LESOTHO TO REMAIN IN IBA REFUSING TO BE COLONISED AS GHANA MOVES TO WORLD BOXING
IBA is the sole worldwide governing body for the sport of boxing in all its forms, with 191 Member Federations and 5 Confederations.
Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA) has opted to remain in International Boxing Association instead of being “colonised” by joining World Boxing.
And Ghana Boxing Federation is the eighth African country to abandon IBA for World Boxing (WB).
LeBA Secretary General Lebohang Handy said they have decided to remain with IBA.
“LeBA considers pressure from IOC to join WB as a form of sporting colonisation, violating athletes choice in sports and human rights in sport,” Lebohang told boxersworld.co.ke in a statement.
He cited IBA’s financial rewards to boxers and supporting national federations to take part in their tournaments as one of the reasons for remaining in IBA.
“Olympic involvement has historically offered no long term value to Lesotho boxers,” said Lebohang.
“The prize money Lesotho boxers received from Mandela Cup has transformed their lives, this opportunity is lacking in the Olympics which offers no direct financial empowerment to boxers only medals that have little value in boxers’ financial empowerment, and even if we’re in WB we still have the Olympic qualifiers we’re not assured of going to LA.”
Explaining why Ghana has migrated to World Boxing, the Vice President Daudi Fuseni said apart from elite and youth world championships, IBA has not empowered NFs and is now more into pro boxing. Here’s why Fuseni said they have shifted to WB:
“We need to be sincere with each other, IBA is currently moving gradually away from amateur to professional boxing.
“Currently when you look at IBA’s calendar of events, apart from the Youth and Elite world championships, the rest of their programs are their Champions Nights’ which do not benefit the federations. Mostly it’s pro boxers taking part with few or none from member federations apart from the one in Addis Ababa last year. The Champions’ Nights are of no benefit to federations.
“We need an international body that has a clear road map for the development of amateur boxing globally;
an international body that has a full calendar of activities solely for the development of amateur boxing globally.
“It was good for IBA to introduce Mandela Cup but it looks like an abruptly organised tournament to appease Africa because this year it’s not in their calendar of events.”
Ghana becomes the eighth African country to join World Boxing. Others are Algeria, Egypt, Gambia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Malawi and Sudan.
On the role of Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC), Fuseni said the body has become a puppet of IBA owing to its financial disability.
Fuseni again: “AFBC do not have absolute control over their activities, they rely on IBA and therefore if IBA goes down, they fall with them.
“I believe AFBC should have a solid source of funding or sponsorship aside the support they get from the international body to run their programs.
“The Mandela Cup, is supposed to appear in the AFBC calendar but because they’re relying on IBA to fund it, it’s not in their calendar of events. This is very unfortunate and that’s why we’re now the laughing stock of the West.
These are some of the challenges we face as Africans and the earlier we sort them out the better especially financial independence sector.”
Steve Muchoki back home on winning world light-flyweight title in 1978 in Belgrade, Serbia. East African Breweries chairman Kenneth Matiba admires Muchoki's best boxer trophy. Others in the picture from left are coach Peter Mwarangu, Stephen Moi aka Black Bomber and far right is ABA of Kenya chairman Major Marsden Madoka.
NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: One of Kenya’s most decorated boxer , Steve Muchoki, recounts his participation in the inaugural World Championships in 1974 in Havana, Cuba.
Muchoki remains the best ever light-flyweight Kenya has produced.
At 17 years of age and barely one-year-old in Kenya’s national boxing team, Steve Muchoki was among the five boxers picked to represent the East African country in the inaugural World Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba, from August 17-30 in 1974.
Others selected were African Games bantamweight silver medallist Isaac Maina, African Games gold medallist, light-welterweight George Oduori, top regional light-middleweight David Attan and African Games middleweight champion Peter Dula.
Muchoki was surprised when the Amateur Boxing Association of Kenya (ABA) decided he was the one to don the national vest in the light-flyweight division.
“l was very surprised to be selected for such a big tournament because by then we had more experienced boxers in my weight such as Lawrence Kariuki of Prisons and Peter Kangethe of Police,” recalls Muchoki, adding: “At the same time I was happy, it showed the selectors believed in me.”
The ABA had every reason to believe in Muchoki following his shocking but deserved points victory over Uganda’s highly regarded and more experienced defending champion James Odwori in the finals of the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1974.
Muchoki’s astounding achievement in Christchurch was more captivating taking into account he had no international exposure but he silenced Odwori, a Kenyan boxing for Uganda. His father was working for the defunct East African Railways, but he was transferred to Uganda in the 1960s while Odwori was still a toddler growing up in Makongeni Railways Quarters in Nairobi. The boxer won gold at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Prior to gaining selection in Kenya’s team for the Christchurch Commonwealth Games, Muchoki defeated big names in the trials among them Prisons’ Lawrence Kariuki, a silver medalist at the 1968 Africa Championships in Lusaka, Zambia.
Muchoki had made his international debut for the national team in November, 1973, outpointing Uganda’s Baker Muwanga during the second leg of the Urafiki Cup between Kenya and Uganda at Nairobi’s City Hall.
After his triumph in Christchurch, Muchoki won another gold medal in the FESCAABA Championships in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This was a popular tournament then featuring East, Southern and Central African countries.
Muchoki receives Order of the Burning Spear (OBS) from President Jomo Kenyatta in 1978.
