_Anwar Pandya (right) with Mbaraki Boxing Club coach Paul Mathenge aka Swagaa_
For over 10 years now, a prominent Mombasa businessman, Anwar Pandya, has silently been bankrolling Mbaraki Boxing Club.
A staunch boxing fan, Pandya has improved the lives of several youth abusing drugs using boxing as a vehicle for change at the Mbaraki Club.
Anwar Pandya the sponsor of Mbaraki Boxing Club
“I’m very happy through my support, Mbaraki has produced good boxers some of whom have joined the forces,” says Pandya whose son Samir Anwar boxed for Mbaraki Club before turning pro in Dubai.
He hailed the French Embassy for supporting the development of boxing in Mombasa, and that he is ready to work alongside such serious sponsors of boxing in Kenya’s second largest city.
“I’m willing to work with the Mombasa County Boxing Association to maintain this initiative started by the French Embassy because we have to look into ways of sustaining such a worthy project,” says Pandya._Samir Anwar now fighting as a pro in Dubai_
Samir Anwar now fighting as a pro in Dubai
“They’ll have to be careful on how the money is used to avoid misuse of funds by some unscrupulous officials whose aim is just to fulfill their selfish interests.”
Pandya is happy with the work of Mbaraki Boxing Club coach Paul Mathenge aka Swagaa.
“Swagaa has done very well as a coach, I’ll continue supporting him because he’s dedicated to his job,” says Pandya
Among some boxers who have passed through Mathenge’s hands include his own son and bronze medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Black Moses Mathenge, Rayton Okwiri , Ashira Oure and Australia-based pro boxer Brian Agina.
Faith Nafuna (left) and Veronica Mbithe will not meet in Busia.
MBITHE, FAITH FOURTH FIGHT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN BUSIA
▪️Defending champions KDF, Prisons and Kibra missing in action
Faith Nafuna aka Fekete was eagerly looking forward to her fourth fight with two-time Kenya Open champion Veronica Mbithe aka Pioneer.
“This time it’ll be echoes of war,” declared 20-year-old Nafuna in an interview with boxersworld.co.ke
But the fourth fight between these two promising female pugilists will not happen because defending champions KDF is among the teams not taking part in the first leg of the league starting today at the Farm View Hotel in Busia on the border of Kenya and Uganda.
Mbithe has defeated Nafuna three times but this time round Nafuna was ready to chalk up her first win over the KDF boxer, a silver medallist in the Africa Military Games.
“Mbithe is a tough boxer I respect her and we’re good friends but not in the ring,” said Nafuna who attributes her success to the inspiration she gets from her mum Joy Chasorini.
Nafuna will now have to wait for the second leg of the Kenya National Boxing League in Mombasa in July to battle it out with Corporal Mbithe, the first Kenyan female boxer to be employed by the KDF.
The other big fight affected by non appearance of KDF is the Robert Okaka vs Humphrey Ochieng War Three.
Ochieng aka Jakababa was tuned to this fight but he will have to wait for the second leg having lost twice so far to Okaka aka Man Man Ngori.
The highlight of the three-day league in Busia should be the hot-tempered flyweight fight between Kenya Open champion Diouf “Bashday” Muimi of Police and Nairobi’s Emmanuel “Manu” Chondo who has yet to accept Muimi beat him in the Kenya Open finals at the Charter Hall last month.
“I defeated Manu fair and square, he will never beat me again,” an angry Muimi said in reaction to Chondo’s contention that the Police boxer was handed victory on a silver platter through skewed officiating.
The first leg of the league will feature 10 clubs with Kenya Open champions Police expected to dominate the proceedings.
Uganda's Owen "Matrix" Kibira, one of the hottest properties in East Africa will feature in the May 24 show in Nairobi.
UGÀNDAN PROMOTER EXPLAINS WHY HE’S RELUCTANT TO INCLUDE KENYAN BOXERS IN HIS CARD
▪️My priority is not on attendance but building boxers’ records, says Steve Sembuya of 12 Sports Rounds Promotion.
Ugandan professional boxing promoter Steve Sembuya has explained why he’s at the moment reluctant to include Kenyan boxers in his May 24 card at Nairobi’s Charter Hall.
