Ethiopia to host int’l professional boxing tournament for the first time

Addis Ababa, January 30, 2024 (FBC) – The African International Boxing Association will hold a professional boxing tournament in Ethiopia for the first time in collaboration with the International Alliance Boxing Association and the Solo International Sports Private Association.

In a presser, the Vice President of the Africa-Canada International Boxing Federation, Instructor Yosef Negash, stated that boxers from the UK, Kenya, Uganda and the Ivory Coast, including Ethiopia, will participate in the competition.

In the competition, famous heavyweight and light weight champions in Africa, Kofil Michael and Duku Ronald, will compete in the heavyweight category at 71 kg, and Ethiopia will compete in semi-professional categories at 57 and 63 kg.

Mr. Melake Tesema, deputy project manager of the Africa-Canada International Boxing Federation, said that the tournament is part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s call for second-generation Ethiopians to come back to their origin country.

The event will help to create sports partnership and cultural exchange between the countries, to produce junior and professional boxers, to build the image of the country and to revive boxing sport in Ethiopia, he underscored.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports indicated that besides the competition, training and support for grassroot projects will be provided for boxing referees.

It is stated that the competition will be held on March 24, 2024 at the Inter Luxury Hotel from with the theme “Peace in Africa”.