With two gold medals under his belt, the ABA of Kenya was convinced the talented secondary school student was up to the task in Havana.
Muchoki elaborates his training programme ahead of the Havana trip, and explains why he was happy. Earlier the selected coach Hasaan Amiri had been replaced by trainer Charles Anjimbi. Amiri pulled out owing to pressure of work at the Kenya Army.
“To me the late Hassan Amiri was a good coach but too harsh, forcing boxers to do what he thought was good to him but boxers didn’t like his coaching approach,” says Muchoki
“l was elated because l was now free to train the way l want with no pressure. Anjimbi was my first coach at Railways Starehe Boxing Club. He knew me well and how I train. The team manager-cum-doctor Major Momanyi made arrangements for us to be training at Prisons Staff Training College and sleeping at Langata Barracks.
“l can recall my training mates were lsaac Maina, George Findo, Philip Mathenge and Peter Dula. All of them were my seniors in the national team.” George Oduori and David Attan, were both selected for the Havana tournament. They were then based in Germany and decided to prepare there and link up with their compatriots in Havana but owing to travel complications they didn’t make it to Cuba.
Muchoki, probably relying on his sixth sense, was not comfortable doing sparring at Prisons Gym.
“I had to plan my training cautiously the moment l learned that we would be based in Langata Barracks and training at Prisons. l knew some boxers were not happy for my selection, and they might use dirty tricks during the sparring sessions to make sure I don’t go to Havana. Therefore, I decided to go for sparring at my club in Muthurwa Estate which we nicknamed Dallas. At Prisons anything could have happened to put me out of the Kenya team.
“My training was in the morning I would run from Langata Barracks to Nyayo Stadium roundabout and then to Prisons for the first training session. I then ran back to Langata Barracks after the training and in the evening I would do more road work and sparring with boxers I was familiar with in Dallas and back to the Barracks.”
Stamps printed in honour of Muchoki in 1976 ahead of Montreal Olympics. The talented Kenyan pugilist was poised to become the first black African boxer to win Olympic gold but Kenya joined other African countries which pulled out of the Games in protest at New Zealand rugby team’s tour of apartheid South Africa.
Finally the Kenya team left for Havana to participate in the inaugural World Boxing Championships.
“On arrival in Havana things were okay from accommodation to the food and the friendly atmosphere, I met with my buddy with Tanzania’s boxing team Emmanuel Mlundwa, I enjoyed myself a lot there.”
Muchoki was wary of meeting a Cuban boxer in his first fight.
“Deep in my heart l was just thinking if l meet a Cuban in my first fight what would I do? Because they were the best boxers in the world by then but to me it was a big challenge. I also wanted to beat the big powers in boxing who were by then Cuba, USA and the Soviet Union.”
Muchoki first beat Jose Ibiri of Argentina, saw off Romania’s Cosma Remus in the quarter-finals and outpointed Eugeniy Yudin of the Soviet Union in the semi-finals.
Pitted against Cuba’s Jorge Hernandez in the finals, Muchoki lost on points but when he returned home coach Charles Anjimbi claimed he was robbed of victory against the Cuban. Muchoki, was also not satisfied with the result.
Says Muchoki on the officiating in Havana: “Infact it was not only my fight that I felt robbed. There was biased officiating in some fights resulting in some judges being beaten in the lift for their biased officiating, we just don’t know where the assailants came from. This forced the organisers to assign security to the judges.”
Muchoki singles out the Argentine boxer, Jose Ibiri, as the toughest of all the opponents he fought in Havana.
“I can recall the boxer from Argentina was very aggressive but not tactical like the Cuban. This boxer was just coming forward so l had to sidestep every now and then to avoid his heavy punches. Mostly I was taking advice from my fellow boxers Isaac Maina and Peter Dula because they were near my corner.
“The Cuban was taller than me and he had long range jabs. I opted for in-fighting by keeping him close so that he couldn’t take advantage of his long reach, l was smart at in-fighting and combinations.”
So what did he gain by winning Kenya’s first ever medal in the World Championships?
“I got nothing from our government just the usual congratulations,” says Muchoki but he’s not bitter at not being rewarded like some countries do for their sportsmen and women.
“It was not a must for the government to reward me, that’s their choice if they felt it was a big achievement. I have learnt to live with our African leaders who don’t bother much about our achievements, they’re more interested in enriching themselves.”
Muchoki is very impressed by IBA’s President Umar Kremlev’s recognition of the boxers’ performance in the ring by introducing prize money.
“Kremlev has shown he cares for the welfare of the boxers, God bless him,” says Muchoki appealing to Kremlev to honour the medalists in Havana.
Muchoki, who went on to win a gold medal and Best Boxer Award in the 1978 World Championships, is grateful to the chairman of the Kenyan federation at the time, Major Marsden Madoka, for employing him at Kenya Breweries which was one of the leading Kenyan clubs with cream boxers. Madoka was then a highly placed senior employee at Breweries and brought on board several international boxers.
“I just don’t know where I would be without Madoka’s support. The Army and Police wanted me but I was not keen to join the forces.”
We hope Kenya’s President William Ruto will invite Muchoki to State House to honour him for his great achievements including legendary Philip Waruinge.
Muchoki says with the current economic situation in Kenya, life is not a bed of roses but he’s surviving aided by the boxing philosophy he learnt as a boxer.
