▪️The pride of Dallas Muthurwa Caleb Kuya was the darling of Kenya boxing known for his artistic style in the ring. He was in sparkling form in the 1985 season remaining unbeaten until the Peter Morris lad from Nakuru boxing factory made a big statement with a second round KO victory infront of dignitaries that included the ABA of Kenya chairman Major Marsden Madoka
May 9, 2026
The first ever dinner boxing event in Kenya on the night of October 26, 1985, was a glitzy affair with the air inside the 680 ballroom thick with the scent of roast chicken, beef and all the preliminaries ahead of the main menu.
It was the dawn of dinner boxing with a sizeable number of guests and fans. The ABA of Kenya was using the contest to select Kenyan boxers to represent Africa in the fourth World Cup Championships in Seoul, South Korea.
Coming off a massive Kenya Open victory in Mombasa where he outpointed NCC’s Ben Ado in the final, Kuya was riding high as the overwhelming favourite to defeat DK Kamau forgetting that during that Golden Era in Kenya boxing, each weight was crowded with at least five strong opponents.
He had seen it for himself during the Kenya Open in Mombasa when Prisons’ Nassir Issa shocked Olympic bronze medallist Ibrahim “Surf” Bilali with a deserved points win at bantamweight in the final.
In other finals bouts at the Kenya Open, Breweries’ light-flyweight Dan “Dante” Mwangi beat KDF’s David Muriuki, flyweight Steve “Dempsey” Mwema outpointed Steve Muchoki’s younger brother, James Maina of Posta, Police featherweight David “Professor” Ouma defeated Breweries’ Morris Sakwa, Police lightweight Patrick “Mont” Waweru stopped Prisons’ Morris Mutsiami in the first round, Police welterweight Ali “Ojukwu” Athumani beat Nakuru’s Peter “Dynamite” Odhiambo, Police light-middleweight Steve “Vedo” Okumu stopped Sullu Okello’s elder brother
Okech Ahenda, Breweries’ middleweight Peter Juma outpointed KDF’s Alex “Osambla” Oduor, Breweries’ light-heavyweight Titus Osumba got a walkover, Breweries’ regional heavyweight champion Chadwick “Stingo” Agenga KO’d KCC’s Tom Okusi in the first round and at super-heavyweight Nakuru’s Chris “Marciano” Odera KO’d KDF’s George Okoth in the first round.
Back to 680 Hotel. The ballroom was packed with dignitaries and fans enjoying the new format of dinner boxing, creating an intimate atmosphere unlike the dimly lit community halls.
Caleb Kuya entered the ring holding an unblemished streak and was the favourite but I knew it was not going to be easy for the Dallas Mercenary Kuya.
I had been monitoring the progress of DK Kamau since 1983 when he displayed an outstanding show to clinch the national intermediate featherweight title at the Desai Memorial Hall by outpointing KDF’s Joram Apudo formerly with Undugu.
Even Eddie “Papa” Musi, the late popular South African coach associated with the early success of Bangladesh Boxing in Kariobangi, was mesmerised by DK Kamau’s impressive performance in the fight of the night. “This boy will go places, he’s good,” Musi told me as we analysed the fight at the ringside.
In the ring, DK was a smooth operator who I can say was a boxer-puncher with a neat jab spiced with rapid combinations while Kuya was an artist in the ring with nice footwork, jab and overall he was a clean boxer.
On this particular night, DK chose to be a pressure fighter, carrying the fight to Kuya who received a standing count of eight from referee Patrick “Mad” Okoth.
In the second round, both boxers decided to fight, exchanging punches at close quarters with DK Kamau having the better of the exchanges before sending Kuya to the canvas with a strong right to the chin. Fans were stunned seeing Kuya sitting on his trunks on the canvas as referee Okoth counted him out. It was all over!
DK Kamau didn’t just win; he executed a coup. It was not just a massive KO victory; he made a big statement, turning the historic dinner boxing night into a coronation of a new king in the light-welterweight division packed with other equally good boxers such as Robert Wangila, John Bosco Oduori and Kennedy Munikah who had made his international debut that year by winning silver in the East, South and Central Africa Championships at Nairobi’s City Hall.
Kenya was later represented by Dan Mwangi, Steve Mwema, David Ouma and Patrick Waweru in the Seoul World Cup Championships in November, 1985. Ouma and Uganda’s John Siryakibbe won bronze medals for the Africa team.
For DK Kamau, that devastating KO win over Kuya catapulted him to the national team, making it to Bangkok, Thailand, for the annual King’s Cup Championships in 1986.
To the surprise of boxing followers, DK Kamau punched his way to the finals and lost to a Russian boxer. He later won a gold medal in the 1986 regional event in Jinja, Uganda. Come 1987, DK was among the Kenyan boxers who shocked the world by winning a record eight gold medals in the African Games in Nairobi.
He maintained his steady rise to the top by fighting his way to the quarter-finals of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Back home, rising Police southpaw Nick “Computer” Odore was baying for DK Kamau’s blood. When he got the chance during a league match between Police and Posta, Odore dismantled DK Kamau with a masterclass performance that earned him a unanimous points victory and a place in the Kenya team for Jamhuri Cup match against Ghana at the end of 1988.
The following year, 1989, Kamau called me from the US to announce he had turned professional with the assistance of Steve Mwema.
Working for the Kenya Times then, I was excited with this big scoop. I knew nobody else had the story even my rival, friend and neighbour in Umoja Estate, Steve Ongaro of the Nation. DK Kamau had earlier on hinted to me plans were underway for him to join compatriots Mwema, Robert Wangila and Chris Sande in the US. DK Kamau told me he had signed a five-year contract with Motherland Productions in California.
“I have decided to fight for money, I’ve signed a five-year contract. The money is good,” he told me in our telephone interview.
“Training here is classic. You don’t have to strain yourself like we do at home, a boxer trains at his own time and pace,” said a jovial ambitious DK Kamau.
We used to chat with them regularly on phone especially before and after their fights.
DK Kamau did very well in pro, twice unsuccessfully contending for WBC world titles against Mexico’s Cesar Chavez and Mexican-American Oscar De La Hoya. He quit pro boxing with 30 wins, 22 on KO and lost four.
Interestingly, DK Kamau has since then cut off communication with Kenyans back home and in the US. Little is known about his life in Los Angeles in the US. I have severally tried to reach him out for a chit chat as a good friend but all in vain. Hopefully he will one day get in touch with me to open up on his life in the US after stepping out from pro boxing.
