JJ Karagiannidis reaches quarter-finals at the IMMAF Africa Championships

South Africa’s JJ Karagiannidis has advanced to the quarter-finals of this year’s Senior Men’s Featherweight category at the IMMAF Africa Championships, after his opponent was a no-show on Day 3 in Luanda, Angola.

On Wednesday at the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba, two fights were set to take place in Round 16 of the Juniors and Seniors categories.

However, the Republic of Congo’s Vang-Si Yvan Nzaou failed to show up for his contest with the 2024 IMMAF Africa Junior Featherweight champion, Karagiannidis.

The only successful match-up on Day 3 was in the same category between Cameroon’s Arafat Nouhou and Angola’s Rodrigo Cangoma.

After three hard-fought rounds, it was the 21-year-old Cangoma, who took home the spoils with a unanimous decision win over his older opponent.

Today, in the Juniors and Seniors Quarter-finals, Karagiannidis will face Zambia’s Nathan Mufwaya at 11.24am (CAT), while his fellow Men’s Featherweight opponents battle it out around the same time.

Two athletes have already made it to the next round after two more no-shows were registered this morning on the SmoothComp website. 

Zimbabwe’s Itai Chanyuka and Congo’s Jelais Kitoubou Foubu failed to show up for their bouts against Angola’s Clelio Diogo and Zambia’s Jarcel Chimbwe, respectively.

In Thursday’s other fixtures, the Flyweights, Super Lightweights, Lightweights, and Super Welterweights will battle in the quarters for a shot at the next round. 

Karagiannidis will aim to carry the South African flag high today and put another smile on his father, renowned EFC official Bobby Karagiannidis’ face.

On Day 2, JJ’s sister Caitey Karagiannidis claimed South Africa’s first gold of the tournament after beating Cameroon’s Adjanie Benjamin Zanga in their Youth Women’s Strawweight (52.2kg) category in Angola’s capital city of Luanda. 

“I feel amazing. It does not even feel real,” said Karagiannidis.

“This is an incredible feeling and moment for me. I am excited to see my brother win a gold medal, too. Let’s go,” referring to her brother JJ, who will compete today.

Caiden Bouwer was the next South African to win gold after beating his teammate Dante Damico in their Youth Men’s Lightweight (70.3kg) final.

Bouwer was followed up by Caleb Swart, who stood tallest on the podium in his Youth Men’s Welterweight division after beating Angola’s Obedy Sebastiao Antonio in their final.