“Life is not easy now, I’m struggling for a living by coaching a club to put food on the table,” says the humble Muchoki, a devoted Catholic who was an altar boy during his youth.
African boxers will be the biggest beneficiaries with the formation of a new boxing confederation in the pipeline to be affiliated to World Boxing.
CREATION OF NEW AFRICAN BOXING BODY TO SCUTTLE DISJOINTED AFBC
International Olympic Committees’ official recognition of World Boxing has further scuttled the feuding factions in the Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC).
Now, the existence of AFBC – formed in 1960 – is threatened by the formation of a new African boxing body to be affiliated to World Boxing.
Plans are already in the pipeline for the formation of WB- affiliated boxing organisation in Africa to rival the existing one which is currently going through a leadership crisis in the wake of a big rift with two presidents claiming legitimacy. One faction is led by the IBA- recognised President Eyassu Berhanu and the other one is under the leadership of the combative Congolese Boxing Federation President Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo whose group met in Kinshasa last year and passed a vote of no confidence in Berhanu’s leadership during the AFBC African Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships.
With WB now officially recognised by the IOC, it’s obvious more NFs in Africa will abandon IBA and join WB irrespective of whether their boxers will qualify for the 2028 LA Games. The bottom line now for the NFs is to know which side of their bread is buttered especially in view of the respect the IOC commands among their respective African governments.
Therefore as it is now, each national federation will have to make their own individual decision to join WB ignoring the ongoing circus in the deeply divided AFBC which currently has no clout to give them direction. Perhaps a new body will be a breath of fresh air for Africa boxing to move away from decades of bad leadership that has been synonymous with AFBC.
It is understood the Luyoyo faction is leaning towards WB in protest at what they feel is failure by IBA to take firm action on Berhanu’s leadership which they accuse of incompetence, shady deals and arrogance. In reality both factions have rotten eggs since they’re all birds of the same feather. Their acrimony came to a head during the AFBC African Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa last year when Berhanu was denied the opportunity to address the crowd during the opening ceremony of the tournament.
Luyoyo was then the man of the moment taking centre stage with the country’s minister in charge of sports ignoring the presence of Berhanu whom the Luyoyo group alleged had attempted to sabotage the tournament by writing to participants not to attend the Kinshasa boxing event largely ignored by IBA. Strangely, there was no prize money like the previous ones in Yaounde and Maputo.
The Luyoyo faction, which claims to have more NFs supporting them, has now given the IBA tough conditions to remove Berhanu at the helm failure to which they will join WB.
Removing Berhanu now is inconsequential and has been overtaken by events following the latest development. Each NFs is now carrying their own cross. They will have to make their own personal decision to join WB.
The AFBC circus has of course not gone down well with some of the member federations who view the African body as a rudderless vessel heading nowhere other than being used for personal aggrandisement.
“We’re preparing to join World Boxing, we can’t be in a body which does not attend to our problems, we don’t even know whom to deal with,” one of the presidents of the African NFs told me this morning.
He also laments on AFBC’s lean calendar of events and would prefer a new body which is likely to inject more activity in African boxing.
So far, seven African countries have officially moved to WB. They are Algeria, Egypt, Gambia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Malawi and Sudan. Ghana and Mauritius are among AFBC member countries planning to shift to WB.
A number of NFs officials who spoke to boxersworld.co.ke said they’ll prefer a new body to bring the much desired change in African boxing and professionalism in the management of the game after decades of stagnation and petty leadership tussles.
Right now they feel in addition to the thin calendar of events, AFBC has nothing much to offer to their national federations while some feel the IBA is spending more on boxers’ prize money at the expense of financially empowering the African federations which nurture the boxers’ talents.
Others however argue the immense financial contribution of IBA’s President Umar Kremlev has been a game changer in world boxing compared to his predecessors. A number of boxers have hailed IBA’s prize money tournaments that have changed their lives.
There’s apprehension however on the future of IBA once Kremlev departs given that for now he appears to be the sole financier. Unlike World Athletics and FIFA whose sponsors are known, in IBA it’s only Kremlev known as the official sponsor. Whether the funding is personal or from friends has not been made public.
However, it appears Kremlev is not going out in the foreseeable future with the IBA now morphing into a professional body. The entry of WB is likely to speed up the process to become a fully-fledged pro boxing organisation and probably change their constitution and structure of management, giving Kremlev more leeway to remain at the top.
As for the the entry of a new African body, it’s being viewed with great expectations in that it will be affiliated to an equally new international body expected to bring on board sponsors who will empower the WB-affiliated African organisation to introduce more competitions and change the tattered image of African boxing.
For now, the African boxing scene is keenly watching to see how many more NFs shift to WB to increase the required number to 16 to enable them form a new African boxing body. Interesting times indeed in world boxing.
Some of the boxers yet to be paid 2022 Maputo prize money totalling $177,500. Clockwise from top: Juliana Kasonka, Patrick Chinyemba, Felistus Nkandu, Margret Tembo and Alcinda Dos Santos.
THREE COUNTRIES YET TO BE PAID 2022 MAPUTO PRIZE MONEY
IBA President Umar Kremlev far left officially opening the AFBC headquarters in 2023 in Yaounde.
It’s just unbelievable that almost three years now boxers from Zambia, Mozambique and Algeria have not been paid their prize money they won at the 2022 AFBC African Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships.
