Kenya’s woes continue as Chege, Akinyi exit 2025 IBA Women’s World Championships
Kenya’s struggles at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships deepened as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi suffered Round of 16 eliminations in Serbia. With only team captain Liz Andiego remaining in the competition, Kenya’s hopes now rest on her upcoming quarterfinal bout.
Kenya’s struggles at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships continued on day four, with Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi suffering Round of 16 eliminations in Nis, Serbia.
Both fighters lost via referee stoppage, unable to beat the count in their featherweight and flyweight bouts, respectively.
Chege faced 26-year-old Mijgona Samadova, a 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist. The Cuban referee, Wilfredo Vazquez Calro, stopped the contest 66 seconds into the second round after Samadova had already dominated the first. The judges—representing Belgium, Iran, Ireland, Morocco, and Sri Lanka—had scored it decisively in Samadova’s favour (10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-8, 10-9).
Akinyi, making her World Championships debut, endured an even shorter bout. Serbian teenager Dragana Jovanovic overwhelmed her with a relentless flurry of punches, forcing Kyrgyzstani referee Zhamila Borkoeva to stop the contest after just 102 seconds in the first round.
Both Chege and Akinyi had progressed to the Round of 16 via walkovers, with Chege advancing past Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic and Akinyi benefiting from South Africa’s Thandolwethu Mathiba’s absence.
Their exits add to Kenya’s growing list of eliminations, following the departures of Amina Martha Faki (bantamweight), Cynthia Mwai (light-welterweight), Emily Juma (lightweight), Friza Anyango (welterweight), and Veronica Mbithe (light flyweight).
With seven of Kenya’s eight fighters out, team captain Liz Andiego remains the nation’s sole competitor. The 38-year-old, competing in her fifth World Championships, received a bye to the light-heavyweight quarterfinals and will face China’s Wang Xiaomeng on Thursday. Xiaomeng booked her spot by defeating Kazakhstan’s Gulsaya Yerzhan in the Round of 16.
Victory for Andiego would guarantee her at least $25,000 (Sh3.25 million) in prize money. The overall competition prize pool stands at $2.88 million (Sh360 million), with gold medalists earning $100,000 (Sh13 million), silver medalists $50,000 (Sh6.5 million), and semi-finalists $25,000 (Sh3.25 million). Quarterfinalists who fall short will take home $10,000 (Sh1.3 million).
Kenya is making its fifth appearance at the championships, having previously competed in 2010, 2012, 2022, and 2023. To date, Christine Ongare remains the only Kenyan boxer to secure a non-walkover victory at the global event, achieving the feat in 2023.
According to tournament regulations, only boxers who win at least one bout - whether in the ring or via walkover—are eligible for prize money. Competitors must also be under 41 years old.
Kenya’s delegation in Serbia includes leader of delegation David Muhuhe, coach Musa Benjamin, and team manager Gathoni Kinyua. The competition concludes on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
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