The Year of Africa 2025: A Tribute to History and a Bet on the Future of African Boxing
The World Boxing Council (WBC), in close collaboration with the African Boxing Union (ABU), designated the year 2025 as the “Year of Africa.”
This monumental initiative, seeks to commemorate the rich history, achievements, and magnificence of boxing in the “Mighty Continent,” while simultaneously sowing the seeds for the future development of the sport in the region.
The WBC extends its sincere gratitude and acknowledgment to the African Boxing Union (ABU) for their invaluable tremendous effort and support, without which this development project would not have been possible.
The ABU has been fundamental in the organization and logistics of key events.
- Celebration of History and Champions
The designation is a profound recognition of the historical ties and key moments that unite the WBC with Africa:
- Historical Leadership: It is recalled that the WBC Lifetime President, Don José Sulaimán, was first elected to his office in Tunis in 1975.
- Support for Freedom: The WBC suspended South Africa during Apartheid in support of the liberation struggle led by Nelson Mandela, who later invited the WBC to hold its annual convention in Johannesburg in 1988.
- The Mythical Fight: The 50th anniversary of the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now D. R. Congo) in 1974, an event that cemented boxing history on the continent, is being commemorated.
- Great Legends: The WBC honored great African and African-descended champions who have left an indelible mark, such as Battling Siki, Marcel Cerdan, Dick Tiger, Hogan “Kid” Bassey, David “Poison” Kotey, “Professor” Azumah Nelson, Gary Coetzee, Dingaan Thobela, and the Ambassador for the year, Carlos Takam, among others.
2.- Events and Sports Development
The Year of Africa 2025 has been characterized by a series of activities and events designed to boost boxing at the amateur and professional levels in the region:
ABU-WBC Amateur Tournament in Lagos: One of the first and most significant events was the African Boxing Union (ABU) and WBC Amateur Championship held in Lagos, Nigeria. This tournament, managed with the direct support of the ABU, brought together young talent from several countries (including Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Senegal, and Nigeria) and served to identify and nurture the next generation of pugilists.
Title Fights on the Continent: High-profile fights have been actively promoted on African soil. For example, the defense of the WBC Silver Welterweight title by Souleymane Cissokho (of Senegalese origin) against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, which took place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
New Belts and Defenses:
Ushujaa (“Courage”) Belt: In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the “Rumble in the Jungle,” a commemorative belt named “Ushujaa” was created. This special title has the condition that it must always be defended in Africa, ensuring the continuous promotion of boxing in the region.
WBC Africa Titles: The visibility and number of bouts for the prestigious WBC African Champion belt in various divisions were increased, highlighting fights such as that between Ryad Merhy (Ivory Coast) against Gora Niang (Senegal) for the African Heavyweight title.
Infrastructure Support: The WBC expressed its commitment to infrastructure support, mentioning the satisfaction of having sent a boxing ring to Malawi, a fundamental step to improve training conditions.
3. The Impact of the “Year of Africa”
The initiative, jointly driven by the WBC and the ABU, has succeeded in raising the profile of African boxing on a global scale:
- Visibility for Talent: The increase in events and the creation of new regional titles have provided a crucial platform for African boxers, allowing them to shine without necessarily having to emigrate to Europe or America to gain recognition.
- A Global Ambassador: Heavyweight Carlos Takam, a Cameroonian veteran, was named WBC Ambassador for the Year of Africa, tasked with taking the continent’s message and promise to the global boxing community.
In summary, the WBC’s Year of Africa 2025 is an ambitious investment and promotion program that seeks to place Africa in a position of greater relevance on the world boxing map, honoring its past while building a promising and self-sufficient future for the sport on the continent, all thanks to the fundamental cooperation with the African Boxing Union.
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