KDF BOXER HAYO MAKES SUCCESSFUL PRO DEBUT

Exuberant Kenya Defence Forces boxers and coaches could not hide their joy following Edwin Hayo's (in a gown) victory.

KDF BOXER HAYO MAKES SUCCESSFUL PRO DEBUT

Edwin Hayo has been out of boxing action for seven years. His successful pro debut will encourage more KDF boxers to turn professional

A thunderous applause erupted from his KDF comrades and frenzied fans as Edwin Hayo aka Babute made a successful professional boxing debut on Tuesday, April 1. This happened at the packed Alchemist pub and food court in the affluent suburb of Westlands in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.

Amid a clink of plates with appetising pizza, mouth-watering chicken, pasta and mugfuls of beer, fans were in a party mood cheering Hayo in his four-round welterweight bout against Bernard Achoki.

Passionate roars of approval from his KDF comrades led by senior coach Nick Abaka ignited a surge of adrenaline in Hayo’s offensive arsenal that propelled him to an impressive points victory.

Coaches Moses Ambasa (right) and Nick Abaka played a big role in Hayo’s successful pro debut.

The 33-year-old Hayo was among the boxers slugging it out in an all-Kenyan seven-bout professional boxing card promoted by Willy Wex, the CEO of AiWex Sports company comfortably sponsored by OdiBets whose General Manager Dedan Mungai was also in the house enjoying the show.

The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) President Reuben Ndolo on the right and OdiBets General Manager Dedan Mungai (left) were also in the house to cheer the boxers.

KDF’s international boxers, Veronica Mbithe and Pauline Chege, were in the mix too, inspiring Hayo to put up the most polished display of the night. He piled on points behind a neat jab and well-timed combinations that impressed fans earlier treated to scrappy boxing from some of the rookies making their pro debut such as 36-year-old super-middleweight Salim Mustafa who knocked out Amos Eboso in the third round.

Super-middleweight Salim Mustafa made his pro debut at the age of 36 years. He KO’d Amos Eboso in the third round.

At Hayo’s corner were senior coach Abaka, a former prominent international boxer, and Moses Ambasa. Their expert advice injected more confidence and played a big role in Hayo’s victory.

“We’re very happy our colleague has turned professional while still an employee of the forces, we wish him all the best,” said Abaka.

An excited Hayo was carried shoulder high by his KDF teammates who flooded into the ring to congratulate him and pose for photographs with him.

KPBC R&Js Franklin Imbenzi far left and Julius Odhiambo far right played their part.

“It’s a big day for me to fight as a professional boxer, I thank my employer KDF for allowing me to turn pro and maintain my job,” said Hayo who joined KDF in 2015, and won the Kenya Open welterweight title in 2019.

“I’ve been out of boxing for seven years but I’m happy I’m now back as a pro,” said the Hayo whose entry into the bare-chested game now opens the door for more KDF boxers to venture into pro boxing.

Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) President Reuben Ndolo hailed KDF for giving Hayo the greenlight to fight as a pro boxer.

“This is a wise gesture by KDF, we urge them to let other younger boxers than Hayo join pro boxing,” said Ndolo, adding:”These days amateur and pro boxing are together we’ve seen pro boxers taking part in the Olympics, so even the young boxers and the internationals in KDF can also take part in our pro boxing events and make some money while still representing KDF and the national team.”

The other impressive performer in this OdiBet-sponsored show was 20-year-old bantamweight Abdi Bashir, a product of coach and former international David Kiilu who was at his corner. That was Bashir’s third win in pro boxing. The Eastleigh-based Bashir, who trains at Pal Pal, still needs to put more fire and weight in his punches.

Coach David Kiilu giving instructions to his boxer Abdi Bashir who beat Joshua Mutua in the bantamweight division. All the seven bouts were four rounders.

Promoter Willy Wex was very impressed with the turnout.

“I thank boxing fans for turning up in plenty to cheer the boxers, I’m sure they enjoyed themselves with a lot drinks and food,” said Wex whose friend from Nigeria, the CEO of Yucateco Boxing Promotions Omonlei Imudu, was equally delighted.

“I’m now planning for African Night fights to be held across several cities in Africa to boost the income of our boxers, my interest is always on the welfare of the boxers, not getting involved in useless boxing politics I’m seeing now in Africa,” Imudu told boxersworld.co.ke.