▪️Bertal and compatriot Africa flyweight champion Issam Bensayar won their first fights in the ongoing World Boxing Cup in Brazil
April 23, 2026
Putting behind a shaky start in the ongoing World Boxing Cup in Brazil, Morocco’s world bantamweight champion Widad Bertal (pictured) and Africa flyweight champion Issam Bensayar won their opening bouts on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Bertal beat Hungary’s Hanna Lakotoa 5-0 in women’s bantamweight.
Known for her aggressive ring craft and showboating, Bertal didn’t just win; she commanded the ring, displaying relentless agility and precision, proving that her technical brilliance is unmatched on the global stage as seen in winning gold at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Serbia.
Bertal’s compatriot, Issam Bensayar, who is the reigning Africa flyweight champion, proved his mettle by matching the high energy of his teammate, navigating a challenging bout with strategic movement and decisive striking to ensure the Moroccan flag flew high with a convincing 5-0 victory over Ireland’s Louis Rooney.
The other Moroccans in action on Day Three, Africa light-middleweight champion Saida Lahmidi and middleweight Akram El Massmoudi lost their fights with the latter losing 5-0 to Brazil’s Thauan Silva and Saida going down 4-0 to China’s world champion Liu Yang, a gold medallist in the welterweight division at the 2023 Women’s World Championships and Paris Olympics silver medallist. She also won silver at the 2019 Women’s World Championships.
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