▪️The soldiers have 10 boxers in today’s finals, Police six followed by Kasarani Youth, Prisons and Nairobi County with three each
▪️Rising giant Ben Juma vs Samuel Njau in main Fight of the Day
▪️Man Ngori Robert Okaka eyeing fifth win over Cosby Ouma
▪️Africa Zone 3 champion Veronica Mbithe vs Boxgirls’ Lencer Akinyi in third fight with the KDF Corporal leading 2-0
▪️Jane Wangare set to avenge humiliating Mombasa defeat against former street girl Damacline Boyani
▪️Mbotela, Jericho war looming in the light-middleweight final between KDF’s Alvin Oduour against Joseph Shigali aka Shigz aka Msee wa Ndechu
▪️Stakes high at light-welterweight as Africa bronze medallist Aloice Vincent seeks redemption vs in-form Pius Macharia of KDF
▪️Chris Juma sounds warning to Euticus Wanjau of G44
▪️Africa Youth Games bronze medallist Clinton Omondi aka Canelo and Kibra Youth clubmate Steve Alikiba are also in the mix

August 22, 2026

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) boxing team made a resounding statement at the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League, overwhelming rivals and defending champions Kenya Police by securing 10 slots in the finals compared to Police’s six at Mamboha Stadium in Vihiga County about 370km northwest of Kenya’s capital city Nairobi on August 21, 2026

While the soldiers put on a dominant display to signal their title intentions, the day’s biggest upset was in the women’s middleweight division, where Summit Boxing Club rookie Juliet Opondo from Kisumu stunned international star Elizabeth Akinyi with a close 3-2 points victory.

Akinyi, now focusing more on pro boxing, last fought in the amateur ring in 2023 when she represented the national team in the Women’s World Championships in Delhi, India.

“My opponent was more aggressive than me, giving me no room to plan, and she’s also strong,” said Akinyi who cautioned Juliet to prepare for the rematch in the fourth leg in Kisumu.

“I’m now going back to the gym, let Juliet train well because I’ll humiliate her Infront her fans in Kisumu but I accept defeat honourably.”

In an interview with boxersworld.co.ke, Juliet praised Akinyi as a good boxer and that she’s the toughest opponent she has fought so far since she started boxing as class four pupil in 2014 in Siaya under coach Joseph Ochieng “D4”.

“In my previous fights my opponents didn’t last three rounds, this was the first time I went three rounds. Akinyi is tough and has a lot of gas in her, weee! wacha tu,” said Juliet who celebrates her 21st birthday on September 16, 2026.

The military boxers took control of the three-day tournament, displaying superior depth and fitness to outclass their traditional rivals. By sending 10 pugilists into the final bouts, KDF put themselves in a prime position to dethrone Police, who struggled to match the soldiers’ relentless pace and intensity across the weight categories.

Of the 10 KDF boxers in the finals, two are their top female pugilists in Kenya, 2025 Africa Zone 3 champion Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe and featherweight Pauline Chege, a product of Kayole Rapid Club coach Kenneth “Valdez” Ochieng. Police too have two female boxers in the finals, African Games bantamweight bronze medallist Amina Martha and featherweight Rahab Mumbi who battles Pauline Chege in the finals while Mbithe takes on Lencer Akinyi who made her international debut in the 2025 Women’s World Championships.

Asked on her game plan for the fight against Mbithe, Lencer said: “I’m prepared to give my best, not to prove whether I’ll win or lose. I respect Mbithe as an opponent, but I also respect myself and my hard work, let the ring decide who’s better.”

With two victories under her belt against Lencer, Corporal Mbithe is oozing confidence.”You know I’m a soldier, we hate to lose,” she said.

Amina Martha is favoured to overcome Nairobi County’s Mary Anyango at bantamweight. Amina is unbeaten locally since losing to Alice Waiyego in 2019. Alice is now a pro and has won all her three fights so far..Maybe it’s time Amina also combined pro and amateur to boost her kitty and get stiffer opposition in the paid ranks.

Kasarani Youth, Prisons and Nairobi County have three boxers each in the finals, Sombea and Nakuru ABC two each with G44, Vihiga County, Summit BC, Kibra Olympic and Kisumu County one apiece.

The Fight of the Day in today’s finals is the third encounter between KDF’s 2022 Africa silver medallist Samuel Njau and rising star Ben Juma of Kasarani Youth Club who has defeated Njau twice in Nakuru and Mombasa.

“This is my time to rule I can’t accept defeat it’s going to be war,” Ben Juma told boxersworld.co.ke
On his part, Njau – normally a man of a few words – said God will handle everything for him.

The Kasarani Youth Club boxer is known as a strong body puncher and will prefer close quarter exchanges while Njau will use his effective jab, nimble foot work to keep Ben at bay with occasional sporadic combinations.

Ben’s younger brother Chris Juma meets Euticus Wanjau of G44 in the featherweight final.

“He’s not a very difficult opponent I’ll handle him,” said Chris. He was longing to clash with his main rival Police’s Mwinyi Kombo aka Giant Killer.

“I really wanted to fight Kombo and beat him up, I didn’t like the dirty game he played against me in Mombasa,” said Chris who has defeated Kombo three times and Kombo has won twice.

KDF’s World Championships light-heavyweight quarter-finalist and twice Africa bronze medallist Robert Okaka aka Man Ngori meets Cosby Ouma for the fifth time with Okaka leading 4-0.

