▪️Katema, Mwale and Mwape secure emphatic victories
▪️Total number of Africa’s quarter-finalists swells to 23
▪️Stung Nigeria bank on two lethal weapons Blessing and Patricia
▪️So far 26 African boxers have won their fights with 22 out of the competition
▪️Sensational Mukelo Dlamini vows to punish Albert Ngulube in Southern Africa battle
July 27, 2026
Ten African boxers powered their way to the quarter-finals with a similar number losing on Day Three of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 26, 2026.
Zambian trio Emmanuel Katema, Mwengo Mwale and Catherine Mwape stole the spotlight leading 10 African boxers into the quarter-finals to increase the total tally to 23 in the Last Eight.
The glory came with a sting. Ten African fighters were dumped out of the tournament, including Nigeria’s Kadijat Ajishola. She became the fourth boxer from the West African giant to be bundled out, going down in a blistering 3-2 split-decision war against Helen Jones of Wales. Nigeria’s gold medal hopes now rest entirely on two lethal weapons: African Games champions Blessing Oraekwe and Patricia Mbata both of whom start their journey from the quarters.
With 10 winners on Day Three, the total number of Africa’s quarter-finalists rose to 23 with 26 winners and 22 losers so far as the battle for personal prestige and glory to the country intensifies at Scotland Event Campus Hall 5.
Ghana’s African Games bantamweight champion Amadu Mohammed led the way stopping Kiribati’s Eriu Temakau in just one minute 54 seconds of round one in the first session that saw two others, Lesotho’s welterweight Pooana Khoahli and Mauritius’ Ziggy Agathe, cruise to quarters with identical 5-0 wins over Jamaica’s Martez Cope and James Paul of Papua New Guinea respectively.
Then came the Zambian juggernaut. Gritty bantamweight Catherine Mwape, appearing in the Commonwealth Games for the first time, saw off Pakistan’s Malaika Zahid 4-1, on-fire World Championships quarter-finalist Mwengo Mwale had the last laugh in the Southern Africa bantamweight duel, defeating South Africa’s Masibulele Sigwela 4-0 and world bronze medallist Katema handing the same dose to Scotland’s Leo Church whom he punished ruthlessly subjecting him to an eight standing count in the first round to signal his intention of going back home with a gold medal.
Other African boxers to book their quarter-final slots were Mauritius’ impressive female bantamweight Marie Marine Gabriel scoring 5-0 win over Samoa’s Danielle Domonique, Namibia’s bantamweight Pumulo Mutakela stopping Togo’s Charif Yaya, Uganda’s welterweight Nuhu Batte showing the power of “matoke” by squeezing a hard fought 3-2 win over India’s Pratap Yadav and Malawi’s main hope Elias Bonzo making mincemeat of Gibraltar’s Ewan Gracia with a unanimous victory.
In the quarterfinals, Bonzo now meets neighbour Katema, Ghana’s Amadu taking on England’s Ellis Trowbridge, Khoahli meeting Agathe, Batte vs England’s Patris Mughalzai, Mwape against Marie Marine, Pumulo vs New Zealands Alex Mukuka and Mwale battling India’s Jadumani Singh.
“I’m sure I will beat the Indian guy on my way to the medal bracket,” Mwale told boxersworld.co.ke, adding:”I’m in top shape I don’t see any boxer stopping me from winning gold.”
Nigeria’s bantamweight Kadijat Ajishola opened the door out for the 10 African losers on Day Three putting up a commendable show enroute to a 3-2 defeat to Helen Jones of Wales. Others who followed suit are Botswana’s Keatlaretse Modise, Lesotho’s bantamweight Mathealira Seholoholo, Ghana’s Nancy Bamfo, Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje, Ghana’s Adelaide Dede, South Africa’s Masibulele Sigwela, Mauritius’ Fabrice Valerie, Togo’s Charif Yaya and Namibia’s Patrus Jacobus.
A total of 201 global boxers competing (131 men, 70 women) from 43 nations.
The Round of 16 concludes today, Monday, July 27, with a packed card featuring 21 African boxers. Four explosive bouts will be strictly all-African affairs, highlighted by two massive regional derbies.
Commonwealth bronze medallist, Yusuf Changalawe.The Southern Africa Showdown: Zambia’s African Games bronze medallist Albert Ngulube squares off against Eswatini’s history-maker, Mukelo Dlamini.
21 African boxers take to the ring in the Round of 16 final day
Explosive exchanges are in the offing as four bouts feature an all-African affair among them the eagerly awaited East African light-heavyweight duel between Tanzania’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Yusuf Changalawe vs Kenya’s twice Africa bronze medallist Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka and Southern Africa war between Eswatini’s first winner at the World Championships Mukelo Dlamini vs Zambia’s African Games bronze medallist Albert Ngulube at lightweight.
“Easy work for me I will win today,” a confident Dlamini told boxersworld.co.ke
Why does he feel this is a walk in the park for him?
“I fought guys that have the same style as him and I always come on top, I got the skills and tools to break him down.”
The first session will see 11 African boxers in action and 10 in the second session.
First session women’s flyweight
Ghana’s Ramatu Quaye vs Canada’s Amber-Jane Wall
Men’s lightweight
Ghana’s Ebener Ankrah vs Scotland’s Nicholas Devlin
Mauritius’ Niven Chemben vs Owain Harris-Allan
Lesotho’s Toka Litabe vs Botswana’s Treasure Moremi
Men’s light-middleweight
Seychelles’ Lorenzo Bonne vs Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai
Ghana’s Precious Netty vs Fiji’s Elijah Qiokata
Mauritius’ Merven Clair vs Tuvalu’s Pasoni Taafaki
Men’s light-heavyweight
Seychelles’ Jade Micock vs Eoghan Quinn of Northern Ireland
Ghana’s Demond Pappoe vs Tonga’s Josh Tonga
Second session women’s flyweight
Botswana’s Lethabo Modukanele vs India’s Sakshi Sakshi
South Africa’s Thandolwethu Mathiba vs England’s Ruby White
Men’s lightweight
Zambia’s Albert Ngulube vs Eswatini’s Mukelo Dlamini
Namibia’s Tryagain Ndevelo vs Ruhin Reza of Bangladesh
Men’s light-middleweight
Kenya’s Boniface Mogunde vs Scotland’s Sonny Kerr
Men’s light-heavyweight
Uganda’s Alfred Ojok vs England’s Dimeji Shittu
Kenya’s Robert Okaka vs Tanzania’s Yusuf Changalawe
Namibia’s Gebhard Ipinge vs Australia’s Paul Trainor
