, enjoyment, everything. It’s an amazing feeling and long may it last.”
The evening session featured nine more finals which were dominated by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The men’s lightweight final had all the makings of a classic as Brazil’s Luis De Oliveira clashed with Paris 2024 gold medallist Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan, however it was cut short when an accidental clash of heads led the ringside Doctor to halt the contest. It went to the judges’ who had Khalokov leading on every card and meant he has now won gold at both at the Olympic Games and the World Boxing Championships, without dropping a round.
For the home nation, it proved to be a frustrating final session as cruiserweight Teagn Stott and light-heavyweight, Emily Asquith, both lost their finals, however the overall competition has been a major success for the hosts that delivered a fantastic Championships in Liverpool and saw English boxers win five medals, including two for hometown boxers, Callum Makin and Odel Kamara, who lit up the tournament.
The President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, said: “We could not have wished for a better place to host our inaugural World Boxing Championships and I would like to thank the Local Organising Committee and all of the event partners, GB Boxing, England Boxing, Liverpool City Council, UK Sport and the National Lottery for delivering a fantastic event.
“All of the feedback I have heard from boxers, coaches and officials this week has been very positive and everyone has been very happy with the organisation, staging and delivery of the event. It has been a festival of world class boxing and has set a very high standard for all future World Boxing events and championships.”
A full list of the winners from the final two days of action is:
80kg Javokhir Ummataliev (UZB) Yojerlin Cesar (FRA)
85kg Akmaijon Isroiliv (UZB) Teagn Stott (ENG)
90kg Turabek Khabibullaev (UZB) Isaisas Filho (BRA)
90kg+ Aibek Oralbay (KAZ) Jakhongir Zokirov (UZB)
RESULTS:
All of today’s results are available at: https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/competition-documents.
World Boxing will be posting updates throughout the competition on its social media channel.
The official draw and all results and additional information can be found on the event’s official website: https://www.worldboxingliverpool.com/competition-documents.
The World Boxing Championships 2025 was livestreamed on World Boxing’s website via Eurovision Sport (available in selected territories). Bouts can be watched back at https://worldboxing.org/watch-the-world-boxing-championships/.
The World Boxing Championships 2025 was organised and delivered by a Local Organising Committee made up of a range of partners that includes GB Boxing, England Boxing, Liverpool City Council and the M&S Bank Arena, with the support of the National Lottery and UK Sport. Event partners are Sting, Nike Boxing, Brabners, Queensberry Promotions, Movember, the Liverpool Bid Company and Visit Liverpool.
CANELO ALVAREZ VS TERENCE CRAWFORD GATE CONFIRMED AS FIGHT ENTERS THE HISTORY BOOKS BEHIND ONLY FLOYD MAYWEATHER
Saturday’s fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford has officially entered the history books.
This past Saturday, one of the biggest boxing fights of the decade took place when Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford clashed at the Allegiant Stadium for the undisputed super middleweight title.
Not only was the event of huge magnitude because of the title fight but also because it was TKO boxing‘s inaugural event, and the first major fight promoted by UFC boss Dana White.
And despite hoping to come into the boxing world with a bang, White was criticized by boxing fans for not fixing the pacing of Fight Night, despite his promises.
As well as that, the UFC boss also claimed that Canelo vs Crawford was set to reach historic gate figures which would see it push into the top three biggest boxing gates of all time.
And not long after the event, the historic figure was confirmed by Boxing Kingdom with the gate exceeding $47.23 million, putting it in the top three biggest gates of all time.
The gate is just slightly behind Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor‘s $55 million gate which occupies second place, with Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao firmly remaining in top spot at $72 million.
The final gate broke the record for the highest single-day live gate record at the Allegiant Stadium and even broke the record for the biggest gate ever in a stadium.
Canelo’s seven-year run came to an end
Going into the fight, Crawford was deemed the underdog and was widely being counted out because of the size difference between him and the Mexican.