Cosby, a bronze medallist at the 2019 African Games, is yet to regain the form that saw him shine in Rabat, Morocco.

“Let’s see how things will be today,” is all he said when sought for comment on his fight against the big-hitting Man Ngori. He has won all the four fights against Cosby inside the distance.

Prisons’ Africa bronze medallist Aloice Vincent can’t wait for the rematch against in-form KDF light-welterweight Pius Macharia to avenge the Mombasa defeat. Macharia outpointed Vincent in the second leg of the league in Kenyas port city of Mombasa.

Vincent’s clubmate, minimumweight Jane Wangare is also yearning to avenge her shocking defeat to Kasarani Youth’s former streetgirl Damacline Boyani. Against all expectations, Boyani outpointed national team boxer Wangare in the second leg of the league. Boyani is still smarting from her defeat by southpaw Grace Atieno of Githurai Thailand Club in the recent finals of the Robert Wangila Memorial tournament.

Promising Angola Youth Games bronze medallist Clinton “Canelo” Omondi meets Kibra Youth clubmate Steve Alikiba in the minimumweight division. Alikiba will be fighting for Sombea on loan. It’s time BFK comes up league regulations to stop this unregulated movement of boxers.

In the semi-finals, Omondi outpointed KDF’s Ali Mohammed while Alikiba saw off Joseph Moses of Nakuru ABC.

The official semi-final programme features 25 bouts involving 50 boxers representing 15 teams. The number of boxers reaching this stage provides a clear picture of each team’s depth, consistency and competitiveness as the tournament enters its decisive phase. From the 16 teams and 82 entries that participated in Leg 3, only a select group has progressed to the semi-finals.

August 21st, 2026

KDF leads the participation with 10 semi-finalists, the strongest representation in the competition, with athletes spread across numerous weight categories and emerging as the leading contender for overall honours. Police follows with 7 semi-finalists, particularly strong in the middle and heavier divisions, while Prisons has 6, demonstrating impressive depth and medal potential.

Sombea Boxing Club ranks fourth with 5 semi-finalists, an exceptional achievement for a club competing against much larger institutional teams. Sombea’s five representatives have reached the semi-finals across 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 63.5kg and 80kg, demonstrating competitive depth across both lighter and heavier divisions.

NABC and NRB each have 4 semi-finalists, maintaining strong representation, particularly in the lighter categories. Kasarani Youth has 3, showing promising development across several divisions. NBI, Vihiga and KSM each have 2 semi-finalists, giving them opportunities to convert their remaining representatives into medals. Meanwhile, G44, Kongowea, Kibera, Kentruc and Summit each have one boxer remaining in the competition. Although their representation is smaller, each boxer remains one victory away from reaching the final and challenging for gold.

THE SOMBEA STORY

While the institutional teams dominate the participation numbers, Sombea’s five semi-finalists stand out because of the level of competition they have overcome and the breadth of categories represented.

Reaching five semi-finals is not simply about individual victories. It reflects the club’s structured training, athlete development, competitive preparation and growing depth. It also gives Sombea an important opportunity to collect medals, accumulate valuable league points and expose its boxers to the level of competition required for possible national-team consideration.

Sombea’s progress demonstrates that well-organised club boxing can increasingly challenge the established institutional powerhouses.

Five fighters. Five weight categories. One determined club — SOMBEA BOXING CLUB. 🇰🇪🔥

▪️Thrilling preliminary bouts marked the first day of the Kenya National Boxing League third leg in Vihiga County with pro boxer Elizabeth Akinyi in the mix

August 21, 2026

Self-proclaimed flyweight “Landlord” Kelvin “Young” Maina of KDF found himself evicted by his regular “tenant”, national champion Emmanuel Omollo of Police shot blanks again, a third battle between Africa silver medallist Samuel Njau of KDF and rising star Ben Juma looms large as international Elizabeth Akinyi made a comeback to amateur boxing in the third leg of the Kenya National Boxing League at the open air Vihiga County playground of Thursday, August 20, 2026.

A fuming African Military Games flyweight champion Kelvin Maina was unhappy with the decision in his bout against Abdallah Juma of Police who beat him 3-2.

“I was surprised how I lost because I knew I’ve scored enough to win the fight,” Maina told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview, adding: “This is a boxer I’ve beaten more than four times, he was also shocked he won, it’s very demoralising when judges get their scores wrong, anyway we shall meet again in the fourth leg.” Maina stopped Juma in the second leg of the league in Mombasa in July. Maina will now stay in the cold briefly as he awaits to avenge the defeat in the fourth leg in Kisumu.

National lightweight champion Emmanuel Omollo (Police) suffered his second straight loss, falling to Africa bronze medallist Vincent Aloice (Prisons), coming hot on the heels of another defeat by Samuel Njau in the second leg in Mombasa.

There’s war in today’s semi-finals at light-welterweight. National champion Ayub Waweru of Sombea crushed Kisumu’s Fidel Castro to set up a fiery rematch with Aloice Vincent, whom Waweru previously beat in Nakuru.

KDF’s 2022 Africa silver medallist Samuel Njau is on a collision course for a third meeting with rising star Ben Juma (Kasarani Youth). Juma has already beaten Njau twice this year. Both won their preliminaries on Thursday.

