By ELIAS MAKORI in Dubai
American superstar rapper Rick “The Boss” Ross provided the night’s headline act after moving tributes by global heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s daughter Rasheda Ali and her son Nico Ali Walsh officially launched the 2025 IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on Tuesday night.
About 500 boxers from 118 nations, including a full, 13-man “Hit Squad” from Kenya, will compete in the 10-day global contest that starts on Thursday (November 4) evening with a record-setting prize purse of $8.32 million (Sh1.076 billion) making it the richest in the championships’ 51-year history.
Umar Kremlev, the maverick Russian President of the International Boxing Association (IBA) who has led a spirited fight for recognition of his global body, unleashed a star-studded opening ceremony after having earlier in the day announced the introduction of a team championship next year with a staggering $10 million (Sh1.3 billion) total prize purse.
With the semblance of a heavyweight boxer, the 43-year-old Kremlev, an ally of Russian strongman Vladmir Putin, has survived several near knockout blows to stay in the ring, unleashing a sporting war chest that drew a standing ovation from delegates representing the 118 participating nations at the pre-tournament technical meeting at Dubai’s Ibis Airport Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
With the IBA stripped of Olympic Games organising rights following, inter alia, allegations of corruption, Kremlev has fought to keep global nations in his corner with the staggering $300,000 (Sh38.9 million) on offer for each of the 13 gold medallists here an incentive impossible to ignore.
“Mr President, you are not only promoting the sport, but helping the young men engaging in crime to get into boxing and get out of the streets of crime… you are not only making these young men good boxers, but also good citizens,” a US-based Sri Lankan delegate praised Kremlev, drawing applause from the floor.
Maybach Music Group record label founder, songwriter and entrepreneur Rick “The Boss” Rock, whose net worth is reportedly at $150 million (Sh20 billion), was mobbed by scores of admiring Genz fans outside the venue as he headed to the opulence of his Rolls-Royce after an electrifying 30-minute performance, with monstrous SUVs in tow after headlining Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony.
Besides “The Boss”, other performers on Tuesday night included Egor Kreed, one of CIS’ most streamed artists, Dubai radio icon Kris Fade, who embodied the spirit of the United Arab Emirates’ multicultural entertainment scene, and Italian vocal star, Benedetta Caretta – who belted out Celine Dion iconic power ballad “My heart will go on”, among other hits – threw the crowd into a frenzy.
And, for good measure, the IBA threw in multiple-weight legend Roy Jones Jr., a boxer-turned-rapper who performed his iconic rap tracks “Can’t Be Touched” and “Y’all Must’ve Forgot” with the organisers of the elaborate, themed Opening Ceremony certainly outdoing themselves as the IBA joined the United Arab Emirates in celebrating the UAE National Day, honouring the Emirates’ unity, progress and global vision.
The night’s entertainment also included a special tribute featuring Emirati cultural performances highlighting the UAE’s rich heritage and its commitment to becoming a powerhouse in world sport.
“This year, the celebration of boxing is taking place here, in a magnificent city of Dubai. I am happy to see everyone — the boxers, the coaches, and every National Federation present here starting together the great Boxing Festival. I congratulate everyone on this historical occasion,” Kremlev said as the IBA celebrated its “Golden Era.”
“I wish you all success in the ring — show the world the best of you! Remember: the IBA if your Home of Boxing, we exist because of our athletes and coaches. I am proud that today I stand beside athletes from more than 100 countries — we are all different, yet united by our love for the sport we value.”
In her tribute, Rasheda Ali, a motivational speaker, author and one of heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s seven daughters, paid tribute to the IBA for keeping her father’s legacy alive.
“Boxing transforms people. It reshapes lives, for the better. My father, Muhammad Ali, was a symbol far beyond the ring… I am proud that Mr Umar Kremlev and the IBA are carrying forward my father’s legacy. My father believed in courage, respect and giving athletes a fair chance – and tonight, I see that spirit alive in Dubai,” she said adding that her son was fortunate to have a living beacon on excellence in his grandfather, Muhammad Ali, from a young age.
And Nico Ali Walsh, who made his professional debut in August, 2021 wearing Muhammad Ali’s handed-down white Everlast boxing shorts, said he would like to walk in his famous grandfather’s footsteps while charting a course of his own.
“I’m proud to carry my grandfather’s blood. It’s an extraordinary honour and a huge responsibility. I work every day to develop the best qualities a boxer can have so that later generations can take pride in my name as well.”
Nico Ali Walsh has a pro record of 16 fights with 12 wins, two losses, one draw and one no-contest.
Kenya’s “Hit Squad” faces a tough draw at these championships with experienced middleweight Edwin Okongo, who is seeded fourth, avoiding the preliminary round of fights, waiting for the winner between Kapuler Ishchenko Miroslav (Israel) and Talaka Osward (Solomon Islands) in the second round.
Lightweight Washington Wandera is also in first round action against Uganda’s Fahad Mulindwa in a draw coach Musa describes as “tough.”
“The championship is finally here and the draw is very tricky. It will be baptism by fire for our rookie boxers who are fighting at this stage for the first time, but as I always say, to be the best, you must fight the best and beat the best,” Musa reacted.
“We shall go to the drawing board, study our opponents so that we see how to approach each fight.”
Kenya’s Draw at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai:
- Minimumweight, 46-48kgs: Sylus Onyango vs Danil Hasika Tissaaratchy (Sri Lanka);
- Flyweight, 48-51kgs: Kelvin Maina Michira vs Daniyal Sabit (Kazakhstan);
- Bantamweight, 51-54kgs: Shaffi Bakari vs Dawd Zekerya Kedir (Ethiopia);
- Featherweight, 54-57kgs: Paul Omondi Onguku vs Ahmed Alkoum (Libya);
- Lightweight, 57-60kgs: Washington Wandera Wabwire vs Fahad Mulindwa (Uganda);
- Light welter, 60-63.5kgs: Caleb Wandera vs Lucas Mariano Villalba (Argentina);
- Welterweight, 63.5-67kgs: Wiseman Kavondo vs Hovhannes Bachkov (Armenia);
- Light Middleweight, 67-71kgs: Boniface Mogunde vs Sarkan Aliyev (Azerbaijan);
- Middleweight, 71-75kgs: Edwin Okongo, seeded 4th (bye) to face preliminary round winner between Kapuler Ishchenko Miroslav (Israel) or Talaka Osward (Solomon Islands)
- Light heavyweight, 75-80kgs: Robert Okaka vs Vinogradov Anton (Estonia);
- Cruiserweight, 80-86kg: Chrispine Ochanda vs Andrei Chiriakov (Moldova);
- Heavyweight, 86-92kg: Peter Abuti vs Bakyt Ululu Toktosun (Kyrgyzstan);
- Super heavyweight, 92kgs plus: Clinton Macharia vs Smiahlikau Uladzislau (Belarus)
Event Gallery | Photos: Courtesy
Elias Makori, the founder and Managing Editor of Pura Vida Sports Africa, is a veteran sports journalist with over 30 years’ experience. Makori is a holder of a Masters in Sports Management degree from Barcelona’s Cruyff Institute and is also the 2012 World Athletics Journalist of the Year, three-time Kenya Sports Journalist of the Year and twice Africa Sports Media Personality of the Year.
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