Reviewed by Aaron Mubanga JnrZambia sports betting writer
Published 4 September 2026
Zambia has won one Olympic boxing medal. Keith Mwila took bronze in the light flyweight division at Los Angeles in 1984, and it was the first Olympic medal of any kind won by a Zambian.
Mwila stopped Chung Pao Ming of Chinese Taipei in the second round and then beat Mamoru Kuroiwa of Japan to reach the semi finals. He lost there to Salvatore Todisco of Italy, who went on to take silver. Under the rules of the time both beaten semi finalists received bronze.
The only Zambian medals
Zambia has three Olympic medals in total. Mwila’s bronze in 1984 was followed by Samuel Matete’s silver in the 400 metres hurdles at Atlanta in 1996, and then by Muzala Samukonga’s bronze in the 400 metres at Paris in 2024. Boxing accounts for one of the three, and it came first.
How close Zambia came in 2024
Patrick Chinyemba boxed at 51 kilograms in Paris. He beat Amit Panghal of India on a split decision in the round of sixteen, a result that gave Zambia its first win of those Games, and then lost the quarter final to David de Pina of Cape Verde on a unanimous decision.
That defeat is the whole story of Olympic boxing for a small federation. A quarter final win in this sport puts a boxer into the semi finals and guarantees a medal, so Chinyemba was one bout short. De Pina took the place and Cape Verde its first Olympic medal.
What the record shows
Forty years separate Mwila’s bronze from Chinyemba’s quarter final, and in between Zambia has kept sending boxers without adding to the tally. The route has not changed much: a continental qualifier, a draw that decides everything, and three or four bouts between arriving and standing on the podium.
Where to bet: Zambian boxing fans find bout markets on Betway and Premierbet, with odds in kwacha on fight winner, method of victory and round betting when a major card is on. Amateur tournaments such as the Olympic and continental qualifiers are priced thinly and late, because the books wait for the draw. Compare the two books before a big night. Our guide to the best betting sites in Zambia covers licensing and withdrawal times, and there is more in Zambia boxing news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
