Kenya’s national boxing team, the Hit Squad, jetted out to Dubai on Tuesday night ahead of the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships an event set to become the most lucrative boxing tournament ever staged.
The global competition, which begins Wednesday, carries a record-breaking prize purse of $8.32 million, with the top 104 fighters guaranteed a share.
The championships will feature 13 weight divisions, from minimum weight (48kg) to super heavyweight (+92kg), attracting elite boxers from around the world.
Kenya heads into the competition with renewed ambition, naming a balanced squad that blends experienced campaigners with promising newcomers. The contingent is accompanied by six technical officials.
Team captain Boniface Mogunde will spearhead the Kenyan charge in the light-middleweight category. He will be joined by minimum-weight fighter Silas Onyango, flyweight Kelvin Maina, bantamweight Shaffi Bakari, featherweight Paul Omondi and other seasoned members of the Hit Squad.
This year’s championship has introduced unprecedented financial rewards: gold medallists will pocket KSh38.7 million ($300,000), silver medallists KSh19.3 million ($150,000), and bronze medallists KSh9.7 million ($75,000).
The prize money is expected to be shared among the medal-winning boxers, their coaches, and national federations as per IBA rules.
Kenya’s 19-Man Delegation to the World Championships
Minimum weight (48kg): Silas Onyango
Flyweight (51kg): Kelvin Maina
Bantamweight (54kg): Shaffi Bakari
Featherweight (57kg): Paul Omondi
Lightweight (60kg): Washington Wandera
Light-welterweight (63.5kg): Caleb Wandera
Welterweight (67kg): Wiseman Kavondo
Light-middleweight (71kg): Boniface Mogunde (Captain)
Middleweight (75kg): Edwin Okong’o
Light-heavyweight (80kg): Robert Okaka
Cruiserweight (86kg): Chrispin Ochanda
Heavyweight (92kg): Peter Abuti
Super-heavyweight (+92kg): Clinton Macharia
Head coach: Musa Benjamin
Deputy head coach: David Munuhe
Trainer: John Waweru
Head of delegation: Anthony Otieno Ombok
Communications director: Duncan Kuria
Physiotherapist: Sospeter Kinuthia
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