KDF’s light-welterweight Pius Macharia is set for a fourth clash against national novices champion Elvis Lincoln (Kasarani) in the semi-finals, a man he has already beaten three times.

Jericho-bred international warrior Joseph Shigali “msee wa ndechu” has moved up a weight class to light-middleweight, and is on track to meet stubborn Africa Zone 3 silver medallist Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor in the finals in what will be a Jericho vs Mbotela fight. Alvin is a product of renowned Mbotela Boxing Club coach Raphael Kamuya aka Kamwana.

World Championships quarterfinalist Robert Okaka aka Man Ngori is poised to dominate the light-heavyweight division, eyeing a Saturday final showdown against Police’s Cosby Ouma whom he has defeated over three times now.

Olympian Elizabeth Akinyi (Kentrack), now campaigning as a pro, made a roaring amateur comeback after over a year out, defeating Juliet Opondo of Kisumu in the middleweight category while Africa youth flyweight bronze medallist Clinton Omondi of Nairobi County stepped up to test the seniors, booking a semi-final minimumweight date with KDF’s Ali Mohammed.

KDF enters this leg with all the momentum after winning both the Nakuru and Mombasa legs.

KDF: 49 points

Kenya Police (Defending Champions): 38 points

Sombea (Nakuru): 16 points

Kasarani Youth: 14 points

Prisons: 10 points.The three-day tournament has attracted a total of 82 boxers (67 men and 15 women) representing 16 clubs.

▪️African boxers and others elsewhere have gone through pain, a feeling of discrimination and discomfort with the reduction of weight classes to seven at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

August 21, 2026

Boxing gyms of Africa are alive with a roar of pure, unfiltered joy as boxers across the continent prepare for an all-inclusive IBA African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa from October 18-31, 2026.

The atmosphere in training camps from Nairobi to Dakar to Yaounde is electric. Boxers are sweating, sparring, and smiling because nobody is being left behind. The Kinshasa bonanza will feature all the 25 standard weight classes: 12 for women and 13 for men.

Men’s weight classes (13 divisions)

Minimumweight: 46–48 kg

Flyweight: 51 kg

Bantamweight: 54 kg

Featherweight: 57 kg

Lightweight: 60 kg

Light-welterweight: 63.5kg

Welterweight: 67 kg

Light-middleweight: 71 kg

Middleweight: 75 kg

Light-heavyweight: 80 kg

Cruiserweight: 86 kg

Heavyweight: 92 kg

Super-heavyweight:+92 kg

Women’s weight classes (12 Divisions)

Minimumweight: 45–48 kg

Light-flyweight: 50 kg

Flyweight: 52 kg

Bantamweight: 54 kg

Featherweight: 57 kg

Lightweight: 60 kg

Light-welterweight: 63 kg

Welterweight: 66 kg

Light-middleweight: 70 kg

Middleweight: 75 kg

Light Heavyweight: 81 kg

Heavyweight: +81 kg

There’s been anger and hopelessness among some boxers who felt left out when the IOC decided to slice boxing down to the bone. At the Commonwealth Games only seven weight classes each were allowed for men and women.

The objective of the seven weight classes, according to the organisers, was to achieve gender parity for the first time. This gender parity is interesting when other boxers are left out.

Here’s the seven weight classes:

Men’s weight classes

55 kg

60 kg

65 kg

70 kg

80 kg

90 kg

Over 90 kg (90+ kg)

Women’s weight classes

51 kg

54 kg

57 kg

60 kg

65 kg

70 kg

75 kg

This restriction acted like a closed door for some boxers. In total – going by the standard weight categories of 25 – six men’s weight categories and five women’s weight categories were completely shut out from Commonwealth Games. For the 2028 LA Olympics Games, Africa has been allocated 14 slots only in the continental qualifiers. Surely, a continent with 54 countries getting only 14 slots doesn’t make sense. This is total mutilation of boxing in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Ring analysts and boxing pundits have roundly condemned the reduction of weight categories. They call it pure discrimination against fighters who do not fit into those specific, narrow weight brackets. Imagine training for years, only to be told your weight simply does not exist anymore. That was the harsh reality forcing many champions to watch from the sidelines while others risked their health by slashing several kilograms to fit in the selected weight classes and others moving up to new weights. The 2028 LA Olympics will also feature seven weight divisions.

The last time boxers enjoyed the absolute freedom was at the 2025 IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai. The IBA’s 25-weight classes is the preferred choice of boxers worldwide because it gives each one of them a chance to fight in their preferred weight categories without slashing or adding in weight which make them uncomfortable in the ring. In doing so, the IBA is giving fighters their livelihoods and freedom of choice.

Boxers who were previously told they were “too light” or “caught in the middle” are now looking ahead to the Africa Elite Championships. Kinshasa is not just hosting a tournament; it is hosting a celebration of boxing survival and equality.

The heavy bags are swinging, the timers are buzzing, and Africa’s finest are ready to prove that true boxing belongs to every fighter—no matter what the scale says.

Boxers have helplessly watched their beloved sport get defaced and fellow fighters face discrimination following the reduction of weight categories. Now African boxers are ready to reclaim their pride. They are bracing for a massive, all-inclusive showdown at the Stade de Martyrs Gym in Kinshasa. For many, this tournament feels like a liberation.

By creating dedicated regional hubs like IBA Africa, IBA Asia, and IBA Europe, the organization has built a solid base where every single boxer gets a fair shot to display their true potential.

