The National Open Boxing Championship – Dar es Salaam 2025 officially gets underway today, Wednesday, June 4, with preliminary elimination bouts taking place at the iconic Manyara Park Arena in Tandale.
Organized by the Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT), the championship is a key event on the national boxing calendar and serves as a vital platform for identifying and nurturing the next generation of boxing talent.
According to BFT President Lukelo Willilo, this year's tournament has attracted a total of 144 boxers, including eight women, drawn from clubs across various regions including Dar es Salaam, Coast Region, Mwanza, Dodoma, Morogoro, Kagera, Iringa, and Njombe, along with teams representing security and defense institutions.
All participants successfully passed the sport entry check and were included in the official match draw, setting the stage for a competitive and talent-filled tournament.
“This marks the beginning of a new season for Chimbuko la Vipaji 2025 (The Cradle of Talent),” said Willilo.
“This year, we’ve brought the competition closer to the grassroots, focusing on areas with vibrant local clubs to give young boxers a chance to shine on a national platform.” He added that the championship will also serve as a scouting ground to identify standout athletes who may be selected for the 2024 national team, aligned with the Government’s National Sports Council Awards (BMT).
The National Open Championship is the second major national boxing event of the year, following the successful Samia Women’s Championship held in February.
Among today’s anticipated matchups are Saimon Christopher (Ngome) taking on Shadrack Japheth (JKT) in the 48 kg category, Japhety Alyoce (Ngome) versus All Juma (MB Boxing) at 54 kg, and Ngata Juma (Matumla) facing Yussufu Iddi (Fire Stone).
Other notable bouts include Kassim Saidi (JKT) against John Donart (Ngome) in the 57 kg division, Shaban Rajab (JKT) versus Imani Hamis (K. Mwanga) at 60 kg, and Hassan Abdalla (Ngome) going up against Shamte Ramadhan (JKT) in the 63 kg category.
With a strong lineup of fighters and the energy of a passionate local crowd, the championship promises to deliver thrilling action while continuing to build the future of Tanzanian boxing.
