Olympic boxer Muxanga joins city trainer

A COMMONWEALTH Games silver medallist and Olympic boxer from Mozambique has been brought to Plymouth to launch his professional career after being scouted by city trainer Marlee Dann.

- By ANDY PHILLIPS

Tiago Muxanga reached the final of the 67-71kg category of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, only being denied a gold medal by Northern Ireland’s Aidan Walsh despite a storming final round.

The 25-year-old also reached the last 16 of the 71kg category in the Paris Olympics, narrowly losing to the eventual silver medallist.

He has been signed on a five-year deal by promoter Johnny Clark, but will be trained in Plymouth by Dann, who has been entrusted with the task after guiding Constantin Ursu to a Commonwealth title.

Muxanga still needs to go through the process of gaining a professional licence, but Dann believes that he is perfectly suited to the professional ranks after an impressive amateur career.

Dann said: “He's signed a contract to train with me for five years and be managed by Johnny Clark.