Despite that, the American’s win brought an end to Canelo’s seven-year reign as a boxing world champion and for the first time since 2018, the Mexican now holds no belts.
Kelvin "Young" Maina (left) at the 2024 African Military Games in Abuja where he won flyweight gold
Kenya National Boxing League action moves to NaxVegas as bitter rivals defending champions KDF and Police dig trenches for total war in the Home of Boxing
After being away from boxing for almost a year, reigning African Military Games flyweight champion, Kelvin “Young” Maina, is back in action and has sounded a warning to all the ‘tenants’ in the flyweight division.
He says they either move to the ‘servants quarters’ or he will evict them come rain come shine.
Maina receives his gold medal in Abuja
The aggressive KDF boxer is taking no prisoners at the famous Madison Square Garden in Nakuru, the home of some of Kenya’s top boxers such as twice Olympic medallist Philip Waruinge, his younger brother Olympic bronze medallist Sammy Mbogwa, Africa champion John Nderu, twice world title contestant David “DK” Kamau and 1980 Golden Cup Best Boxer and gold medallist Isaiah “Danicho” Ikhoni.
“I’m not underrating any of my opponents because they’ve trained also but I’m back with a new weapon to destroy them,” a combative Maina told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
Maina will be uncompromising in the pursuit of his burning ambition to don the national vest as Africa Zone 3 Championships beckon in Nairobi next month.
“I know my opponents are training to defeat me. Let them know I’m in top shape ready to silence them.”
In Maina’s absence, the main actors in the flyweight berth have been Diouf Muimi of Police “Chafua Chafua”, Jericho Boxing Club’s Emmanuel “Manu” Chondo and KDF teammate Abednego Kyalo the Africa bronze medallist who will have to move down to minimumweight.
“I’ve been following Manu and Diouf they’re good boxers but now that I’m back in action it’s not going to be business as usual,” Maina told boxersworld.co.ke
Maina has defeated Diouf once in Mombasa in 2024 but he has yet to meet Jericho boy Manu.
Maina (right) with bosom buddy Sam Njau who influenced him to take up boxing in 2011
The rivalry between Manu and Diouf has intensified with the Police boxer so far having an edge defeating Manu twice to make it 2-2 with Manu having previously defeated Diouf twice.
Manu and his handlers are however dissatisfied with the officiating in the last two bouts, claiming Diouf is enjoying piggyback rides from the judges.
Now the flyweight ‘landlord’ Maina is back. It’s going to be messy in NaxVegas.
Maina attributes his interest in boxing to bosom buddy Sam Njau, the 2022 Africa featherweight silver medallist currently on a break but will be back in the ring when he’s through with his official duties at KDF.
“We grew up in the same place, schooled together and we were deskmates as well as family friends, Njau influenced me a lot to start boxing in 2011,” says Maina whose major goal this year is to represent the national team.
“This year I want to work hard and make it to the national team,” says the ambitious Kenyan soldier formerly a matatu conductor in Githurai before joining KDF.
Maina’s highest point is winning a gold medal in the African Military Games in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2024, an achievement dear to his heart.
“The going in Abuja was not easy meeting boxers who had just come from the African Games in Accra but I beat them all.”
With the African Military Games gold medal under his belt there’s no stopping Maina in his quest to represent the national team in next month’s Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi.
He is further inspired by the support he receives from his parents, dad Moses Maina and mum Philomena Njoki, both of whom follow keenly the progress of their son in the ring.
“I thank my parents so much for their encouragement in my boxing career, they’re the pillar of my strength in the ring,” says Maina as he looks ahead to the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League starting on Thursday, September 18, 2025, to make a big statement at Nakuru’s Madison Square Garden. Good luck soldier boy.
Boxing focus turns to the famous Madison Square Garden in Nakuru aka NaxVegas in the Rift Valley Region.
