Choc des Titans 2024: Côte d'Ivoire hosts boxing's best at the Palais des Sports in Treichville

2024 marks a new chapter for boxing in Côte d'Ivoire with the fifth edition of the Choc des Titans (CDT), which reaches its climax with the final on 14 December 2024 in Abidjan. Launched in 2020 by Orgaplan Events under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports and in partnership with Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), the event has become a must-see in the world of the Noble Art in West Africa.

This year, Jimmy Traoré, the event's promoter, is putting the emphasis on employability and the socio-professional integration of young people, in an approach that is both sporting and social.

A gala in the service of young people

The Choc des Titans is not just about competition. It was designed as a route into work and society for young people, especially those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Faced with the challenges of delinquency and unemployment, the event aims to carry a message of "zero banditry through sport". Through initiatives such as screening campaigns, donations of medical equipment and clean-up operations, CDT 2024 is part of a drive for community engagement.

This year's programme extends beyond the ring, with a series of activities in districts such as Koumassi, Abobo, Yopougon and Bouaké. In September and October, a talent-spotting tour identified promising young boxers. The final in Abidjan will be a chance for these young athletes to show what they can do and fight for the national championship title, while also receiving prize money and support from professionals in the sport.

Epic bouts featuring international talent

On 14 December, the Palais des Sports in Treichville will come alive with eleven top-level bouts. Spectators will be able to see:

• Six local elite amateur finals, in which Côte d'Ivoire's best young boxers will contest the national title.
• Four international professional bouts, featuring high-level boxers from countries such as Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cameroon. These international contests, staged under the banner of the "Africa Cup of Nations in Boxing 2024", reflect the growing scale of the event, with both sporting and diplomatic stakes.

The headline bout of the night will be an IBA (International Boxing Association) world championship fight featuring Ivorian Mickael Taha, a two-time French champion and intercontinental champion. The eagerly awaited contest gives Taha a unique opportunity to shine in front of his home crowd and write his name into Ivorian sporting history.

A major event with positive spin-offs

The Choc des Titans qualifying rounds have already drawn more than 1,500 spectators at each stage, with remarkable turnouts from local communities. In total, 72 boxers and referees were paid, and 7 million CFA francs were handed out in participation prize money. The event has more than 180 technical, institutional and media partners, creating more than 100 indirect jobs.

Beyond the sporting side, the Choc des Titans is establishing itself as an initiative to promote young people and fight social exclusion. By combining high-level boxing, health awareness and youth training, the event symbolises a Côte d'Ivoire on the move, ready to position itself as a major player in African sport.

*Practical information for attending the final: the Choc des Titans final will take place on Saturday 14 December 2024 at 20:00 GMT at the Palais des Sports in Treichville, Abidjan.