The WBA African middleweight champion, Hamed Abel Nikièma, known as "The Puncher," was received in an audience on Monday, October 5, 2026, by the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The Burkinabé boxer took this opportunity to show the Head of State the continental belt he won on July 3 in Ouagadougou.
Introduced by the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment, Annick Pikbougoum/Zingué Ouattara, the champion displayed the result of his continental triumph. At the end of the audience, the minister stated that the President of Burkina Faso welcomed this victory with joy and congratulated the boxer on his title.
For his part, Hamed Abel Nikièma expressed his "pride" at being received by the Head of State. He referred to this belt as the "People's Belt." The audience also allowed the Ministry of Sports to show its gratitude to the President of Burkina Faso for his support in the boxer's preparation and the organization of the competition that led to this success.
For the record, "The Puncher" won the WBA Africa belt on July 3 in Ouagadougou by defeating Benin's Faustin Dossou after twelve rounds and a unanimous points victory from the judges.
