Zanzibar, Tanzania – Hassan Mwakinyo of Tanzania won the WBO Africa Middleweight title on Saturday night, stopping Elvish Ahorgah of Ghana in the seventh round of their scheduled 12-round bout.
The fight, which took place at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, was billed as “Mtata Mtatuzi” (The Problem Solver). Mwakinyo lived up to the billing, putting Ahorgah down twice in the seventh round before the referee stepped in to stop the contest.
Mwakinyo, who is now 20-0 with 14 KOs, improved to 2-0 in title fights. He won the WBF Intercontinental Middleweight title in his last fight, a 10-round unanimous decision over Sergio Daniel Rosales of Argentina in December 2022.
Ahorgah, who is now 31-6-1 with 23 KOs, had won his previous two fights.
The victory was a major statement for Mwakinyojr, who is now one of the top middleweights in Africa. He is hoping to challenge for a world title in the near future.
In a post-fight interview, Mwakinyojr said:
“I am very happy to win this title. I have been working hard for this moment, and I am grateful to my team and my fans for their support. I am ready for the next challenge.”
Ahorgah was gracious in defeat:
“Mwakinyojr is a great fighter. He was the better man tonight. I wish him all the best in the future.”
The victory was a big night for Tanzanian boxing. Mwakinyojr is the first Tanzanian boxer to win a WBO title. His victory is sure to inspire a new generation of boxers in Tanzania.