The cream of Kenya’s elite boxers will be in the ring to showcase their boxing prowess that has over the years made Kenya a formidable force in the squared circle.
It’s the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League from Sept 18-20. And it’s going to be action-packed as boxers strive to catch the eye of the selectors ahead of the Africa Zone 3 Championships in Nairobi from October 15-25.
Nakuru will definitely EXPLODE 💥
Residents have been advised to be wary of ‘stray bullets’ as defending champions KDF and Police engage in a battle of supremacy heavily armed with lethal weapons.
The show will be spiced by some of Kenya’s top boxers such as Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde, African Games middleweight champion Edwin Awuor, African Games bronze medallist Amina Martha, African Military Games gold medallists Kelvin Maina and Dennis Muthama, silver medallist Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe, Shaffi Bakari and stylish Emily “Ring Princess” Juma. There’s also the grudge match pitting Africa bronze medallist Robert “Man Man Ngori” Okaka and Humphrey “Jakababa” Ochieng who has lost thrice in a row to Okaka. Will he be beaten again by the KDF soldier for the fourth time?
Don’t miss this showdown in Kenya’s Home of Boxing. See you there
“This initiative enhances sporting performance, professionalizes amateur boxing, and inspires athletes to remain committed to the IBA pathway,” says Polynesian federation President Tauhiti Nena
After an eight-year hiatus, the Oceania Elite Championships return from September 15th to 21st, 2025, at the Maco Nena Hall in Tipaerui, Tahiti. This year marks a historic first: women will compete alongside men, sharing both the ring and a landmark prize fund of $100,000 USD.
IBA Secretary-General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE has injected professionalism and humanity in the management of boxing
The prize money, provided by the International Boxing Association (IBA) under the leadership of President Umar Kremlev, will be distributed across 25 competition categories (12 women’s and 13 men’s). Gold medalists will receive $2,000, silver medalists $1,000, and bronze medalists $500. This is the first time such financial rewards are being offered in Oceania, reflecting IBA’s commitment to professionalizing amateur boxing and motivating athletes across the region.
IBA President Umar Kremlev has revolutionised amateur boxing since his ascendancy to power in 2020
At a press conference in Papeete City Hall, Tauhiti Nena, President of the Polynesian Boxing Association (PBAT), praised IBA’s vision: “This initiative enhances sporting performance, professionalizes amateur boxing, and inspires athletes to remain committed to the IBA pathway.”
The event was attended by key regional and political figures, including the Mayor of Papeete, Michel Buillard, and representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Tonga Boxing Association, and IJSPF.
One of Oceania’s brightest stars, Naikee Gobrait-Cummings, world vice-champion under World Boxing, offered heartfelt thanks to IBA for making such opportunities possible:
“Today, IBA offers us real opportunities for growth, excellence, and motivation through tangible rewards such as prize money—something that is simply not possible with World Boxing.”
With 13 nations set to compete, the Oceania Elite 2025 is more than just a competition. It is a symbol of IBA’s global mission: to unite communities, raise standards, and provide athletes with the opportunities they deserve.
Join us from September 16–20, 2025, at Maco Nena Hall in Tahiti, as Oceania takes center stage in the future of boxing.
THE RESURRECTION OF BOTSWANA BOXING ASSOCIATION
The Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA) took part in the WASBO Strategy Development Retreat (12–14 September 2025, Aquarian Tide Hotel) represented by SG Mr. Tshiamo Moalosi and Women’s Commission Chairperson Ms. Irene Ntelamo.
The retreat focused on building an inclusive roadmap for women in sport, aligning with BOBA’s priority of empowering women and girls in boxing. This commitment is reflected in recent appointments of women to key leadership roles and the establishment of a fully functional Women’s Commission.
BOBA remains dedicated to safe and equitable sport through the adoption of the Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence Policy, capacity-building initiatives, and future programmes such as Para Boxing, safeguarding training, and HeForShe collaborations.
