ENTRY OF UGANDAN PROMOTER ELEVATES NAIROBI AS A MAJOR REGIONAL BOXING HUB
Nairobi’s growing reputation as a hub for regional and international boxing will further be elevated tonight with Ugandan promoter, Steve Sembuya, staging his first card on Kenyan soil at the Charter Hall from 6pm.
The seven-bout card is a testament of the confidence neighbouring promoters have on the Kenyan capital city as a suitable venue for business growth embracing regional cooperation to speed up the development of pro boxing in the region.
While promoter, Steve Sembuya of 12 Sports Rounds Promotions, has given the Kenyan boxers a wide birth in his first promotion, Kenyan boxing fans are broad-minded and not just confined to watching their own boxers in action but will definitely enjoy watching the Ugandan and Tanzanian boxers fiercely trade leather.
Encouragingly, promoter Sembuya has promised to stage a Kenya vs Uganda showdown in his second promotion to rekindle the age-old rivalry between the two East African countries which have dominated boxing from 1950s.
Nairobi has over the years proved a suitable venue for major boxing tournaments because of its proximity and connectivity in Africa not to mention pocket-friendly accommodation.
Nairobi is also considered the heart of East Africa, strategically positioned in the southern-central part of Kenya, near the Equator. This location makes it a major hub for trade, tourism, and transportation in the region.
One of the most prestigious boxing events hosted in Kenya’s capital city is the Golden Cup in 1980 at the KICC.
Over 30 countries converged for a two-week boxing bonanza that whetted the appetite of boxing enthusiasts in the region.
Funded by the United States for countries which boycotted the Moscow Olympics, the tremendous success of the Golden Cup catapulted Nairobi to the zenith of one of the world’s most suitable venues for international boxing competitions.
Dubbed the Mecca of Boxing in Kenya, Nairobi has produced some of the most prominent boxers in Kenya such as John Olulu, Steve Thega, Alex Omwomo, Mwangi Mugo, world champion Steve “Destimo” Muchoki, first black African Olympic gold medallist Robert Wangila, Los Angeles Olympics bronze medallist Ibrahim “Surf” Bilali, Mike “Stone” Irungu, 1973 African Games gold medallist George Oduori, three-time King’s Cup welterweight champion Kamau “Pipino” Wanyoike, ring technician Napunyi Oduori, Ali “Ojukwu” Athumani, Kenneth “Valdez” Ochieng, Chris “Bingwa” Sande, Steve “Dempsey” Mwema George “Foreman” Onyango, Joseph “Nyundo” Akhasamba, David “Harish” Ouma, Abdulrahman Athumani, Suleiman Bilali, Nick Okoth, Edwin Okong’o, Boniface Mogunde, Liz Andiego, Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe, Amina Martha, Christine Ongare to mention but a few.
We laud the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC), under indefatigable chairman Reuben Ndolo, for their professional approach in welcoming the Ugandan promoter. This paves way for more neighbouring promoters to relocate to Nairobi to further enhance its image as the regional boxing hub. Karibu Ssebo Steve Sembuya.
