“Boxing is sweet… don’t worry, you can’t die in the ring,” featherweight Paul Omondi told admiring students of Nairobi’s Light International School after falling in his Round of 16 bout against a more experienced Mozambican Armando Rugoberto Sigauque at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships here on Tuesday night.
The excited students from Light International School’s Lavington primary section are on a holiday study tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and lucky to have been invited to watch fights of these championships and to cheer Kenya’s “Hit Squad” fighters at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium venue.
And light heavyweight Robert Okaka falling in the final “Hit Squad” ring appearance in the quarter-finals to Russia’s Bizhamov Dzhambulat on Wednesday night means that the Kenyan squad now returns home at the weekend medal-less but having gathered rich ring experience in the process.
Omondi had last Sunday eliminated Libya’s Ahmed Alkoum 4-3 to reach the Round of 16 but his dreams of making the quarter-finals were shattered by a dominant Sigauque who had eliminated Ahmed Serat Jamal of Australia to reach the last 16.
Kenya’s Paul Omondi right trades blows with Mozambican Armando Rugoberto Sigauque in their Round of 16 bout at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
School’s global study tours
Light International School traditionally organizes global study tours for their students during holidays to help them gain a wider appreciation of the different cultures, lifestyles and history of different nations, with the United Arab Emirates being the December 2025 holidays study tour destination for Year Six and Year Nine students.
The tour has been organized by Nairobi-based tour company Spoton Vacations and also included desert safaris.
Led by their teacher Zaynab Ali Hussein, the excited students, fresh from visiting, among other attractions, the Al Watan (Presidential Palace) in Abu Dhabi, the Green Planet and Dubai Mall, made their way into the boxing venue at 9pm.
And they truly made their voices heard, screaming “Kenya!, Kenya!, Kenya!” from the terraces as Omondi made his way to the ring, urging him on as he battled the 25-year-old multiple African champion from Maputo.
“Why did you get into boxing,” the inquisitive students asked the “Hit Squad” man after the three-round clash.
“I was being bullied a lot on the streets so I decided to start boxing so that I can defend myself and in the process it because a passion and I decided to box (competitively),” Omondi responded.
“What about the repercussions? Because those punches are really serious and they are on the head. Are you not worried about the aftermath,” Teacher Zaynab inquired.
Omondi’s response? “I’m a little bit worried, but I’ll go and rest because rest is very important. We usually rest for two to three weeks (after competition) and then we’re OK. It’s about resting then going back to boxing, then there wouldn’t be any effects.”
“Who is the hardest opponent you have fought?” Year Six student Christian Heri Makori sought to know.
“The last one I fought (Mozambican Armando Rugoberto Sigauque). He was more powerful than me but we’ll go back and work on our power,” Omondi responded.
Biggest challenge as a boxer
“What is your biggest challenge as a boxer,” Teacher Zaynab queried.
“Not being employed is the biggest challenge. You have to look for work and at the same time train for boxing… that’s the only challenge I’ve had, but recently I was employed by the Kenya National Police Service and soon I’ll go for (police) training.”
Teacher Zaynab offered words of encouragement: “May God make it easy for you. We have seen you fight against elite opponents and you seemed to be struggling a little bit but may God make it easy for you… we wish you all the best.”
Year Six students Fardowsa Mohamed and Gracia Majok were excited at the unexpected thrill of witnessing their first international boxing competition.
“I just watched boxing live for the first time, and the energy was absolutely electric! I went in expecting just two people punching each other, but the level of skill, strategy, and sheer intensity was captivating,” Fardowsa reacted.
“The atmosphere was incredible—you could feel the tension and excitement from the crowd with every jab and hook. It’s truly a sport of power and precision. I’m already looking forward to watching another match!”
Gracia was equally elated: “Wow, I just watched my first boxing match, and it was crazy! It’s way cooler than watching people just swing at each other, like I thought. The fighters are actually super good and have to know a million tricks so they don’t get hit. It’s like a really fast, angry chess game!
Omondi graceful in defeat
“If I were a boxer, I’d want a coach who could teach me all the secret moves! Oh, and maybe next time they should get some judges from Kenya, because that would be totally awesome and make the whole thing even fairer. Go Kenya!,” Gracia added.
Omondi was graceful in defeat and drew several positives from these championships in Dubai, his first global competition.
“That’s the nature of the game… you win some and you lose some. I’m a newcomer in this game and hopefully, next time I’ll take it.
“I’ve learnt a few things I need to work on. I need to work on my power. My opponent was more powerful than me, so I will work on my power.”
Against the Mozambican, Omondi struggled in the third round after the five judges from Italy (Luca Vadilonga), United Arab Emirates (Sultan Alwali), Azerbaijan (Fuad Aslanov) Krygystan (Bekzad Abdurashidov) and Sri Lanka (Mohamed Safrask) had unanimously awarded the Mozambican the first two rounds 5-0.
“Halfway the last round I felt I was running out of power. But overall, the championship has been good. Winning my first international match (against Libya’s Ahmed Alkoum) was not easy. I appreciate that. I will work on my weak points and I promise you soon I will be different,” Omondi mitigated as the Light International School students applauded before making their way to their bus back to their hotel, truly excited at witnessing the world’s best amateur boxers trade blows with their fellow Kenyans also in the mix.
‘Hit Squad’ full results at the IBA Men’s Word Boxing Championships:
- Minimumweight, 46-48kgs: Sylus Onyango lost to Danil Hasika Tissaaratchy (Sri Lanka);
- Flyweight, 48-51kgs: Kelvin Maina Michira lost to Daniyal Sabit (Kazakhstan);
- Bantamweight, 51-54kgs: Shaffi Bakari lost to Rafael Lozano Serrano (Spain);
- Welterweight, 63.5-67kgs: Wiseman Kavondo lost to Hovhannes Bachkov (Armenia);
- Middleweight, 71-75kgs: Edwin Okongo lost to Kapuler Ishchenko Miroslav (Israel);
- Cruiserweight, 80-86kg: Chrispine Ochanda lost to Andrei Chiriakov (Moldova);
- Heavyweight, 86-92kg: Peter Abuti lost to Bakyt Ululu Toktosun (Kyrgyzstan);
- Super heavyweight, 92kgs plus: Clinton Macharia lost to Smiahlikau Uladzislau (Belarus)
- Light welter, 60-63.5kgs: Caleb Wandera lost to Lucas Mariano Villalba (Argentina);
- Light Middleweight, 67-71kgs: Boniface Mogunde lost to Sarkan Aliyev (Azerbaijan);
- Lightweight, 57-60kgs: Washington Wandera lost to Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia);
- Featherweight, 54-57kgs: Paul Omondi lost to Armando R. Sigauque; (Mozambique);
- Light heavyweight, 75-80kgs: Robert Okaka lost to Bizhamov Dzhambulat (Russia).
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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