Sembuya has been licensed by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) to do business in Kenya after falling out with the government and boxing authorities in Uganda whom he accused of sabotage.
“Not that I don’t want to include boxers from Kenya, I’m happy to promote my fights here and very grateful to KPBC but the problem with some Kenyan boxers is that they want a big purse instead of focusing on building their record,” Sembuya told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from the US where he is based.
“Right now my major focus is on the four boxers I have in my stable I want to build their records. I’m not focusing much on attendance but building boxers’ records, this is important for their marketability and it’s my business model.”
Sembuya went on narrating: “This is my first promotion in Kenya, I will definitely give the deserving Kenyan boxers their chance provided they don’t put money first before their records, I pay some of my boxers less money than their opponents but it’s strategic because they’ll benefit later with a better record and more fights.”
Sembuya gave an example of Henry Kasujja who only started boxing as a pro in 2022 but now has two stars and a half like Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri, the best placed Kenyan who joined the paid ranks in 2017.
“Right now there’s no Kenyan with three stars but in Uganda we have Suleiman Segawa with three and a half stars and David Ssemuju having three stars,” said Sembuya.
Contacted, Kenyan matchmaker, Julius Odhiambo, said while he cannot dispute some of Sembuya’s sentiments, he said he has never been contacted by the Ugandan promoter to provide Kenyan boxers.
“It’s not all the Kenyan boxers asking for big money, maybe just one or two but most of them understand the importance of building their records,” said Odhiambo who welcomed Sembuya in Kenya but advised him to deal with the right people.
“We are happy to have Sembuya in Kenya, we want fights here but he should deal with me on matchmaking where Kenyan boxers are involved. It’s not too late I can talk with Sembuya we have Kenyan boxers in his card who’ll not ask him for unreasonable purse because they also know promoters have no sponsors and therefore it’s impossible to be paid well.”
In the May 24 main fight, Uganda’s Henry Kasujja will take on Malawi’s Charles Misanjo in a 10-round non-title fight.
There’s no opponent yet for Kenya’s Denzel Onyango, the only Kenyan boxer appearing in Sembuya’s May 24 card in Nairobi.
GHANA BOXERS STOP NIGERIANS TO CLINCH NEW UBO CONTINENTAL AFRICA TITLES
The UBO Continental Africa Championship title has become very popular in Ghana and Nigeria as boxers from the two nations have in recent times contested for it.
Cabic Promotions organized a classic show on Friday, May 9, at the Idrowhyt Events Center at Dansoman in Accra where deaf boxer Emmanuel Mankattah Sackey made history by knocking out his Nigerian opponent. Yusuf Muhammed Olalekan in round five to claim his first belt, the UBO Super Featherweight title.
26-year-old Mankatah Sackey looked smart and determined on the night and was explosive from the first round till he floored Olalekan with a heavy punch.
Now with a 9-3-1 (7) record, Mankatah Sackey is ready to face the big boys, while Olalekan (29), now 9-3 (7) should go back to the gym and learn more.
Sulaimon Olagbade aka ‘Tyson Killer’ (15-13-2) who bragged at the weigh in could not stand the power, skill and speed of rising star, Dana Kofi aka ‘Achilles’so he had to give up in round four via a TKO in their UBO Continental Africa Super Welterweight Championship 12/3.
Dana, 21, now has 8 fights with 5 wins and 3 losses, he is looking forward to establish himself well on the local scene.
Olagbade once held the Nigerian national and West Africa Boxing Union titles, and came off five straight knockout victories recently.
Daniel Quaye of the Bronx Gym was too powerful for young Michael Akramah Tetteh as the boy from Chorkor aka D.K. Poison who is still learning went down in round one of their Welterweight Contest 8 /3.
The international bouts have proved that Ghana and Nigeria are always brothers in sports especially boxing.
In other local contests, Middleweight Michael Darko defeated Patrick Cudjoe, while Super Welterweight Emmanuel Quaye had the better part of Joseph Tagoe. Fredrick Lawson secured a R5 TKO over Justice Addy.
The double header with two UBO titles at stake on May 9 at Idrowhyt Events Centre by Cabic Promotions lived up to its billing as patrons, guests and boxing fans who watched were satisfied with the performances.
GBA President made sure all safety, security, protocol, medical and immigration processes must be adhered to.