A massive 25-weight bonanza is the moment the fighters have been eagerly awaiting. No one is left behind. No one is excluded. No one is discriminated. From the minimumweights to the super-heavyweights, every boxer who has put in the miles and the blood now has a clear path to glory.

The upcoming Kinshasa bonanza is also a celebration of equal opportunity. Gyms across the continent are buzzing with renewed energy because the boxers know the playing field is level once again. Freedom has come back to the ring, and Africa’s warriors are ready to show the world exactly what stuff they are made of in a tournament which is also being used to revamp the African unity in this combat sport.

One Africa, One Ring.

▪️”I didn’t dope as alleged…I took medication to treat an injury without knowing it was among the prohibited medications,” says Dolapo to put the record straight.

August 20, 2026

The heavy, golden dreams of Paris dissolved into the sterile scent of a pharmacy.

Nigerian featherweight powerhouse Omole Dolapo aka King Machine was on top of the world. He had just punched his ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games, capping off a blistering rise that left the African boxing circuit trembling.

First came a breakout bronze at the 2023 African Championships in Cameroon. Then, a devastating gold-medal run at the Olympic Qualifiers in Senegal. By the time he crushed his way to gold at the African Games in Ghana, Dolapo wasn’t just a contender—he was a nightmare for anyone stepping into the ring at featherweight.

In the professional ranks, he was just as terrifying: 10 fights, 10 wins, all by knockout.

Then, his knees buckled. Not from a punch, but from an injury—and a catastrophic mistake.

When Dolapo vanished from the Paris 2024 roster, the official reason given was a knee injury. But behind the scenes, whispers of a doping scandal swirled, casting a dark cloud over Nigeria’s boxing star.

Now, with an indefinite suspension finally behind him, the big-punching fighter is breaking his silence to clear his name.

“The mistake is mine, and I want to make it clear I didn’t dope,” Dolapo revealed in an exclusive interview with boxersworld.co.ke. “I took a medication unknowingly, not knowing it was among the banned ones by WADA.”

Desperate to heal his aching knee before the biggest stage of his life, Dolapo took the wrong medicine. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) flagged it. The dream was over before it began.

“This was the lowest point in my boxing career. I was so disappointed,” Dolapo admitted. His absence, alongside fellow Nigerian star Cynthia Ogunsemilore—who was also ruled out in Paris due to positive doping test—left a massive void. Of Nigeria’s top qualified fighters, only heavyweight Adam Olaore made it to the canvas in Paris, exiting early in a 5-0 loss to Kazakhstan’s 2025 WB world super-heavyweight Albek Oralbay.

The Nigerian star boxer Dolapo shared his statement with boxersworld.co.ke

Here it is:”I want to be open about it because I believe honesty is important.

“I was taking medication for a medical condition and, unfortunately, I later realized that it contained a substance that is prohibited under the anti-doping rules. It was never my intention to gain any unfair advantage or enhance my performance. I took the medication for treatment, not for boxing performance.

“As athletes, we are responsible for everything we put into our bodies, and I accept that responsibility. Looking back, I should have been more careful and ensured that every medication I took was checked against the anti-doping regulations before using it.

“The consequence was heartbreaking because it cost me the opportunity to compete at the Paris Olympics, something I had worked towards for many years. It was one of the most disappointmenting moments of my career, but it also taught me a valuable lesson. Since then, I have become much more careful about every medication or supplement I use, and I remain fully committed to competing clean and earning success the right way.”

The heartbreak didn’t stop there. Bureaucratic hurdles later locked Dolapo out of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“I would have won Nigeria a gold medal in lightweight if I was there,” he said, the confidence in his voice still sharp.

“Having watched the Commonwealth Games, I genuinely believe I would have had a strong chance of winning a gold medal if I had competed in the lightweight division,” said Dolapo, adding: “I say that with confidence because I know the level I was training and the work I had put in leading up to the Games. Of course, in boxing nothing is guaranteed—you still have to perform on the day—but I was confident in my ability to compete with anyone in that field.

“The lightweight division was very competitive, with talented and experienced boxers from different countries. I have a lot of respect for every athlete who stepped into the ring because they all earned their place. At the same time, I didn’t see anyone who was unbeatable. Every boxer had strengths and weaknesses, and I believe my style, preparation, and determination would have given me a real opportunity to challenge for a podium finish.

“Missing Glasgow was disappointing, but it also motivated me to work even harder. Since then, my focus has been on improving every aspect of my game so that when the next opportunity comes, I’ll be fully be prepared to represent my country and compete for medals.”

But you cannot keep a puncher down for long.

Dolapo kept his tools sharp in the pro ranks, his last outing in May 2025 being a clinical demolition of Ghana’s veteran Isaac Nettey (28-21-1).

“I turned professional in February 2022,” recalls Dolapo, “At that time, I decided to begin my professional career and started building my record. Later, I was called back to the Nigerian national team, which gave me the opportunity to represent my country again in major international competitions.

“So my professional journey actually started before I returned to the national team. Since turning pro, I’ve fought 10 times wiining all fights, and I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had. My goal now is to stay active, continue developing, and get more opportunities to fight on bigger international platforms both in pro and amateur boxing since these we have no restrictions.”

Now vindicated, cleared, and fueled by a year of bottled-up rage, the featherweight king is ready to flex his muscles once again. His eyes are locked on the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo from October 18-31, 2026.

