Alvin Camique scores an upset TKO win over higher-ranked Tanzanian

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Without a doubt, that was Filipino journeyman Alvin Camique’s biggest win of his career.

Entering the bout with a two-fight losing streak abroad, Camique silenced the doubters after nabbing an upset technical knockout (TKO) victory over the previously unbeaten Ibrahim Mafia of Tanzania during their bantamweight showdown on Oct. 11, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

Camique pulled off the TKO win in the fourth round of the fight after the referee stopped the bout at the 1:53 mark.

Before the match-sealing sequence, Camique already tagged Mafia with a counter overhand right midway through the round, which resulted in a knockdown.

However, there was some confusion in Camique’s corner when the referee gave a very slow 10-second count, rewarding Mafia with extra seconds to recover and return to the middle of the boxing ring.

Despite the almost 12-second knockdown count, Camique seized the victory in the next three seconds, catching Mafia once again with a devastating right hand that ended the home bet’s attempt for a comeback strike.

It was already a high-motor action slugfest from the get-go as Mafia scored early points in the first round with a series of jabs and left uppercuts.

Fortunately, Camique was able to tighten his defensive guard when the first round was about to conclude, avoiding a huge hole that would’ve given Mafia consistent tempo.

Aside from his defensive timing, Camique gave the judges a hard time scoring the first frame when the Filipino pug exploded with several left flushes, capped off by a right hook in the final four seconds.

Rounds 2 and 3 became more intense, as the aggressive Mafia banked on his relentless pressure to push forward, but Camique always got it back in the second half of the rounds with late flurries.

Just when Mafia thought he could surge ahead in the fourth, Camique stunned the spectators at the Viwanja vya Posta Kijitonyama, knocking out the ranked Tanzanian with two thudding powerful strikes.

With the momentum-boosting win, Camique improved his pro boxing record to 11 wins, five knockouts, and four losses, while Mafia fell to 13 wins, nine knockouts, and suffered his first-ever defeat.