2023 AFBC Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships |07 August 2023

Keddy Agnes won US $10,000 for his silver medal in the super heavy weight category of the just-ended 2023 AFBC Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships (Photo: Contributed)

Keddy Agnes settles for silver in elite men 92+kg category

Seychellois hard hitter Keddy Agnes has finished as runner-up and silver medallist of the super heavy weight category of the just-ended 2023 AFBC Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships.

The highly anticipated US $1 million tournament was held from July 28 to August 5, 2023 in Cameroon.

In the elite men 92+kg final on Saturday night at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex, Agnes faced Zacharie Serge Mvogo Amougou of the host country and lost.

Agnes surrendered just after the first round of the last and final fight. He won a cash prize of US $10,000, while Zacharie Serge Mvogo Amougou went home with US $15,000.

Agnes collected two wins on his way to the final. His first fight was against S. Maroy of Ivory Coast in the quarterfinal and he won 4-3 on points and in the semifinal he met Algerian Mourad Kadi who had won by referee stopped contest (RSC) against F. Ramogi of Kenya.

According to reports, the Keddy Agnes v Algerian Mourad Kadi semifinal fight impressed the spectators with the high-speed exchanges. Agnes was the better fighter with the judges scoring the fight 5-0 in his favour and he celebrated qualifying for the final.

Ugandan Kozaala Solomon and Algerian Mourad Kadi settled for the bronze medals.

There were 24 other final bouts on Saturday night. In total there were 13 men’s and 12 women’s weight categories.

Seychelles was represented by four other boxers at the championship – Dashille Fanchette (light heavy weight 75-80kg), Jovani Bouzin (light middle weight 67-71kg), Shain Boniface (welter weight 63.5-67kg) and Fabio Roselie (light weight 57-60kg).

Drawn straight into the quarterfinals, Dashille Fanchette lost by RSC to M. NGamissengue of the Congo in the light heavy weight (75-80kg) class.

Jovani Bouzin lost on points – 0-5 – to Mauritian Mervin Clair who went on to win a bronze medal after losing to Kulenguluka Mbiya S. of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semifinal of the light middle weight (67-71kg) category.

Fighting in the welter weight (63.5-67kg) class, Shain Boniface lost on points – 3-4 – to Jean Junior M. of host country Cameroon in his first bout.

Fabio Roselie fought in the red corner in the light weight (57-60kg) class against Kitangila Mweba I. of the Democratic Republic of Congo and lost by RSC with 48 seconds left in the second round.

Morocco finished as the overall best boxing country in Africa. The North African state won the highest number of medals at the championships, with a total of 13 medals – eight gold, two silver and three bronze – to top the medals chart ahead of 25 other participating countries. Morocco was closely followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 15 medals – five gold, six silver and four bronze.

Hosts Cameroon finished fourth best with 12 medals – two gold, two silver and eight bronze.

The prize money for the medals at the just ended 2023 Africa Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships were US $15,000 for the first place (gold medallist), US $10,000 for the runner-up (silver medallist), and US $5,000 for each of the third places (the two bronze medallists). 

Gerard Govinden