Some of the concerned boxers, Mozambican Alcinda Dos Santos, Zambians Patrick Chinyemba, Felistus Nkandu, Margret Tembo and Juliana Kasonka have demanded immediate payment of their rightful earnings.
“We’ve waited for too long now, nobody is telling us anything on our payment,” says Alcinda the two-time Africa light-middleweight champion and 2022 world silver medallist.
“This is very unfair, it’s putting us in a difficult situation with our families, they think we’ve been paid without sharing anything with them,” an angry Chinyemba, who won gold in the 2022 Africa Championships, told boxersworld.co.ke
“They’ve been keeping our money for too long, what’s more annoying they’re all quiet as if nothing happened,” says Maputo lightweight gold medallist Nkandu.
Like Chinyemba, Juliana is at a loss on what to tell her family members.
“Now our family think we ate all the money by ourselves without sharing with them, this is Africa,” says Juliana, bronze medallist in the Maputo event.l
Gold medallists were paid $10,000, silver $5000 and bronze $2,500.
Interestingly, former AFBC President Bertrand Mendouga of Cameroon confessed he used prize money of boxers from the three countries to refurbish their new headquarters ahead of the official launch by IBA President Umar Kremlev in early 2023.
Mendouga passed the buck to IBA for failing to honour their promise of remitting $500,000 to the confederations for their internal budget as pledged by Kremlev in the IBA congress in 2022 in Turkey.
Mendouga’s letter to Kremlev reads:
“I would like to remind you that the USD 100,000 sent in September 2022 for the organisation of the Maputo 2022 African Championships and the extraordinary congress were equitably used for these purposes.”
_“However, because it was necessary to honour Africa for the first time by providing the AFBC with a headquarters on the scale of this international boxing structure, and in view of_ _the imminence of your arrival in Cameroon scheduled for February 12, 2023 for the inauguration of the said headquarters, I had to use the money available (prize money from the aforementioned three countries) to meet the expenses linked to:_
− _the rental ;_
− _to repair the building,_ _which is in a very poor state of repair;_
− _equipping the headquarters ;_
− _and payment salaries of AFBC staff recruited after my election on 16_ _July 2022 in Algiers, and that of the Secretary_ _General on 17 September 2022 in Maputo._
_“It is obvious that this change in the destination of funds is justified by your promise to provide the AFBC with an_ _operating budget in due form. Unfortunately, until_ _30 June 2023, the AFBC has received nothing_ _from the IBA to enable_ _it to regularise this_
_situation._
_“It should also be pointed out that AFBC has neither a sponsor_ _nor any source of income other than_ _funding from the IBA._
_In the light of the_ _foregoing, it is clear that the use of prize money for the reasons_ _mentioned above, which is quite simply a matter_ _of the state of necessity faced by the AFBC, is far_ _from being qualified as mismanagement as_ _claimed by the Board of Directors, which had_ _moreover received the detailed statement of_ _these expenses, informed you._
_“All the supporting documents for the above-mentioned_ _expenditure have been made available to the_ _AFBC Secretary General. It would therefore be_ _advisable to regularise the AFBC budget for the_ _2022-2023 financial year, to enable me to remedy all these situations.”_
What Mendouga has not mentioned is who authorised him to spend the boxers’ prize money and whether there was a written agreement between him and IBA boss Kremlev that he can spend the prize money and then reimburse it from the $500,000 operating budget he was expecting from IBA.
The AFBC Board of Directors was not involved in the withdrawal of the prize money, and accused Mendouga of unilaterally deciding to use the prize money without their consent. They also doubted Mendouga’s explanation that the entire prize money totalling $177,500 of 29 boxers from the three countries was used in the refurbishment of the office and other expenses.
Africa Boxing Confederation President then Bertrand Mendouga has confessed he used boxers’ prize money to refurbish the office.
Nigeria’s Azania Omo Agege was one of the board members and later elected as the interim President following the suspension of Mendouga by the board for what they said was his high-handedness and alleged financial impropriety.
Azania further narrates what transpired in Yaounde, Cameroon in 2023 during the Africa Championships.
“When we got to Cameroon we found out Mendouga had used the prize money to open up the office, we had a rowdy session that led to his suspension in the presence of IBA President Umar Kremlev, we did another election among the board members and I was elected the interim President.
“After the tournament, I remained behind for three days to talk to Mendouga about the prize money. He had promised to return the money but he stopped picking my calls, so we never met. I was scared of my life I had to leave immediately because you never know.
“The signatories to the Yaounde account were the secretary general Andre Basil Kalong and Mendouga as the president. We went to the bank with Basil I upended my signature and removed Mendouga’s. There was nothing left in the bank, most of the money had been withdrawn. From the bank statement I have, it shows money was withdrawn from the bank eleven times in one day. The IBA had promised to pay the Maputo prize money but I don’t know what happened.”
This is the stinking garbage that the new President Eyassu Berhanu from Ethiopia inherited from Mendouga when took over AFBC leadership.
Berhanu promised to follow up the matter but so far the Maputo prize money remains unpaid, further blotting the image of the beleaguered African boxing body.
At one time, there was talk that IBA had wired the Maputo prize money to the bank account of the new AFBC headquarters in Addis Ababa but the interim secretary general Yohanes Birnane denies this.
“We have not received any money from IBA for the unpaid boxers’ prize money,” says Birhane.
