The boxing tournament of the All Africa Games has begun in Brazzaville, Congo, where twenty-five preliminary bouts in the Bantamweight (56 kg), Lightweight (60 kg), Light Welterweight (64 kg), Welterweight (69 kg) and Middleweight (75 kg) weight classes took place.

Bout of the day

Kenya’s Benson Gicharu Njangiru has performed well in AIBA Pro Boxing, and began his All Africa Games competition with an entertaining victory over Gabon’s Frank Mombey.

The Gabon fighter impressed in the opening round, before Gicharu turned up the heat in the Bantamweight bout.

Njangiru’s patient style and clever attacks ultimately resulted in a deserved victory, and he now moves forward in Brazzaville.

Team of the day

Nigeria enjoyed a successful day, beginning with Lightweight star Kazeem Soyoye who defeated Tanzania’s Issack Ismail.

Kehinde Ademuyiwa also impressed in his Middleweight victory over Angola’s African Zonal Championships silver medallist Raimondo Vidal Galeta.

Surprise of the day

Mali’s Daouda Traore had never previously competed out of his country, but used excellent counter-attacks to surprisingly defeat Ghana’s Anani Kutsoke.

The Round-Up

Kenya’s Commonwealth Games competitor Nick Okoth Okongo delivered a great performance in the Lightweight class when he eliminated Ethiopia’s Biru Mesfin.

Namibia’s Lazarus Shaningwa took part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Glasgow last year, and edged a difficult bout over Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye.

Seychelles’ Alva Botsoie stopped Namibia’s Immanuel Shapaka who was a medal favourite at Welterweight, while Tunisia’s London 2012 Olympian Yahya Elmekachari also finished  Congo’s Andel Ngamissengue.

Fact of the day

22 women’s and 173 men’s boxers from 30 nations have registered to take part in the event.

Quote of the day

“We arrived to Brazzaville six days ago so I could acclimatize to the different environment in Congo. My start was amazing, as I had to spend only a short time in the ring. Knocking out an opponent is always hard, but I felt my condition and power was great today. I know I will have much stronger opponents in the All Africa Games,” said Uganda’s Tony Mukiibi who knocked out Gabon’s Tala Mboumba at Light Welterweight class.

Tomorrow’s program

The second competition day of the All Africa Games will consist of 26 preliminary bouts in the Flyweight (52 kg), Lightweight (60 kg), Light Heavyweight (81 kg) and Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) weight classes.

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