Nigeria’s Jane Osigwe has written her name into African Knockout history after defeating Morocco’s Sanaa Mandar to claim the women’s bantamweight interim championship in Abuja.
The packed arena erupted when Osigwe’s hand was raised after a gruelling three-round contest decided by unanimous decision. Speaking after the victory, she said, “This win is for every Nigerian girl who believes she can compete on the world stage. The journey was tough, but the support of the fans carried me through.”
The championship night, which attracted top officials and foreign dignitaries, was attended by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, AKO President Kamaru Usman, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, and ambassadors from Algeria, Cuba, Senegal, Cameroon, and Morocco.
The loudest roar of the night came when Jean “The Black Panther” Do Santos delivered a flying knee that knocked out Nigeria’s Jibrin Baba in just five seconds, setting a new AKO record for the fastest knockout. “I came prepared for history, and I’m glad I gave the fans a show,” he said after becoming the first-ever AKO lightweight champion.
Senegal’s Gasmire Diatta also claimed the interim featherweight title with a second-round TKO against Angola’s Andre Mukisi. Rising Nigerian star Yahaya Yahuza kept his undefeated streak intact with a dominant decision win over Cherif Drame, while Joy Obanla lit up the women’s bantamweight division with a powerful second-round stoppage of Ufot Nelson.
Other bouts ended in quick finishes. Algeria’s Farouk Boudissa forced Chukwuemerie Okoli into a rear-naked choke in the opening round, while Fouad Madani defeated Nigeria’s Sodiq Amao with the same move inside three minutes. Zimbabwe’s Lewis Mataya stopped Ivory Coast’s Prince Mensan with a second-round TKO, and Cameroon’s Cabrel Fongno secured victory by judge’s technical decision after an accidental foul left opponent Memon Kone unable to continue.