PACQUIAO-BARRIOS CARD TO FEATURE FUNDORA-TSZYU REMATCH, ISAAC CRUZ RETURN
Manny Pacquiao will end his retirement at 46 to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title July 19 in Las Vegas, sources confirmed to The Ring.
The legendary boxer will return to the ring nearly four years after his supposed final fight when he dropped a decision to Yordenis Ugas.
Pacquiao is one of the sport’s all-time greatest fighters. He’s the only boxer to win titles in eight divisions, capturing them from 108 to 154 pounds.
But his last time in the ring was a December 2022 exhibition in South Korea where he looked far from the dynamo that took the ring by storm.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) has retired several times before only to return to the ring. His last victory — and great performance — was a July 2019 decision over Keith Thurman.
Pacquiao will attempt to become the second oldest champion in history, surpassing even the late George Foreman who shocked the world when he KO’d Michael Moorer to win the heavyweight crown in 1994.
Pacquiao is the fourth-oldest fighter to win a title, doing so when he defeated Thurman. Bernard Hopkins holds the record at 49.
Barrios, who turns 30 later this month, will enjoy a 16-year age advantage. The Texan is The Ring’s No. 3 boxer at 147 pounds.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) is coming off a surprising draw with Abel Ramos in November, a fight where they traded knockdowns. Barrios’ losses came to Gervonta Davis and Thurman.
The fight has been in the works for nearly a year.
“I made history at 40 beating Keith Thurman and I feel at 45, I have a lot left in the game as I haven’t taken a lot of punishment over the last few years,” Pacquiao told this reporter in June. “I want to go out making history.”
Barrios said at the time: “I’m very excited at the possibility of this fight being made. Manny Pacquiao is a future Hall of Famer, a legend and someone I looked up to growing up. To share the ring with him would be an honor and a dream come true.”
The Sebastian Fundora-Tim Tszyu junior middleweight title rematch will serve as the PPV chief support bout, sources said. Fundora upset Tszyu in March 2024 in one of that year’s best action fights.
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz will return on the undercard, per sources, and one possibility is a rematch with Angel Fierro, whom he defeated in a February slugfest.
SIGNS OF DECLINE TOO OBVIOUS: WHY MANY ARE NOW PICKING TERENCE CRAWFORD OVER CANELO ALVAREZ
People are switching sides from Canelo Alvarez to Terence Crawford in droves, picking Crawford to win their September 12th fight in Las Vegaso.
Unified super middleweight champion Canelo looked old, flat-footed, and slow in his win over IBF champion William Scull last Saturday night in Riyadh. What was really telling was how Canelo, 34, threw only 152 punches in the entire fight. That’s not just because of Scull’s movement. Trainer Robert Garcia is the latest person to go from picking Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) to now leaning toward Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) winning. Robert saw what we all did with Alvarez, showing signs of deterioration from his long 20-year career.
Three Poor Outings
He’d already shown signs of slippage in his fights against John Ryder and Jaime Munguiao. But after his clash against the hulking 193-lb Edgar Berlanga last September, Canelo has visibly faded. For those who saw that fight, Canelo took some big shots from Berlanga down the stretch and looked worn out in the 12th. He was lucky that boxing no longer has 15-round fights because Berlanga might have stopped him.
“Now, I switch. I always thought Canelo was going to be too big and too strong, but now I’m going to pick Crawford to win this fight,” said trainer Robert Garcia on the YouTube channel of the Boxing Scene. “Crawford is very talented. Great footwork, great combinations, and a very strong fighter.” Canelo’s performance against William Scull last Saturday has gotten a lot of fans to switch their picks.
They’ve jumped off the sinking Alvarez chip and are picking Crawford to win on September 12th. It’s like rats abandoning a ship that is about to take its final plunge. It’s not that they’re fans of the Omaha, Nebraska native’s fighting style. Indeed, many people dislike the way Crawford fights, viewing him as not entertaining to watch, except for his one fight against Errol Spence.
Boxing fans just see Canelo as being over the hill now at 34, as he’s looked poor in three consecutive fights. It started with Jaime Munguia, then Edgar Berlanga, and now Scull. Looking Old “Facing them off, he’s actually the taller man. I’m leaning toward Crawford now. I switched my opinion. I think Canelo looked too slow, too flat-footed, one punch at a time,” said Robert about Canelo’s fight against IBF super middleweight champion William Scull last Saturday night in Riyadh.