And so the 29 boxers from Zambia, Mozambique and Algeria will continue waiting for their prize money as they curse Mendouga for using their hard-earned money in the ring without even having the courtesy to inform them.
The current AFBC President Eyassu Berhanu has promised to pursue the issue diligently until the boxers are paid their money.
AFBC has an obligation to ensure the boxers are paid their prize money immediately without any further unnecessary delay. Pay them now!
GHANIAN TRIO SET FOR GLORY AT INAUGURAL WBC GRAND PRIX
Ghana’s boxing prowess will be on full display as three of the nation’s most promising fighters — Holy Dorgbetor, Samuel Quaye and Shakul Samed — prepare to battle against the world’s best at the maiden WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month.
The trio, selected from a competitive pool of 128 fighters across 41 countries, will step into the ring from April 17-20 for a shot at global stardom in what promises to be one of the biggest boxing spectacles of the year.
The four-day event is more than just another tournament — it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the three Ghanaian warriors to announce themselves on the world stage.
The WBC Grand Prix, organised by the World Boxing Council (WBC) in collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season sports initiative, is a groundbreaking competition designed to unearth the next generation of boxing superstars.
A long-cherished vision of the late WBC President Don José Sulaimán, this event is billed as the first-ever Boxing World Cup and will feature four weight divisions: Featherweight, Super Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight.
With 32 fighters in each category, the tournament adopts a straight knockout format, spanning five rounds across the year. Unlike conventional boxing events, there will be no draws — every bout must produce a winner.
To ensure fairness and transparency, the tournament will feature open scoring after rounds two, four and six, as well as instant replay technology to eliminate controversial decisions.
“This is a dream of a great man like José Sulaimán, and thank God his son Mauricio has continued it. We will support the Riyadh Season WBC Grand Prix with all our might to make it a worldwide success,” His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said.
Ghana’s Warriors
Holy Dorgbetor (Featherweight) – Rising Star
At just 25 years old, Holy Dorgbetor is one of Ghana’s brightest prospects, boasting an unbeaten record of 12 wins, one draw and seven knockouts.
The IBF Continental Africa champion and former Ghanaian and UBO Africa titleholder has been in relentless form, and he sees the WBC Grand Prix as his golden opportunity to make a global breakthrough.
“I am very excited to be selected for the WBC Grand Prix. I am training hard to showcase my skills and make my family, my manager and Ghanaians proud,” Dorgbetor told the Graphic Sports.
“I appeal to Ghanaians for their support and prayers so I can return as a champion,” he added.
Samuel Quaye (Super Lightweight) – Comeback King Nicknamed “No Chance”, Samuel Quaye, 22, had a difficult start to his professional career, suffering a defeat on debut in 2022.
However, he bounced back in style, embarking on a 10-fight winning streak that saw him claim the Ghana super lightweight title last year.
With his fearless fighting style and rapid rise through the ranks, Quaye is eager to prove he belongs among the best in Riyadh.
Shakul Samed (Middleweight) – Knockout Machine
The youngest of the famous Samir boxing family, Shakul Samed, is already carving his own legacy.
A decorated amateur who competed at both the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, 25-year-old Samed has made a seamless transition to the professional ranks.
Since turning pro in March 2023, he has won all nine of his fights, eight of them by knockout. His most recent victory — a devastating first-round KO of Benin’s Fataou Garadima Yacoubou at the Accra Sports Stadium—sent a clear warning to his rivals.
Morocco's world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal was Africa's most successful performer in Serbia. Below her is team manager Nabil Hilmi.
WHY MOST AFRICAN COUNTRIES FLOP IN WORLD BOXING TOURNEY
Morocco once again emerged as the most successful African country in the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Serbia.
The Moroccans topped Africa by placing seventh overall with a gold from bantamweight Widad Bertal and light-heavyweight Hasnae Larti’s bronze medal behind winners Russia followed by Kazakhstan and Turkey in third place.
It was a repeat performance by Morocco who also won gold and bronze at the 2023 Women’s Worlds in India to finish sixth overall behind winners India, China and Russia in that order.
In an interview with boxersworld.co.ke, Morocco’s team manager Nabil Hilmi said they owe their success to the overwhelming support from the government which closely monitors their performance in major international events. For instance, after what the government described as Morocco’s dismal performance at the Paris Olympics, the entire technical bench was sent home and in came Cuba’s experienced Juan Carlos Maestre as the head coach. He’s handling a highly motivated team.
Morocco’s light-heavyweight bronze medallist Hasnae Larti was Africa’s second best performer in Serbia.
“The Morocco government in general and the ministry support us in our projects and our vision on how to improve boxing,” says Nabil.
He further elaborates on their preparations before the Serbia Worlds.
“Before going to Serbia, we first prepared in Casablanca then we participate in the Belgrade International Tournament. After Belgrade, we had a training camp in Montenegro for three weeks with other teams like Serbia and Turkey.
“Our team is also disciplined, dedicated and motivated largely because the government inspires our boxers.”
Kenya’s head coach Musa Benjamin explains their inability to rise up to the occasion which resonates with other underperforming African countries.
Says Musa: “Lack of serious competitions at home and the continent at large is clear.This is why countries like Morocco, Algeria,Tunisia are always in Europe for training and competitions.”
The Kenya team had three debutants in the Serbia Worlds, flyweight Lencer Akinyi, lightweight Emily Juma and light-welterweight Cynthia Mwai.