While Nigeria has yet to officially confirm their participation, Dolapo is laced up and waiting at the door. He didn’t get his Olympic moment, but he is ready to remind the continent exactly what they missed.

In addition to the 27-year-old Dolapo, most of the top Nigerian boxers I have spoken with are ready for the Kinshasa showdown. The ball is now in the court of the Nigerian federation and the government to facilitate the trip to DR Congo’s capital city.

▪️Pina’s entry has added pure nitrogen in an already explosive bantamweight division that will set alight Kinshasa and the DR Congo boxing-mad fans

August 19, 2026

Cape Verde’s Olympic Games flyweight bronze medalist David Pina has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the upcoming Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships, set to rock Kinshasa, DR Congo, from October 18-31, 2026.

The 28-year-old history-maker, who became Cape Verde’s first-ever Olympic medalist at the 2024 Paris Games, confirmed his entry today, August 18, 2026, via a terse message to boxersworld.co.ke: “I will be in Kinshasa for the Africa Championships in the 55kg category.”

Pina’s arrival injects pure nitrogen into an already explosive bantamweight division. He joins a stacked field of warriors ready to trade leather in Africa’s historic boxing capital:

Philip Haoseb (Namibia): Commonwealth Games bronze medalist.

Mwengo Mwale (Zambia): African Games silver medalist and World Championships quarter-finalist

Amadu Mohammed (Ghana): Reigning African Games champion.

Bakora Kalongo (DR Congo):

Homeboy hero and 2025 Africa Zone 3 gold medalist.

The psychological warfare has already begun. Zambia’s Mwale fired the first salvo, publicly dismissing Haoseb as a “junior” to him.

Southpaw Haoseb fired back instantly, stinging Mwale where it hurts: “I won bronze in Glasgow while Mwale returned home empty-handed.”

Pina returns to the continental stage with a massive point to prove. In his last Africa Championships appearance (Maputo 2022), he settled for bronze after a semifinal loss to South Africa’s Tiisetso Matikinca—following dominant wins over Zambia’s Kelvin Hachilala and Mozambique’s Ivo Goncalves.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pina’s bronze medal run ended in a controversial semifinal defeat to double Olympic and world champion Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan. It was a decision that outraged ringside analysts and left Pina deeply unsatisfied.

“My fight against Dusmatov was good. I still think I won, but there’s no subject for now because the judges decided it’s him and it’s done we can do nothing about it, he’s world and Olympic champion. We just have to accept and improve next time,” Pina told me in a phone chat, carrying that burning chip on his shoulder straight into Kinshasa.

Pina joins forces with compatriot Ivanusa Moreira to front the Cape Verdean assault. Their destination is a city deeply rooted in boxing folklore. Kinshasa famously hosted the legendary 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle,” where Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round.

Fifty-two years later, the city is preparing for another unforgettable battle royale. See you there!

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Operating like IBA’s “twin strikers” the two powerful leaders deserve spotlight during the August 27 International Boxing Day to be celebrated worldwide

August 17, 2026

The International Boxing Day will be officially celebrated on 27 August 2026, bringing the global boxing community together to honor champions and inspire the next generation.

Every great boxing story starts with a simple choice: to step into the ring or support those who do. For sixty years, IBA has served as the global home for these stories. But behind the bright lights and shiny gold medals are the everyday heroes—the coaches, local clubs, and young fighters who make up the true boxing family.

It is along these lines the International Boxing Association (IBA), has decided on this theme for the 2026 International Boxing Day: “Honouring our Champions, Inspiring our Future”.

Expounding further, IBA Secretary General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE says: “This theme recognises not only the extraordinary achievements of our champions inside the ring, but also

the countless individuals who contribute to the success of our sport every day. Our athletes, coaches, referees and judges, medical personnel, volunteers, media, administrators, supporters, and National Federations all play an essential role in shaping the future of our beloved sport.

“As part of our worldwide celebrations, we invite every National Federation to create and share short video reels and digital stories showcasing:

a. The impact of boxing within your country and communities.

b. The achievements of your boxers, past and present.

c. Stories of collaboration between athletes, coaches, clubs, schools, and federations.

d. How boxing inspires young people and creates opportunities for future generations.

e. Moments that demonstrate the values of respect, courage, inclusion, friendship, and excellence.

f. The people behind the scenes who help make boxing possible every day.

“We encourage you to be creative and authentic. Let the world see what boxing means to your nation and how our collective efforts continue to change lives.”

Indeed IBA’s strongman CEO Chris Roberts OBE has set the ball rolling for the Big Day.

We at boxersworld.co.ke kick off our series by recognizing the tremendous contribution of IBA President Umar Kremlev and Chris Roberts in transforming boxing worldwide.

Operating like “twin strikers” of the IBA, the dynamic duo have fundamentally transformed global boxing by introducing unprecedented, multi-million dollar prize money funds that guarantee massive payouts for athletes, coaches, and national grassroots programs.

Together, they have shifted the sport from an era where amateur fighters competed for no pay into a “Golden Era” of direct financial security.

For decades, amateur boxers fought purely for glory. They would train for thousands of hours, step into the ring, risk their safety, and walk away with nothing but a medal. Everything changed when Umar Kremlev took over as IBA President. Kremlev brought a bold vision: fighters are the ones creating the value, so they should be the ones getting rich. But a big vision needs an operational mastermind to execute it.