Crawford obviously saw the deterioration in Canelo as well, which is one of the reasons he’s so eager to fight him. The money is clearly Terence’s main reason for fighting Canelo, but his looking shot is important as well. If Canelo were the same size as David Benavidez and fighting like him, Crawford wouldn’t be nearly as eager to fight him. He’d still do it for the money, but he’d have a vacant, doomed man look to him if he were facing Benavidez. “I don’t think that’s going to be enough for him to beat Crawford. Crawford is too fast, too strong, and too good,” said Garcia.
CANELO ALVAREZ POISED TO OVERTAKE FLOYD MAYWEATHER AND BECOME FIRST EVER $1BILLION BOXER
Canelo Alvarez’s business manager Richard Schaefer believes he will become the first boxer to be worth $1billion by 2026.
Alvarez has had a stellar career in the sport of boxing and is one of the biggest name superstars in the modern era.
Canelo is set to become boxing’s first with a $1billion net worth.
The Mexican has already fought in a whole host of lucrative bouts, including against Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin and Shane Mosley.
He has recently signed a huge four-fight deal with Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh, which is worth a reported $500million.
It was reported he earned a mega payday for his recent lacklustre victory over William Scull, which could be close to $80m.
And he could next bank a monumental career-high purse in excess of $100m for his clash with Terence Crawford in September.
Floyd Mayweather flaunts huge winning bet on Canelo Alvarez’s lacklustre fight
Canelo Alvarez and William Scull create undesired boxing history after low-output fight
As a result, his business manager and advisor Schaefer expects him to become the first to reach that landmark, in terms of net worth.
He told The Ring: “Canelo is, without any question, the smartest businessman in boxing I have ever met.
“And we are going to get him over that next hurdle… He’s going to be the first fighter to break the billion dollar net worth.
“I have zero questions about it. When? Probably next year.
Brutal ringside footage shows Naoya Inoue getting dropped with vicious left hand
“I’m very fortunate. I started with him when he was 17 years old. I’ve known him since then and now he’s 34.
“He’s my friend. So I’m very happy to do that. I’m thrilled, excited to be working for him and with him, handling all different aspects; fight negotiations, all these other businesses, everything.”
His business manager believes he will surpass Mayweather.
Alvarez has already reached the $600m mark in terms of total earnings, and his lucrative contract could tip him over that point.
Boxing legend and former conqueror Mayweather generated over $1.2bn in earnings from his career.
But he is believed to have a net worth of around $400m, down to his investments and luxury lifestyle.
The Mexican has kept focus on the squared circle and has had a lengthy career with more lucrative bouts to come.
He also has big plans for further huge events, which could include a lucrative one-off clash with Jake Paul in the future.
And he has hinted that he could retire in a few years, despite the prospect of boundless lucrative payouts.
Canelo is set for another big and lucrative year in boxing.
He said: “I’ve fought everybody; I’ve fought the best. I’ve won many titles in different weight classes.
“I’ve been the pound-for-pound king, fighter of the year; in everything. If we talk about money, it’s never enough.
“But it’s not just about money. It’s about enjoying everything. I still enjoy boxing.
“That’s why I’m here. But if we talk about money, it’s never enough.
ABDULLAH MASON-JEREMIA NAKATHILA ESPN’S CO-FEATURE ON KEYSHAWN DAVIS-EDWIN DE LOS SANTOS CARD JUNE 7 IN NORFOLK
Abdullah Mason will return to the site of the most eye-opening night of his career for his next fight.
The Ring has learned that the undefeated lightweight contender will face heavy-handed veteran Jeremia Nakathila on June 7 at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
The bout between Cleveland’s Mason (18-0, 16 KOs) and Namibia’s Nakathila (26-4, 21 KOs) will be broadcast as the co-feature of an ESPN telecast that will showcase WBO lightweight champ Keyshawn Davis and Dominican contender Edwin De Los Santos in the main event in Davis’ hometown.
The highly touted Mason was dropped twice in the first round by Dominican veteran Yohan Vasquez in their fight on the Davis-Gustavo Lemos undercard November 8 at Scope Arena. Mason recovered from those two knockdowns, sent Vasquez to the canvas twice, once apiece in the first and second rounds, and won their fantastic firefight by second-round knockout.