The Kenyan coach says owing to lack of exposure and regular competitions some African boxers such as three in his team and Zimbabwe made their international debut in the World Championships fighting against better exposed and well prepared boxers.
Musa went on: “You cannot coach experience. Whatever you coach/teach/train a boxer if not put in practice (competition) will never stick.
When done with driving school, then you don’t get a car to continue driving, the training becomes useless!”
Against such background, one would ask is there any need to enter half-baked teams in such high level tournaments?
“Certainly it’s useful to take our girls there,” says Musa, “because this is the only exposure they get, if we don’t take part where else will they be exposed?.”
Musa says there’s potential in Kenya and Africa as a whole but without proper preparations, African teams especially those south of Sahara will not excel at the big stage.
“Without training camps where all daily sessions can be realised, exposure and many tournaments in Africa, competing at this high level becomes difficult.
Exposure is mandatory.The last time our Kenyan boxers participated in a serious tournament was October last year in DRC in the Africa Championships compared to the European and Asian boxers who are constantly in action in their busy calendar of events. Locally, we don’t have depth so competition isn’t stiff resulting to complacency and standards going down.”
Zimbabwe’s head coach Alexander Kwangwari was satisfied with the performance of his three debutants in the Women’s Worlds, flyweight Agnes Kwashi, featherweight Lovelight Fusire and lightweight Hildah Kaye.
Zimbabwe’s Hildah Kaye (right) lost to Christina Kuluhova of Serbia at lightweight.
“I’m proud of my girls because they were new in the World Boxing Championships but we promise that next time when we get another chance we will make it,” says Kwangwari.
“My boxers gained a lot of knowledge but compared to what I saw in Serbia, we’re not very far from the European and Asian boxers. I thank the IBA for their support.”
Interestingly, the leaders of the two wrangling factions in African boxing have not issued any comprehensive statement on Africa’s show in Serbia and way forward. They’re busy battling for power oblivious of the boxers’ needs. Don’t be surprised if they didn’t watch a single session in Serbia. Their scope is limited as usual.
Most important however is the support of African governments for success in the global events. Catering for travel expenses, allowances and accommodation is commendable but without physically getting involved in the teams’ preparations – a vital component for success – is akin to building a house on quicksand without a strong foundation.
NAMIBIA’S RENOWNED BOXER NAKATHILA IS NOW CEO OF BOXERS WORLD WEBSITE
Namibia’s distinguished professional boxer, Jeremiah Nakathila, is now the CEO of Africa’s fastest rising boxing website, the prestigious boxersworld.co.ke.
Nakathila will now be a co-owner of the site and brings with him wealth of boxing experience, managerial acumen and impeccable contacts to assist in the growth of this popular site which is the official Voice of the African Boxer.
“I’m thrilled to team up with my good friend from Kenya, John Nene, who I believe is one of Africa’s best Multimedia Sports Journalists. He has worked with various leading media organisations including the famous BBC World Service,” said Nakathila in a statement.
“As the CEO I will use my wide contacts to ensure the financial stability of this important site giving African boxers prominence. It is also our watchdog to safeguard the rights of the African boxer. I’m really impressed by the professional content in this site.”
We in boxersworld.co.ke warmly welcome Nakathila as one of us. We are looking forward to his invaluable input and expertise on the growth of this authoritative online boxing site which is the brainchild of our Chief Editor and Content Creator, John Nene.
He started covering the sport in 1980 and he has done it for four decades. Nene worked for renowned publications such as Weekly Review/Nairobi Times owned by the late media guru Hilary Ngw’eno.
Namibia's top pro boxer Jeremiah Nakathila scored an upset sixth round TKO win over former Mexican world champion Miguel Berchelt (left) in Las Vegas in 2022 in a fight which earned a fat paycheck investing part of the money in his Low-Key Pub in Windhoek.
NAMIBIAN STAR BOXER DOING ROARING BUSINESS AT HIS PUB
Namibia’s richest professional boxer Jeremiah Nakathila (third from left) hanging out with buddies at his Low-Key Pub in Windhoek.
It’s a Friday as patrons sample an assortment of drinks, others watching TV cracking jokes faces radiant with joy. A bartender is moving round to make sure the revellers have enough stock.
Drinks are flowing fast with Windhoek draught beer the choice of most of them. As the music gets louder, some decide to shake a leg to unwind after a busy week in their respective places of work.
The stomach is also a big beneficiary of this now packed pub with roasted and boiled goat meat whetting their appetite. One or two innocent goats must have lost their lives it seems.
Welcome to Low-Key Pub owned by Namibia’s celebrated professional boxer Jeremiah Nakathila. Low-Key is Nakathila’s nickname in the ring.
Revellers having fun at Low-Key Pub.
Nakathila, who is a Warrant Officer in Namibia’s Police Force, has been running the business for the last five years years in the capital city Windhoek, Hakahana location.
“I bought a house beginning of 2019 then I converted it into a pub,” says Nakathila who returns to the ring in June or July this year in the USA.
“It’s a very productive business because I have a lot of fans at home, they always turn up to support my business. It’s one of the best decisions I made.
“At Low-Key pub, I also have a restaurant, my customers drink and eat at the same place. I normally slaughter two goats especially at the end of the month when the customer flow is good. We roast and boil meat, Namibians like goat meat very much and prefer to eat it just like that.
