Top 10 African Boxers Of 2021

Anthony Joshua one of the best African boxers of all time

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Back in 1974, the iconic Muhammed Ali vs George Foreman ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ took place on the African stage. Unlike soccer which is more tactical, physical combat sports give Africans a level playing ground with their Western counterparts. Boxing has always offered African boxers the platform to beat the odds in the boxing ring. Today, the African continent lives up to the hype of producing phenomenally.

The popularity of boxing is growing on the African continent—and the reward too. Therefore, Africans are increasingly pushing their boxing career beyond the shores of the continent. This is due to lucrative monetary opportunities to enhance their boxing careers abroad. Today, some of the top boxers in the world are of African descent. Sadly, many of them represent Western countries. Here are the top 10 African boxers you should know.

Top 10 African Boxers of 2021

#10. Isaac Dogboe (21 Wins, 15 Knockouts, Two Losses) – Ghana

Isaac Dogboe African Boxer From Ghana
Photo credit: Bad Left Hook

Isaac Dogboe was born in Ghana’s capital city of Accra. As a young boy, his family relocated to London, however, Dogboe still represented Ghana at the 2012 London Olympic Games. With an unsuccessful Olympic campaign, Isaac Dogboe would become a feared, featherweight African boxer. With a flawless boxing record, Dogboe became a world champion at age twenty-three. He would then lose his title to Mexican Emanuel Navarette—and his rematch! Those are his only two defeats on his professional resume. To date, Isaac Dogboe stands at 21-2 and looks eager to regain his world champion status in boxing. There are guaranteed to be more exciting bouts featuring this legendary African boxer!

Next Opponent: TBC

#9. Andrew Tabiti (17 Wins, 13 Knockouts, One Loss) – Nigeria

Andrew Tabiti Training At The Mayweather Gym
Photo credit: Pro Boxing Fans

Andrew Tabiti is rated to be one of the next great cruiserweight boxers in the division. Tabiti has been trained by Floyd Mayweather Snr at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas—and is yet to disappoint boxing influencers. Andrew Tabiti represents the USA in boxing. Nevertheless, since his parents were both born in Nigeria, he qualifies as an African boxer. His current boxing record stands at 17-1, with his sole defeat coming from his last bout in 2019. With his stable boxing trainers, we will definitely see more action from this future African boxer star.

Next Opponent: TBC

#8. Ryad Merhy (29 Wins, 24 Knockouts, One Loss) – Ivory Coast 

Ryad Merhy A Top African Boxer
Photo credit: LeSoir.be

Born in Ouragahio, Ivory Coast, Ryad Merhy represents Belgium as a professional boxer. Merhy is rated as one of the top Cruiserweight African boxers and will soon see him challenge one of the main division titles in the next coming year. Known for his potent punches, Ryad Merhy has a professional boxing record of 29-1, with twenty-five knockouts. Merhy won his last five bouts and is fastly joining elite African boxers.

Next Opponent: TBC

#7. Nordine Oubaali (17 Wins, 12 Knockouts, Unbeaten) – Morocco

Nordine Oubaali Top African Boxer
Photo credit: Boxing Ace

Nordine Oubaali is the current undefeated WBC Bantamweight Champion in France. He has Moroccan parents and embraces his African heritage as a professional. Oubaali had a successful amateur career and competed in back-to-back Olympics, between 2008 and 2012. After no medal, he went professional and has an impressive record standing at 17-0. With great rivalry from his amateur days, we’re definitely set to see more epic bouts from this exciting African boxer.

Next Opponent: TBC

#6. Lawrence Okolie (16 Wins,13 Knockouts, Unbeaten) – Nigeria

Lawrence Okolie Cruiserweight Champion
Photo credit: DAZN.com

Although born in the UK, Lawrence Okolie has Nigerian parents, qualifying him as one of the top African boxers. Currently undefeated, Okolie has been compared to former UK boxing legend, David Haye, who also went on to win belts in the heavyweight division. The 28-year-old is still undefeated and has a professional record of 16-0. Thirteen of his wins are by knockout. Lawrence Okolie recently won the WBO belt after upsetting Polish boxer, Krzysztof Głowacki. Okolie has a long career ahead of him, and he’s an amazing African boxer to follow.

