The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament continued today in Dakar, Senegal. Day 3 started with the women’s 57kg and the men’s 63.5kg and 92kg rounds of 16 bouts during the afternoon session.
Women’s 57kg Category
Host country Senegal took the spotlight as Mariatou Diallo entered the ring against Kenya’s Chege Pauline Wandia. Despite a challenging match, Diallo managed to secure victory with a narrow margin of 3 to 2 points. She will advance to the tournament’s next round and face Mozambique’s Benilde Regina Fernando Macaringue, who secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision win against Mambou Dorine Stephane (CMR).
In the same weight class, South Africa’s Mnguni Phiwokuhle Sbusisiwe dominated Mohammed Anatu (GHA) with a resounding 5-0 score, earning a spot in the women’s 57kg quarterfinals where she will meet Tunisia’s Khouloud Hlimi Ep Moulahi (bye). Sakobi Matshu Marcelat (COD) also advanced to the round of 16 by defeating El Ksiri Laela (MAR) with a convincing 5-0 score, setting up a quarterfinal match against Kenosi Keamogetse Sadie (BOT).
Selmouni Chahira (ALG) and Ojo Nene Joy (NGR) will compete in the last quarterfinal match on September 13th after defeating Camara Marine Fatoumata Colette (MLI) and Mhango Mary (ZAM), respectively.
Men’s 63.5kg Category
Ghana’s Joseph Commey won the first men’s 63.5kg round of 16 match of the day. With consistent power and precision throughout the three rounds, he secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Brice Romaric Bassole (BUR), earning a full scorecard (all judges awarded him all rounds). Commey will now face a formidable opponent in the quarterfinals, Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka, who secured a unanimous decision win against Botswana’s Kabo Collen Seitshiro.
Tunisia’s Dridi Mehdi advanced to the quarterfinals after a walkover by Jorgito Ca (GBS). He will meet Uganda’s Joshua Tukamuhebwa, who reached this stage with a knockout victory in his first tournament bout two days ago and a win against Gabon’s Ndjinga Clinton Farlo by the referee’s stoppage today.
Louis Richarno Colin (MRI) won against Taha Don Yves Mikael (CIV) by unanimous decision, earning a spot in a face-off against Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir, who also secured a win as the referee stopped his contest against Sylla Alseny (GUI).
At the bottom side of the brackets, South Africa’s John Paul Masamba cleared his round of 16 bout against Lesotho’s Monaheng Khebe in less than 3 minutes, overwhelming him before the referee stopped the contest at 2:54. Elsayed Omar Abdelaziz Abdelaziz (EGY) awaits him in the quarterfinals after securing a 5-0 win in his preliminary bout.
Men’s 92kg Category
Moving on to the heavyweights, Senegal’s medal hopeful, Kebe Karamba, electrified the Dakar Arena as he outscored Tanzania’s Maregesi Musa Wambura in today’s preliminary men’s 92kg bout. Up next, the home champion faces a formidable opponent on his path to the podium and the Paris 2024 quota place: Nigeria’s Olaore Olaitan Adam, who defeated Zahouli Bi Marshal Junior Youzan (CIV) as the referee stopped the contest.
In the same class, after winning today’s preliminary bout, Maanni Ayoub (MAR) is set for a quarterfinals fight against South Africa’s Nhlapo Bonginkosi, who advanced via a walk-over. Mozambique’s Albino Julio Gabriel won a thrilling match against Londji Arignany Christ Freddy (GAB) today. While he lost the first round due to his opponent’s longer reach, he dominated the second and third rounds, overpowering Freddy. Gabriel convinced the five judges to award him the bout by unanimous decision. Moving forward, he will meet Alwanga Peter Abuti (KEN), who beat Kandil Hazem Nader Abdellatif Em of Egypt by unanimous decision. Algeria’s Houmri Mohamed and Ghana’s Jonathan Tetteh will compete in the last quarterfinal of the category on the 13th of September.
During the evening session, preliminary bouts were held for the men’s 51kg and 57kg weight classes, as well as the women’s 66kg weight class. These bouts determined the brackets for their respective quarterfinal phases, which are scheduled to take place on September 13th.
The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament features 235 athletes from 42 nations competing in 13 weight classes and will qualify 18 boxers for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The tournament will pause on September 12th and then resume from September 13th to September 15th. The final three days of the competition, including all medal matches and Olympic quota place fights, will be broadcast live by the Olympic Channel. Stay tuned on www.olympic.com for updates!