“We also prepare pap or ugali as they call it in Kenya, some of my customers are from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. They enjoy it a lot as they don’t like drinking on an empty stomach. We sell different type of drinks. However, Windhoek draught beer is the favourite drink for most of my patrons,” says the boxer.
“Our music is the best in town from kwaito, afro pop, reggae, rhumba and many more. We make sure we play what the customers want. I work with different DJs but the key ones are DJ Kassie and DJ Paul. I’ve worked with them for four years now. I have five employees thee males and two females. One of the males is strictly a driver. We also have a take away shop where we sell a variety of food every day,” Nakathila reveals.
“I have invested big amount of money in my pub which in return earns me a reasonable monthly amount. In addition to it, I have a lot of other businesses that serve the police,” adds the international boxer.
Family and Other Businesses
Through his ring earnings, Nakathila bought three houses in Windhoek. One is where he’s operating his pub, he rents another house and the big one is where he lives with his family. He has a beautiful wife called Penny and they have two children, eight-year-old boy Mateus Lipinge and six-year-old daughter Isabel. “My wife rarely comes to the pub unless there’s a music show to assist me,” he reveals.
Nakathila with his pretty young wife Penny.
Nakathila is also a proud owner of a football club at his Low-Key Pub. “I was once a footballer, and played as a defender because that’s the only sport that existed where I grew up,” he recalls.
“I have an annual tournament known as Jeremiah Nakathila tournament featuring football, volleyball, boxing and tug of war every December,” he says.
Nakathila has indeed made hay while the sun shines as he also has a Day Care Centre for children near Low-Key. Moreover, he used to sell cars some time back.
Endorsements
The professional boxer also markets and advertises for Namibia’s giant telecommunication company, MTC Spectra. “I’m their Ambassador, they pay me good money, I can’t complain.”
Nakathila is an ambassador for Namibia’s giant telecommunication company MTC Spectra. He makes good money here from his image being used by the company.
“How much do they pay?” I ask putting him in a tight corner but he ducks my punch smartly. “Well, that’s now a deal between me and the telecommunication company,” he responds with a chuckle.
Boxing Career
“I have been a WBO Africa lightweight champion since 2016, and in 2019 I became a WBO global champion. So I saved the little I was getting through the fights. However, the USA bouts brought me more money, my payment in one fight combined all the past fights at home,” he discloses
The biggest paycheck he’s gotten in pro boxing was in 2021, in his fight with renowned American, Shakur Stevenson in Las Vegas. Shakur decisioned Nakathila to win the vacant WBO interim junior lightweight title.
Nakathila (right) in action with Shakur Stevenson in 2021 in Las Vegas.
The following year at Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nakathila scored an upset sixth-round TKO win over former Mexican world super-featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt. All fights were made possible by his well-connected promoter Nestor Tobias.
“Nestor has played a key role in my pro boxing,” says Nakathila, adding: “I cannot thank him enough, he gave me a better life through his connections with Top Rank arranging big fights for me and good money he’s a great man the top promoter in Africa I can say.”
Namibia's top professional boxer Jeremiah Nakathila, Kenya's Commonwealth champion Sarah Achieng and Zimbabwe's promoter Clyde Musonda say the prize money earned by amateur boxers in Women's World Championships in Serbia is way above what pro boxers are paid in Africa.
IBA AMATEURS HIGHLY PAID THAN AFRICAN PRO BOXERS
“We just have big titles and belts but no money,” says Kenya’s Commonwealth super lightweight champion and WBF world lightweight title holder Sarah Achieng.
Zimbabwe’s renowned promoter Clyde Musonda didn’t mince his words when I asked him how many years it can take a pro boxer in Africa to make $100,000, the prize money for gold medalists at the just-concluded Women’s World Championships in Serbia.
“In African professional boxing, it can take ten years for a boxer to reach that figure from accumulated payment per fight,” revealed Musonda in an interview with boxersworld.co.ke.
“The money in the world championships in Serbia is way above what African pro boxers earn here, the prize money for the IBA amateurs is very attractive as compared to what we pay in Africa.”
For all the razzmatuzz and flashy posters on social media, Musonda is brutally honest as he says it’s all showbiz but the truth is that African pro boxers earn a pittance.
“The biggest problem we have in Africa as promoters is lack of sponsors and TV rights,” explains the former Zimbabwean international boxer.
“In country’s like Russia, TV’s even control pro boxing by deciding on the dates, TV stations are in charge of boxing but in Africa they want to be paid by the promoters for covering their card, we still have a long way to go in our continent.”
“It will probably take a pro boxer based in Africa 10 years to make $100,000,” says Zimbabwe’s leading promoter Clyde Musonda pictured with his boxer Kudakwashe Chiwandire.
Musonda says the foreign promoters take advantage of the current situation in Africa when they invite us for fights overseas.
“I remember when I took my boxer Kudakwashe Chiwandire for a WBC title fight in Mexico, they wanted to pay her $10,000. I refused I told them if that’s the case I can invite you to Africa for the same amount, eventually they agreed to pay her $20,000.”
What’s the average purse paid to boxers campaigning in Africa?, I ask Musonda.
“To be honest with you it’s not more than $10,000, I’ve done matchmaking for many years, payment is always less than $7000. However, it varies with different promoters but it’s approximately between $1000 to $7000.”