The poised, powerful, skillful Mason has won his two bouts inside the distance since the southpaw’s victory over Vasquez (26-6, 21 KOs).
The 21-year-old contender stopped Stockton, California’s Manuel Jaimes (16-3-1, 11 KOs) in the fourth round on the Davis-Denys Berinchyk undercard February 14 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden in his first fight after he came back to knock out Vasquez.
Six weeks later, Mason floored Mexico’s Carlos Ornelas (28-5, 15 KOs) three times and beat him by technical knockout at the end of the sixth round March 29 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Mason will be a heavy favorite to beat Nakathila, though Nakathila’s power will at least bring some intrigue to their matchup.
Nakathila lost back-to-back bouts by knockout to lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) and junior welterweight prospect Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) in 2023. The 35-year-old Nakathila has since won three straight fights in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, where Nakathila has worked full-time as a police officer.
Before his successive stoppage losses to Muratalla and Mercado, Nakathila battered former junior lightweight champion Miguel Berchelt (then 38-2) on his way to a TKO win after the sixth round in March 2022.
The card headlined by Davis-De Los Santos will be officially announced at a press conference Friday afternoon in Norfolk.
Five countries have confirmed their participation in the Challenge Omar Bongo Ondimba tournament scheduled for Libreville,Gabon from May 30-June 11.
They are Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon, Angola, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The registration deadline, initially scheduled for April 28, has been extended to May 16, 2025. It’s not too late to take advantage of this opportunity to assess your elite boxers for upcoming international competitions.
ECONOMICAL ACCOMMODATION: The Gabonese Boxing Federation has negotiated low accommodation rates with hotels in Libreville: full board is set at USD 35 per person per night, *including 3 meals* per day, prepared according to IBA dietary requirements.
LIVE YOUTUBE: All fights will be streamed live on YouTube so your national fans can follow their champions’ battles.
PRIZE MONEY: To motivate our boxers and reward their efforts, *PRIZE MONEY* will be awarded to all gold, silver, and bronze medalists.
Gold medalists will earn $1,600, silver 1,300 and bronze $800.
Emmanuel Mlundwa (right) at his peak in 1976 outpoints Uganda's Said Tebazalwa.
MLUNDWA: THE FATHER OF PROFESSIONAL BOXING IN TANZANIA
At a young age of 18 years, one of Tanzania’s most decorated boxers, Emmanuel Mlundwa, was already in the national team in 1974 while still a student at Old Moshi Secondary School.
It was at Tabora Boys High School that Mlundwa’s love affair with boxing started. He was in Tabora Boys from 1970-1973.
“It was a must for one to have a hobby, I chose boxing,” recalls Mlundwa, now the Director of Pugilistic Syndicate of Tanzania (PST) which licenses, sanctions and governs professional boxing in East Africa’s largest country.
Mlundwa’s boxing potential saw him win the 1974 National Championships light-flyweight title, stopping Adelhadrus Mukajanga in the second round.
Mlundwa (right) wins national light-flyweight title in 1974.
His success in the National Championships earned Mlundwa a place in the national team and made his international debut in the East, South and Central Africa Boxing Championships held in Dar es Salaam in 1974.
Mlundwa outpointed Uganda’s Kabaka Nasengo in the semi-finals and lost to Kenya’s renowned Steve Muchoki in the finals of the light-flyweight division.
His next major assignment with the national team was in the 1974 inaugural World Boxing Championships in Cuba where he boxed as a light-flyweight. Other Tanzania boxers in Cuba were the late welterweight Wilbert Musa, light-heavyweight Felix Joseph and late heavyweight Joseph Magera.
Mlundwa first outpointed Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Pereira in the round of 32, and in the last 16 he lost to Cuba’s eventual gold medallist Jorge Hernandez who stopped Mlundwa in less than twenty seconds of the first round.
Hernandez didn’t give Mlundwa time to map out any strategy. He unleashed a two-fisted barrage on the Tanzanian boxer who bravely avoided a trip to the canvas but was obviously shaken by the rapid onslaught from Hernandez forcing the referee to wave it off.
