NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: The birth of professional boxing in Kenya

Modesty Napunyi Oduori made history on July 2, 1983, becoming the first ever Kenyan professional boxer to win a title at home when the bare chested game was introduced in the East African country. Back then he became of the world’s superpowers in the ring.

Napunyi started his pro boxing in Tokyo where he made a successful debut on September 1, 1981 by outpointing Japan’s Fusao Imai in a six-round fight.

The stylish Napunyi and Nakuru product Isaiah Ikhoni had turned professional in Japan in August, 1981.

After showing his mettle, winning the Japanese featherweight title beating stubborn Spider Nemoto, Napunyi, a childhood buddy whom we used to box together at Prisons as juniors in early 70s, returned home in 1982 and told me he’s not going back to Japan. His abrupt decision took me by surprise.

Curious, I asked him why he wants to fight from home yet he had more opportunities in Japan but he stuck to his guns. He was not happy with the treatment in Japan. I had no choice but to partner with a close friend to make it happen. As a family man, he also had to put food on the table since he had already resigned from Kenya Prisons and life was becoming tough for him.

It was a challenging task for me but I took it head-on. By then there was no pro boxing in Kenya. So we decided to introduce pro boxing and get an opponent for Napunyi from outside. I then sent a telegram to Tanzania’s Emmanuel Mlundwa from Uniafrique House where Mogg Yoon, a Korean taekwondo instructor, had given me an office to operate from.

I was also hustling having lost my job at Weekly Review/Nairobi Times and started Sports Review magazine with my colleague at Weekly Review Benson Oduke. The Uniafrique office was our meeting base with Napunyi.

In my telegram to Mlundwa in 1982, I told him Napunyi has decided to fight from Kenya, and therefore he should find an opponent for him.

Mlundwa, one of Tanzania’s best boxers, had already introduced pro boxing at home in 1982 under Boxing Union of Tanzania (BUT). He responded positively to my telegram, and from there we swung into action.

By then Steve Muchoki, Kenya’s first and the only world champion in amateur boxing at that time, was also back home and had similar plans of introducing pro boxing in Kenya. Talk of great minds thinking alike.

We all teamed up and we were joined by among others Joe Akech, former international boxers David Attan, Billy Kiremi and US-based Boniface Kahoro with one common goal: to introduce professional boxing in Kenya.

And in January 1983, the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) was launched at the defunct Ainsworth Hotel in Westlands. The owner of the hotel, the late Francis Mburu, was Muchoki’s good friend. They also grew up together in Muthurwa Estate AKA Dallas. Mburu was picked as KPBC patron and Joe Akech the chairman, secretary-general Boniface Kahoro and treasurer Steve Muchoki. Some of the prominent boxers who attended the colourful ceremony included Uganda’s former world champion Ayub Kalule who was based in Nairobi.

Muchoki played a crucial role in the introduction of pro boxing in Kenya with his wide knowledge in the business. Moreover, he had turned pro in 1979 in Denmark under influential promoter Mogens Palle. He brought on board among others Mburu and Akech. The launch of KPBC was the culmination of a series of brain-storming meetings held in Mburu’s office during which Muchoki made it clear the introduction of pro boxing must be preceded by the creation of a regulatory body.

With the regulating body, KPBC launched and registered, the stage was all set for Kenya’s first pro boxing card.

July 2, 1983 will forever be etched in the memories of Kenya’s boxing enthusiasts.

That’s when Kenya staged the first post-independence professional boxing card at the Plenary Hall of Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

In the main fight, Modesty Napunyi Oduori TKO’d Tanzania’s Onesmo Ngowi in the third round to clinch the East African super-bantamweight title. Ngowi made four trips to the canvas before his seconders threw in the towel to save him from a possible disaster.

“I’m so excited to fulfill my dream of fighting from home,” a jovial Napunyi told me after the fight.

Muchoki, the only Kenyan amateur boxer to have won a world title in 1978, outpointed Tanzania’s Clement Chacha over eight rounds in a flyweight battle. Former star boxer George “Mosquito” Findo and Ziwani-based Juma Kutondo made their pro debuts against Tanzanian boxers.

American Sports Affairs Officer for Africa Mal Whitfield was the chief guest flanked by Joe Akech, chairman of the newly formed Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC).

Former boxers Owiso Oure Katibi, Jimmy Zablon, Steve Thega, Stephen “Kimbo” Matiani and Alex Omwomo received commemorative certificates for their sterling performance for the national team.

Legendary footballer Joe Kadenge accompanied by his son Rogers Kadenge and chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of Kenya (ABA) Major Marsden Madoka also attended the historic boxing event in the packed KICC’s Plenary Hall..

Napunyi thus became Kenya’s first pro boxer to win a title on Kenyan soil. What a memorable day it was in Kenya’s boxing history. We felt on top of the world after finally accomplishing our mission. I covered the historic day for Kanu-owned Kenya Times newspaper and my friend Stephen Ongaro for Daily Nation.

With no promoters then, KPBC financed the first pro boxing show.

Encouraged by the July 2 card, music promoter DS Njoroge decided to venture into pro boxing promotion, staging his first show in October, 1983 at the KICC with Steve Muchoki outpointing Zambia’s Flywell Botha to capture the Africa flyweight title.

DS staged another African title in 1984 at KICC in which Napunyi decisioned tough Nigerian southpaw Obele “Rastaman” Anazor to clinch the Africa super-bantamweight title watched by his father Mzee Joseph Oduori, mum Paulina and some of his siblings Sylvester Odhiambo, Philip, Anyash, Chauh and Knight.

DS Njoroge, the first promoter to be affiliated to KPBC, promoted the show spiced by his throbbing beats.

Njoroge opened the way for other promoters to join the foray among them Chris Kamuyu who used pro boxing as a springboard to politics, Davlin Promotions owned by David Attan and his wife Linda, Level Two Promotions, Korean Kapsoo Kim and the current KPBC chairman Reuben Ndolo who made a huge impact. Ndolo was instrumental in ferrying to South Africa some top Kenyan boxers among them George “Kidi” Adipo, Moses Kinyua and David Kiilu.

Among the big fights Ndolo promoted included Napunyi’s Commonwealth featherweight title contest against Ghana’s Oblittey Commey at City Hall. The stylish Napunyi, a sharp counter-puncher, soundly beat Commey on points to become the second Kenyan pro boxer to win a Commonwealth title after Muchoki.