Namibia’s celebrated pro boxer Jeremiah Nakathila aka Low Key concurs with Musonda that amateur boxers in the IBA world tournaments earn more than African pro boxers.
Commenting on the top prize money of $100,000 in Women’s World Championships in Serbia, Nakathila says: “There are levels and few countries in the continent can produce an elite boxer who can generate $100,000 per fight. To be honest, most, if not all, African pro boxers don’t reach that good payday until they retire from boxing.”
The professional boxer says it’s very difficult for a pro boxer in Africa to earn more than $25,000, the money offered to bronze medalists in Serbia.
“When fighting in Africa it’s hard to be paid $25,000. I’m not sure if I can get an offer of more than that unless one is fighting overseas,” he says. “I get over $25,000 in two fights outside Africa,” he reveals.
Nakathila (left) in a past fight is ready to feature in IBA Champions Night fights.
Nakathila hails IBA for paying boxers handsomely which he describes as a big inspiration for them to excel. The boxer says he’s ready to feature in the IBA Champions’ Night fights if invited.
“For sure if I get such an invitation from IBA I’ll take it with both hands. I’m very impressed with IBA’s high standards.”
Kenya’s Commonwealth champion and WBF title holder Sarah Achieng aka Angel of War is also keen to participate in IBA Champions’ Night series.
“I love the professional manner in which the IBA organise their events and their good purse, it’s so colourful. I’m always ready to fight in their card if I’m invited,” says Achieng, citing the prize money in Women’s Worlds in Serbia.
“Most boxers in Africa are earning way below compared to amateur boxers who were fighting in Serbia,” says Achieng.
“Even title fights here don’t pay what a bronze medalist ($25,000) earned in Serbia. It could take a decade for an African pro boxer to make $100,000 unless they land a big international fight.”
Achieng has so far defended her Commonwealth title twice but financially she has not benefitted from the title she captured in 2021 when she outpointed Malawi’s Anisha Basheel at the Charter Hall. Her purse for winning the Commonwealth title didn’t exceed $3000.
“We just have big titles and belts but no money. Lack of regular fights and low purses paints a bleak future for pro boxing in Africa.”
Achieng is of the opinion if the situation doesn’t improve some boxers will give up and turn to other careers.
“Pro boxing in Africa needs proper structure, more business-minded people investing in the sport, consistent promotions and good TV deals. Unfortunately, in Africa we don’t have TV sponsoring fights like in Europe and the USA. We have a long way to go in the continent.”
Achieng congratulated compatriot Liz Andiego for earning $10,000 (Ksh1.2 million) in the Serbia World Championships.
“That’s good money for Andiego I’m proud of her determination and consistency, what she earned is enough to pay like 20 boxers in a Kenya pro boxing card.”
Liz ameomoka...Kenya's Elizabeth Andiego far left is joined by her teammates to receive her dummy cheque of $10,000 for quarter-finalists at the just-concluded Women's World Boxing Championships in Serbia.
NINE AFRICAN BOXERS REAP $195,000 IN SERBIA WORLDS
Lucky Liz Andiego laughing all the way to the bank Ksh 1,296,700 richer
It was a rich harvest for nine African boxers who minted a total of $195,000 in the one-week Women’s World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia.
Morocco’s newly-crowned world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal topped with $100,000 for winning gold in the finals. That’s a huge sum of money which if well invested will make a big difference in Bertal’s life and her family. At 25 years, Bertal still has a lot of gas in her to continue making more money in the IBA tournaments.
Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata (second right) chats with IBA’s Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE.
In second place on Africa’s top earners in Serbia is Morocco’s Africa light-heavyweight champion Hasnae Larti who made $25,000 for winning bronze. That’s the money to be paid to the two losing semi-finalists in each of the 12 weight categories.
Then we have the seven losing African quarter-finalists including the luckiest of them all Kenya’s Liz Andiego who received a bye to the quarters for the third time in a row. Unfortunately, this also happened to her in the 2022 and 2023 Women’s World Championships.
This time around, the 38-year-old Andiego was even luckier than in the past two Women’s Worlds, for she benefitted from IBA’s newly-introduced prize money for quarter-finalists.
At the current exchange rates, that’s Kshs1,296,700 earned in less than five minutes by Andiego, the face of female boxing in East Africa. I hope big organisations such as Safaricom and Sportspesa will now use her image as an Ambassador of women’s boxing in the region. Automatically this will enable Andiego to earn more money and to be a shining example to upcoming female boxers.
In an interview with boxersworld.co.ke from Serbia, Andiego said she’s now reaping the fruits of her resilience, perseverance and determination.
“First I thank God for this far I have come, it’s through hard work, determination and consistency over the years,” said Andiego, and went on: “It’s not in vain it’s paying off now, it’s now 15 years since my first world championships, not giving up and pushing on every year.
“Thanks to IBA for introducing prize money for the lower stages because it motivates boxers and changes their lives. I’m very grateful to IBA especially for enabling quarter-finalists earn prize money for the first time.”
In addition to Andiego, the other six African quarter-finalists who earned prize money are four Moroccans minimumweight Rabab Cheddar, flyweight Imane El Azami, welterweight Mounia Toutire and light-middleweight Saida Lahmida, Sierra Leone’s lightweight Josefien Betist and Nigeria’s London-based middleweight Patricia Mbata.
The prize money for all the boxers in Serbia will be wired to their bank accounts by the IBA.
