He said he started cultivating an interest in boxing when he saw his father coming back from training drenched in sweat. "The way my father appeared after he had come back from training inspired me and I made a decision that this is the way to go," Mahadi told Xinhua.

Mndenge, a Standard Six pupil at Muhimbili Primary School, echoed Mahadi's ambition, saying he also wanted to become a world champion in boxing.

Both boys, weighing 31 kg each, said they train Saturdays and Sundays for a total of five hours, three hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.

Magona, the coach-cum-boxer, said his son Mahadi and his sister's sibling Mndenge started cultivating an interest in boxing when they were very young.

"When I returned from boxing training, my son will pick up my boxing regalia like gloves and start putting them in his hands," said Magona, noting that it was at that time when he realized that his son has talent in boxing.

"I started training him when he was three years old until now when he is 13 years old," he said, adding that his son is looking forward to attaining great success in the boxing ring.

Boxing is one of the favorite sports in Tanzania.

The boxing coach, however, said there were many boys with boxing talent in Tanzania but they lacked support from their poor parents in providing them with boxing regalia, including boxing gloves, boxing shorts, and boxing gum shields. He added that Tanzania lacked a boxing academy for training talented young boxers.

Mwanahamisi Mohamed, Mndenge's mother, was among the people who watched the two boys in training that Sunday evening, and she did not mince her words when she said that "I gave my son permission to train in boxing when he told me he wants to become a world champion in boxing."

"I believe that if he becomes a boxing champion in the future our life will definitely change for the better," said the mother of three children.