Seychellois boxers aim for gold in today’s finals |29 August 2023

Keddy Agnes (in red) won his +92kg fight by RSC (Photo: Patrick Joubert)

Five Seychellois boxers will battle out for gold medals in their respective categories in today’s Indian Ocean Islands Games boxing finals to be held this afternoon at the CCI Ivato Amphitheatre, Madagascar.

They are Edrian Volcère, Shane Boniface (, Archild David, Dashil Fanchette and Keddy Agnes.

Volcère and Boniface booked their tickets to the final on Sunday August 27, while Archild David, Dashil Fanchette and Keddy Agnes punched theirs yesterday.

To reach the final yesterday, Archild, competing in the 51kg category, beat Said Soufiane from the Comoros on a 5-0 score after three rounds of three minutes each.

In the 80kg category, the referee had to stop the fight in the third round in favour of Dashil as his opponent, Seraphin Maisa from Madagascar could not hold on to the heavy punches he was receiving.

The same decision was taken by the referee in the first round of the +92kg fight between Keddy Agnes and Herizo Randriatsimarofy of Madagascar. The latter was taking too much of a beating from local hard hitter Keddy Agnes.

There were eight Seychellois pugilists in the semifinals. In the 48kg category, Tino Gabriel lost 0-5 to Padiathy Souprayen of Mauritius, while Jouanie Bouzin (63.5kg), Joshua Cousin (75kg) and Dian Vidot (92kg), lost their fights on 0-5 scoreline respectively to Reunionnais Kamel Bieou, Anthony Hoarau and Mederic Souton.

As for Adrian Laporte-Durup, he was knocked out in the first round of the 86kg category by Ali Nassur of the Comoros.

“On the whole, we are satisfied with the number of boxers who have reached the final. There could have been more, especially Joshua and frankly I do not think he lost his fight. Everybody saw that he won the fight. Anyway it’s sport, that’s how it is and we cannot do anything about it,” said coach Rival Payet.

Speaking to Sports NATION, coach Payet said the team of finalists is looking to put on a good show today.

“I will not talk about medals, I will leave it for tomorrow (today). In 2019 we did not win any gold medal. We will see about this tomorrow (today),” added coach Payet.

Patrick Joubert reporting from Madagascar