Tanzanian professional boxer Abdallah Twaha returned home from Russia on a sour note after suffering a second-round knockout (KO) against Maxim Chernichuk, amid claims that his drinking water had been tampered with.
The Tanga-born fighter alleged that the bottle he drank from during the fight was not the one he had brought from his hotel, leaving him dizzy and unable to defend himself properly.
“When I returned to my corner, the water was not the one I had from the hotel. As the second round began, I started feeling dizzy. I was hit by punches and completely lost control,” Twaha said.
He added that he had to face the match largely alone at the start, as his team had not yet arrived. “It was a professional match, but I was alone in the ring at the start. I am grateful for whatever happened; may God grant better outcomes in the future, In Sha Allah,” he said.
The incident raises concerns about the challenges Tanzanian athletes face when competing abroad, from unfamiliar conditions to potential irregularities, underscoring the need for stronger support systems for national sports talent.
Twaha had traveled to Russia for an eight-round bout, which ended prematurely, and is expected to return to Tanzania on October 7, 2025.