Africa Zone Three bantamweight champion Amina Martha/HANDOUTAmina Martha’s eyes are fixed firmly on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—a dream that now feels closer than ever.
For the 25-year-old Kenyan bantamweight, every punch, bruise, and drop of sweat has been part of a long, determined journey towards one ultimate goal: stepping into the Olympic ring draped in the Kenyan flag.
That dream burned brighter last month at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, where Amina clinched the Africa Zone III women’s bantamweight gold in ruthless fashion.
In the opening round, she unleashed her trademark aggression to floor Tanzania’s Zulfa, forcing the referee to halt the contest. It was a victory by referee stoppage—emphatic and commanding.
“I didn’t expect the fight to end in the first round,” she said after the win. “But I knew I was going to win. I had trained for this, sacrificed for this, and I wasn’t leaving Kasarani without gold.”
Her triumph was more than a win — it was a statement of intent. After settling for bronze at the 2024 Africa Boxing Championship, she returned hungrier and sharper. The sting of that disappointment became the fuel behind her fire.
“I walked out of the ring last year feeling like something was unfinished,” she recalled. “That feeling pushed me harder. When I woke up sore or tired, I reminded myself that redemption was waiting—and I was going to take it.”
Her style in Kasarani was vintage Amina—rhythm and rage in motion. She combined balance and brutality with instinctive timing. When Zulfa stumbled, the arena roared, crowning her Kenya’s new queen of the ring.
Training from a modest gym in Nairobi’s Eastlands, Amina has faced limited resources and societal doubt. “Some people used to say boxing isn’t for women,” she said. “But every time I walk into the gym, I prove that strength isn’t defined by gender—it’s defined by heart.”
National team coach Benjamin Musa calls her “a fighter who breathes discipline and bleeds ambition.”
With Los Angeles 2028 in her sights, Amina is already back in training. “This gold medal is just the beginning,” she said. “The road to the Olympics is long, but I’m ready to walk it—one round at a time.”