Enter Chris Roberts OBE, a dedicated British boxing leader who was appointed as the permanent CEO and Secretary General.

Kremlev and Roberts formed a powerful tag team. Kremlev secures the massive multi-million dollar budgets, while Roberts designs the global tournament roadmaps and structures. This has turned the IBA into a hybrid powerhouse that protects and funds boxers from their early amateur days all the way into their professional careers.

The biggest contribution of the Kremlev-Roberts era is the introduction of jaw-dropping prize pools that have shattered all historical boxing records.

1. The Record-Breaking World Championships. At the flagship Men’s Elite World Championships, the duo unleashed a massive $8.32 million prize fund.

2. Gold Medalists: Take home a staggering $300,000.

3. Silver Medalists: Take home $150,000.

4. Bronze Medalists: Take home $75,000.

5. Fifth Place (Quarter-finalists): Even those who just miss the podium take home $10,000.

Kremlev and Roberts did not just want to make individual fighters wealthy; they wanted to build up the entire ecosystem of the sport.

They designed a unique payout split for every single prize:

50% goes straight into the boxer’s pocket to support their family.

25% goes to the coaches who trained them.

25% goes to the boxer’s National Federation to buy gear and build gyms for local kids.

When other major sports bodies refused to pay prize money to athletes at the Olympic Games, Kremlev and Roberts stepped in anyway. During the Paris Games, the IBA independently awarded over $3 million to top-placed Olympic boxers, giving $100,000 for gold achievements. Kremlev has explicitly promised to do the exact same thing for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Games if other management continues to leave athletes empty-handed.

The numbers speak for themselves. Through the IBA 4-Year Competition Calendar, the twin strikers have committed to an overall $80 million athlete prize fund. This includes launching the new IBA Team World Cup with its own $10 million prize fund, alongside global Champions’ Night events that bring high-paying pro-style fights to every corner of the earth.

As Chris Roberts OBE put it, the goal is to make sure boxers can meticulously plan their careers and see a clear path from everyday training to becoming wealthy global heroes.

By putting the financial well-being of the fighters first, Umar Kremlev and Chris Roberts have fundamentally secured a brighter, fairer future for the sport of boxing.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Mwale threatens to wipe out Haoseb whom he describes as a kid in the ring, sentiments which have not been treated lightly by the Namibian camp with coach Ipundaka Lungameni telling Mwale to prepare for several visits to the gents

August 18, 2026

A fiery war of words has erupted between Namibia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Philip Haoseb and Zambia’s African Games silver medal winner Mwengo Mwale, turning up the heat way before they even step into the ring in the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s boxing championships.

The two boxing stars are likely to clash at bantamweight in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, for the tournament running from October 18 to 31, 2026.

“He’s still a kid in the ring,” roared Mwale who has thrown the first salvo when sizing up his Namibian rival. Mwale, who brings serious pedigree as a 2023 African Games silver medallist and a 2025 World Championship quarter-finalist, warned Haoseb that he is swimming in deep, dangerous waters.

Mwale watched Haoseb fight in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and was entirely unimpressed.

“To be honest, he’s my junior in the ring, I’ll wipe him out in seconds,” Mwale told boxersworld.co.ke

Mwale added fuel to the fire by stating the only fighter he actually respects is Ghana’s African Games champion, Amadu Mohammed whom he said he will also silence in Kinshasa.

In a swift counter-punch, Haoseb scoffed at Mwale’s threat wondering why he’s not being realistic.

“He returned home with no medal from the Commonwealth Games,” Haoseb, a former street fighter who clawed his way to the top, quickly weaponised Mwale’s insults. He reminded the Zambian fighter that experience does not always equal medals..

Haoseb pointed out that he actually won a bronze medal in Glasgow while Mwale went stargazing.

“He returned home with nothing despite claiming to be my senior,” Haoseb hit back, telling Mwale to prepare for a deeply humiliating defeat.

Haoseb’s coach, Ipundaka Lungameni, jumped into the verbal sparring match to defend his fighter. He claimed that Mwale’s loud mouth is just a shield to hide his intense fear.

Lungameni claimed he closely watched Mwale’s body language in Glasgow while Haoseb was warming up, and realized the Zambian boxer is a coward.

“I studied his eyes and knew he’s scared of my boxer,” Lungameni teased. He jokingly predicted that if the two meet in Kinshasa, Mwale will make “several visits to the washroom” before their bout trembling in fear ahead of the fight.

This explosive build-up does more than just hype up a single match. It completely reignites the fierce, long-standing sporting rivalry between neighbors Zambia and Namibia. With Zambia loudly boasting that they rule the southern African boxing scene, Haoseb is carrying the pride of Namibia on his shoulders to prove them wrong and remind them Namibia topped Africa in boxing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

When the opening bell rings in Kinshasa this October, we will finally see if Mwale can back up his massive talk, or if Haoseb will make him swallow his words.

Coach Lungameni hailed Haoseb’s impressive performance in Glasgow.

“Philip’s performance was amazing as this was his first appearance in the Commonwealth Games and he gave a very good account of himself,” Lungameni told boxersworld.co.ke

“Winning a bronze in his first major international game just shows how good a boxer he is, and he’s still young, I believe he can still achieve more in his boxing career.”

Lungameni said this is just the beginning of Haoseb’s rise to stardom.