While Mlundwa and his compatriots did not win a medal in Havana, they were consoled by the sterling performance of fellow East Africans, Uganda’s Ayub Kalule who won gold at lightweight with Joseph Nsubuga settling for bronze and Kenya’s Steve Muchoki winning silver.
On completion of his secondary education, Mlundwa moved to Old Moshi Secondary School in 1974 for his “A” level education which was two years in form five and six. He studied pure maths, applied maths and physics.
“I started representing the national team in 1974 when I was still a student in form five. I took a lot of interest on education. It’s a very important foundation,” says Mlundwa.
Stubborn young Mulundwa
After Moshi, he studied aircraft maintenance in Ethiopia, graduating with a diploma.
From Ethiopia, his thirst for knowledge took him to London where he graduated with a BSc in computer science and electronics at Keele University.
“I urge boxers to take their education seriously because you can’t box forever. I’m proud of my achievements,” says Mlundwa who’s also an international referee/judge as well as Championships Supervisor.
Mlundwa has also shone as an accomplished referee/judge.
In addition to Cuba, among other international competitions he represented Tanzania include the 1978 African Games in Algiers and the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
In Algiers, Mlundwa powered his way to the finals losing on points to Zambia’s Lucky Mutale after seeing off Morocco’s Mbarek Zarrogui in the semi-finals.
He returned home with a silver medal with light-welterweight Lucas Msomba winning a bronze medal. Tanzania placed ninth overall with Kenya the overall winners.
At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Mlundwa stopped Syria’s Tala El-Chawa in the round of 32 and lost to Ireland’s Hugh Russell in the round of 16, or pre-quarters if you like.
In addition to Mlundwa who was placed ninth overall in the flyweight division, other Tanzanian boxers in the Moscow Games were bantamweight Gerald Isaac, featherweight Isaac Mabushi, lightweight Omar Golaya, light-welterweight William Lymo, welterweight Lucas Msomba, light-middleweight Leonidas Njunwa, light-heavyweight Michael Nassoro and heavyweight Willie Isangura. The best performers were Gerald Isaac, William Lymo and Leonidas Njunwa all of whom placed fifth overall in their respective weight categories.
Mlundwa’s most memorable victory is in 1976 when he defeated Kenya’s celebrated Steve Muchoki, the 1978 World Championships gold medallist in Belgrade.
“l really enjoyed fighting Muchoki. What helped me is that I didn’t fear him despite the fact that he was boxing at home, I took him head-on to beat him on points.” He remains the only Tanzanian boxer to have defeated Muchoki.
Mlundwa fought Muchoki five times, winning once and losing four times to the great Kenyan boxer.
After Moscow, he had a short stint as a pro boxer, winning two fights and losing one. He then stepped out of the ring to introduce professional boxing in Tanzania in 1982 through the Boxing Union of Tanzania (BUT).
I remember in 1982 Mlundwa assisted me to arrange a fight for Kenya’s stylish boxer Modesty Napunyi Oduori who had decided to fight from home instead of Japan where he turned pro in 1981.
I sent Mlundwa a telegram from Uniafric House where I was operating from, and we maintained our communication. Eventually Napunyi fought Tanzania’s Onesmo Ngowi in the first professional boxing card in Kenya after independence in 1983 at the KICC, Nairobi. The Kenyan KO’d Ngowi in round three to capture the East Africa super-bantamweight title.
1983 contract signing ceremony in Nairobi for the first pro boxing contest in Kenya. Boxing Union of Tanzania President Mlundwa (far left) signs on behalf of boxer Onesmo Ngowi.
Mlundwa has indeed contributed a great deal in the development of boxing in Tanzania and still hopes to do more. Little wonder he has been dubbed the Father of Pro Boxing in Tanzania.
Besides Mlundwa, among other boxers who’ve brought Tanzania fame in amateur boxing include Titus Simba, the first Tanzanian boxer to win a medal at a major championships (he won silver in the 1970 Commonwealth Games at middleweight), Habibu Kinyogoli, Nassoro Michael, Michael Yomba Yomba who won bantamweight gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the Matumla brothers, 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalists Yusuf Changalawe and Kassim Mbundwike and Tanzania’s first ever female boxer to win a medal at a major international tournament Grace Mwakamele, a silver medallist in the 2023 Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon.