Next Opponent: TBC

#5. Ilunga Makabu (28 Wins, 25 Knockouts, Two Losses) – Democratic Republic Of Congo

Top African Boxers Ilunga Makabu
Photo credit: TimesLIVE

The Congolese knockout specialist Ilunga Makabu is currently rated as one of the best African boxers. Based in South Africa, Makabu holds the prestigious WBC Cruiserweight title and seeks to add more titles in the cruiserweight division to unify it. With an impressive record of 28-2, twenty-five of Makabu’s wins were by knockouts. This is why this African boxer is feared by the majority of his opponents.

Next Opponent: TBC

#4. Demetrius Andrade (29 Wins, 18 Knockouts, Unbeaten) – Cape Verde

WBO Champion Demetrius Andrade
Photo credit: DAZN.com

After an unimpressive 2008 Beijing Olympic Games display, Cape Verdian Andrade was eliminated in the quarter-finals, due to a controversial scorecard. Nevertheless, the African boxer would go on to become a World Champion at the young age of 25. To date, Demetrius Andrade has successfully defended his WBO title three times and has a professional boxing record of 29-0. With firm opposition in the middleweight division such as Gennady Golovkin, exciting times lay ahead for this African boxer.

Next Opponent: Liam Williams

Date: 17 April 2021

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,  Florida, USA

#3. Moruti Mthalane (39 Wins, 26 Knockouts, Two Losses) – South Africa

Moruthi Mthalane One Of The Top African Boxers
Photo credit: New Frame

The decorated flyweight champion from South Africa is one of the most elite African boxers on this list. With a professional record of 39-2, Mthalane last tasted a defeat thirteen years ago! The South African will defend his IBF belt later this month against up-and-coming British boxer, Sunny Edwards. The flyweight division currently has three decorated champions in the division, and this African boxer will undoubtedly want to be the next unified flyweight champion!

Next Opponent: Sunny Edwards

Date: 30 April 2021,

Venue: Copper Box Arena, London, England

#2. Badou Jack (23 Wins, 13 Knockouts, Three Losses & Three Draws) – Gambia

Bado Jack A Legendary African Boxer
Photo credit: World Boxing Association

Born to a Swedish mother and Gambian father, Badou Jack embraces his African heritage and flies the Gambian flag high. The former two-weight division champion has been ranked as one of the best African boxers over the last decade. Jack had an amazing amateur record and one of his highlights dates back to the Beijing 2008 Olympic games where he was the Gambian flag bearer. Nine years on, Badou Jack became a two-weight division champion, after knocking out Nathan Cleverly for the WBA light-heavyweight title in 2017. His fierce rivalries with legends, Adonis Stevenson and James De Geale, label Badou Jack as one of the elite African boxers.

Next Opponent: TBC

#1. Anthony Joshua (24 Wins, 22 Knockouts, One Loss) – Nigeria

Anthony Joshua One Of The Best African Boxers Of All Time
Photo credit: CBS Sports

UK-born Anthony Joshua is the top African boxer at the moment. His parents are from Nigeria. In his early schooling years, he attended boarding school in Ikenne, Nigeria. He later returned to the UK and achieved amazing milestones as an athlete. Antony Joshua won a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 2012. Four years later, Joshua became the Boxing World Champion, after beating Charles Martin in 2016. With an iconic boxing record of 24-1, Anthony Joshua has his sights set on becoming the undisputed Heavyweight Champion. His next fight with WBC Champion, Tyson Fury, is set to be one of the biggest boxing bouts of the century. With his impressive record, Anthony Joshua is undisputedly one of the best African boxers of all time.

Next Opponent: Tyson Fury

Date: TBC

Conclusion

It is already an exciting year for African boxers. There are big fights in the pipeline that will test the speed and agility of these African boxers. However we are hopeful that they will conquer their opponents and make history in the boxing world. Will Anthony Joshua become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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