“The boy is definitely going places, his boxing style is very unique, and it’s rare to find such a skillful boxer like him at his age in Africa.

“His southpaw stance further gives him an advantage against his opponents majority of whom are orthodox and don’t have southpaw boxers in their gyms.”

Lungameni said one quality he admires in Haoseb is his self drive and personal initiative.

“Philip is a self motivated boxer. He doesn’t need me to be beside him all the time, or to put up goals for him. He’s very focused and has his own initiative,” said Lungameni.

▪️Haoseb’s journey into the squared circle began because he simply couldn’t stop fighting. As a boy, he was constantly embroiled in street brawls. Desperate to redirect this chaotic energy, his cousin Angel and family friend Martin the Alligator dragged him to a local boxing gym. Now he’s a bronze medallist at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

August 17, 2026

From a street fighter in Windhoek, Namibia, to Commonwealth Games glory in Glasgow, Scotland. That’s the story of Philip Haoseb, a man who moves way faster than anyone expected.

Just three years ago, nobody on the global stage knew his name. Today, the explosive bantamweight boxer is holding a Commonwealth Games bronze medal and sending shockwaves through the African boxing scene.

For the sceptics who thought he was too green to survive, Haoseb has a simple message: underestimate him at your own peril.

Haoseb’s journey into the squared circle began because he simply couldn’t stop fighting. As a boy, he was constantly embroiled in street brawls. Desperate to redirect this chaotic energy, his cousin Angel and family friend Martin the Alligator dragged him to a local boxing gym known as After School Centre. The goal was simple: introduce him to some real “toughies” and teach him a lesson.

Instead, the gym unleashed a monster. Haoseb blended his raw, fearless street instincts with the technical discipline of the sweet science. Fighting out of the southpaw stance, he developed into a dangerous boxer-puncher—a fighter who can outmanoeuvre you with footwork or put you to sleep with a single heavy blow.

Remarkably, Haoseb only made his international debut in 2023 during a tournament in Angola, where he grabbed his first victory for the Namibian national team. He then had two fights in South Africa and won them all. Flash forward to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23-Augus 2, 2026, and the rookie was suddenly sharing the world stage with seasoned boxers.

Haoseb arrived in Scotland as an underdog, but he fought like a man possessed. He got off to a flying start in the Round of 32, systematically beating Eswatini’s Siboniso Vilakati. In the Round of 16, he showed his tactical maturity, outpointing Togo’s Charif Yaya to secure a place in the quarter-finals. There, he met New Zealand’s fighting machine, the Zambian-born Alex Mukuka. It was a clash that tested Haoseb to his irreversibleabsolute limits.

“Mukuka was the toughest opponent I met because he is an awkward boxer,” Haoseb told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview. “He decided to fight me thinking he’d intimidate me. I showed him the street fighter that I was by taking him head-on.”

Haoseb dug deep into his reservoir of grit and skill, earning a brilliant 4-0 victory. While his golden march was eventually halted in the semi-finals by India’s southpaw tactician, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, Haoseb’s bronze medal finish confounded the critics. He attributes much of this historic success to the expert guidance of his corner handlers, head coach Albertus Takaseb and his deputy Ipundaka Lungameni.

“The bronze medal means a lot to me, it shows that I belong in the big league plus to be my first ever international game especially Commonwealth and bringing back something not many people do that. It shows that I can be better and I know I can do better to get a gold,” said Haoseb.

Was he expecting any medal when boarding the plane to Glasgow?

“Yes that was my plan but it was gold I was looking forward to it, and didn’t care who ever was in my way.”

What about the officiating, was it clean?

“It was not clean but it’s what I got so i have to make peace with it, it’s boxing so I’m good. I still don’t understand how they were scoring the fights but it’s okay we’ll come back strong.”

Sharing his views on his Indian semi-final opponent, Haoseb does not rate him highly.

“There was nothing challenging about him, he has good speed but was really not a problem because I knew he would slow down. From the second round he was out of fuel.”

Like Haoseb, Jadumani was also a southpaw but that was not much of a problem to the Namibian.

“To fight a southpaw its really easy for me because I can see through a lot of the punches coming, I handled him well, I’m sure wherever he is, he knows it was not an easy victory for him,” said Haoseb.

Haoseb singles out Zambian-born New Zealander, Alex Mukuka, as the toughest opponent of them all. They met in the quarter-finals.

“He was a weird boxer he can box but he decided to fight me,” said Haoseb, “so I had to fight a different style that was not in our game plan, he made it a bit hard for me.”

Haoseb takes us back to his roots, and how he took up boxing.

“I started boxing in 2018 at After School Center Boxing Club where I am currently. My first coach was Michael but he left after three years with him and then I got coach Lungameni (Ipundaka), the current coach I’m having right now. He’s like father figure as well and a friend.”

Haoseb named the coach who taught him all the basics in boxing.

“It’s Angel Gariseb, he’s the one I must say thank you to on the boxing fundamentals.

“My first ever competitive fight in the ring was against an experienced boxer. His name was Prince, he had already fought in 20 bouts, and that was my first ever fight, I lost on points.

“I joined the national team in 2023, I’m a three-time national champion in the 52-54kg.”

Who inspired Haoseb to take up boxing?

“I was not inspired to join boxing, I was put into the sport because I was fighting a lot in the streets and at school. So my cousin Angel and our family friend Martin the Alligator put me into boxing and told me that these are better place to fight.

