ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM — Joshua Ofori of Edmonton struck gold over the weekend at the 2025 World Boxing Challenge Cup, with a 5-0 decision over Italy's Rotani Guidi in the men's 75-kilogram decision.
Ofori, a member of the Marshall Boxing Club, helped Canada capture five medals at the new level of competition created by World Boxing.
In the women's 60 kg division, Marie Al-Ahmedieh of Montreal claimed silver, advancing to the final with strong performances before falling to Brazil’s Rebeca Santos in a 5-0 decision.
Victoria Penney of Toronto's Sully's Boxing Gym, also collected silver in the women's 80 kg division, losing by a narrow 3-2 decision to Mexico’s Citlalli Vanessa Ortiz.
Quebec's Nickenson Denis of The Corner Boxing Club, reached the final bout in the men’s 80kg category but came up just short in a 3-2 decision against Hungary’s Pylyp Akhilov, earning the silver medal.
Canada also secured a bronze medal during Friday's semifinals with Ontario's McKenzie Wright of Fight Night Boxing Club losing a 3-2 decision to eventual gold medallist Phil Kaivo-Oja of Finland in the women's 50 kg division.
“The performances of the entire team were solid. There are always things to work on and we go into a training phase before the World Cup in KAZ where we can make some tactical and technical changes,” said Vincent Auclair, the head coach of Team Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
The Canadian Press