“At first I looked at boxing just like I did as a street fighter but gradually, I started growing into it to know that it’s a sport, and I became more disciplined and in a way it brought me closer to God.”

Haoseb’s most effective punches are hooks but he hardly uses them unless he wants to punish his opponent.

“I’m busy collecting points because when in the ring you’re there to earn points, it’s not a fight, the only time I throw hooks is to hurt or to knock out my opponents.”

His burning ambition is to win an Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals and then turn pro.

The 21-year-old Namibian boxer is currently unemployed, and relies on boxing only to put food on the table for his struggling family. He dropped out of school to pave way for his younger siblings.

“I only managed to go to Grade 10 and failed. I wanted to go back and repeat but me and my mom we’re not financially stable to pay school fees and all that, and I have three sisters. So I decided I will leave school and pursue my boxing dream even further to make it easier for my mom to comfortably pay school fees for my sisters because the money was not enough.”

When it comes to eating, Haoseb does not joke with food.

“I eat a lot, mostly I prefer home cooked food. For take away, it’s only pizza, ribs, a lot of burgers and snacks.”

With a major statement of intent now stamped on his resume, Haoseb has already shifted his focus to the next battlefield: the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo, from October 18-31.

Haoseb’s path to glory will likely force him to cross gloves with giants such as Ghana’s reigning African Games bantamweight champion, Amadu Mohammed, DR Congo’s fierce 2025 Africa Zone 3 champion playing on home soil Bakora Kalongo and Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale, World Championships quarter-finalist and African Games silver medallist.

Mwale, in particular, has reportedly dismissed the Namibian rising star as a mere beginner. It is a slight that Haoseb has eagerly weaponized.

“I’ve heard Mwengo is saying I’m still new in the game,” Haoseb warned. “Let him prepare for humiliation in Kinshasa if we meet. The sceptics in Glasgow learned their lesson the hard way.”

As Haoseb packs his bags for DR Congo, the rest of Africa has been officially warned to expect absolute fire in the bantamweight division.

Claressa Shields completed a remarkable journey from heavyweight to middleweight on Sunday, stopping Australia’s Kaye Scott in the sixth round to capture the WBA and WBC titles.

16th August, 2026

The five-division world champion and double Olympic gold medalist dominated her outclassed opponent from the opening bell at State Farm Arena in Atlanta before dropping Scott in the sixth and overwhelming her against the ropes after the action resumed. With Scott unable to defend herself from another sustained barrage, the 42-year-old champion’s corner threw in the towel.

The victory improved Shields’s professional record to 19-0 with four knockouts while Scott fell to 5-2-1. It also returned the 31-year-old American to championship status at 160lb, a division she had previously ruled as undisputed champion before moving through light-heavyweight and into the heavyweight ranks.

Shields, who remains the undisputed heavyweight champion, had not fought at middleweight since defeating Maricela Cornejo in June 2023. Her promoter billed her as only the second heavyweight champion in more than 120 years to win a world title in a lower division.

The anticipated effects of that dramatic weight loss never materialized against Scott, a decorated amateur who entered the paid ranks at 39 as she approached the IBA’s upper age limit, yet remained a significant underdog in only her eighth professional bout.
After the first bell sounded around 12.30am local time, Shields spent the opening rounds taking the Sydneysider’s measure before steadily increasing the tempo. Her hand speed and accuracy repeatedly allowed her to land first and escape Scott’s counters, while a sustained body attack drained the champion as the fight progressed.

Scott remained game but was increasingly outgunned. After stacking an advantage on the scorecards, Shields began sitting down on her punches in the fifth and ended the contest one round later, blasting Scott backwards with a left hook before pinning her against the ropes. The ropes held Scott up, prompting a count, and her corner intervened moments after the restart, sealing only Shields’s second stoppage win in nine years.

“It was a hard camp,” Shields said. “I always tell myself that everything is easy work, but it was a really hard camp. I cut 38 pounds. I started 14 weeks ago at 198 and then I got down to 160. It was the most disciplined I’ve been since the Olympics, I feel like.”

Shields insisted she had not entered the ring intent on forcing an early stoppage, mindful that the weight cut could affect her stamina and punch resistance.

“I was actually just trying to figure her out,” she said. “She was stronger than what I thought. She was very strong. I knew that, with me cutting the weight that I cut, I didn’t want to exert too much early.

I was trying to make sure I could deal with her strength and not get caught with nothing crazy, because I’m not as strong as I feel at 175.”

The bout was the first women’s headliner in State Farm Arena history and marked Shields’s first fight outside of Michigan since 2022. Asked about performing before a crowd of around 16,000 spectators, Shields said: “I knew I could [draw a big crowd]. Atlanta loves Black excellence just like Detroit. I came out here and showed why I am pound-for-pound No 1.”

Shields named fellow Olympic champion Lauren Price of Britain as her preferred next opponent at 160lb and said she hoped the fight could be staged in December or January. She also raised the possibility of facing Mikaela Mayer or pursuing undisputed status at middleweight against Canada’s Tammara Thibeault, who won the IBF, WBO and Ring titles in her fifth professional fight last weekend in Orlando.

“She’s only had five fights as a professional, but she’s got belts,” Shields said of Thibeault. “It’s not my fault these girls don’t have the experience that I have. She’s got a belt that I know belongs to me – and that’s the Ring belt.”