A rematch between Robert Okaka and Humphrey “Jakababa” Ochieng is in the offing in the Kenya Open Boxing Championships starting on Wednesday in Nairobi.
Bombs will explode in what promises to be a gripping high octane light-heavyweight fight between KDF’s Okaka and Jakababa of Police aka Chafua Chafua.
Okaka is already one up having outpointed Jakababa when they first met in the 4th leg of the Kenya National Boxing League on November 9, 2024, in Nanyuki.
Twice bronze medallist in the Africa Championships, Okaka dominated Ochieng en route to a unanimous points win, subjecting Jakababa to two standing counts courtesy of the soldier’s heavy artillery while Okaka was counted once by referee David Opiyo.
Reports emerging from Mathare Depot Gym where Police are preparing for the Kenya Open say that Jakababa is planning to ambush Okaka with rapid fire, and by the time the KDF soldier recovers he’ll be seeing stars not knowing what hit him so hard.
However, the quietly spoken Okaka is unshaken, and believes he’s Kenya’s top light-heavyweight.
“I’m the best in my weight right now, so whoever will fight me should know that it’s not going to be easy, I’m ready,” says a defiant Okaka who made his international debut at the 2023 Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon, winning bronze and added another bronze in the 2014 Africa Champuonships in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
“Normally I don’t talk much I prefer action to speak louder than my words, threats and noisemaking are for Jakababa and others like him,” says Okaka known for his two-fisted flurries giving his opponents little room to breathe.
“This time I’m coming with different tactics, my opponents will cry in the ring,” says Okaka.
Morris Okolla floors down his opponent in a previous fight. The Kenya boxer put up a brilliant show in Prague losing on points to homeboy Lukas Fajk in a four-round heavyweight duel on April 12.
STANDING OVATION FOR OKOLLA DESPITE LOSING IN PRAGUE
Morris “Hercules” Okolla
Kenya’s Morris “Hercules” Okolla went down fighting against homeboy Lukas Fajk in a four-round heavyweight bout in Prague on Saturday, April 12.
In a toe-to-toe exchange, Okolla lost on points but was loudly applauded by the local fans in Prague for his valiant show.
“Okolla gave it his all, total war, he received a standing ovation after the fight,” said Franklin Imbenzi, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) who accompanied the two Kenyan boxers to Prague.
Imbenzi said Jane Kavulani, known for her punch resistance, gave a good account of herself against Fabiana Bytyqi in a six-round bantamweight encounter the Kenyan lost on points.
Jane Kavulani with OdiBets General Manager Dedan Mungai (right) before departure to Prague. Kavulani lost on points to Fabiana Bytyqi in a six-round bantamweight fight in Prague on April 12
“My fight was tough, he was almost giving up in the second round, he was butting and using all sorts of dirty tricks,” Okolla told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from Prague.
Okolla has now dropped to 13-5-0, 10 KOs and Kavulani 19-19-5, 7 KOs.
Imbenzi said the KPBC is now planning to invest on young boxers to inject new blood in Kenya’s pro boxing.
“Generally we need to invest in our young boxers and that’s why we have taken the initiative of having a semi-pro to tap the best from amateur to gradually turn professional,” said Imbenzi.
“We have a calendar of events starting from next week in Riyadh then Europe and eventually WBC World Cup, we have so many boxers in Kenya but we will not interfere with our brothers in amateur boxing, the cake is too big.
“We also have WBC amateur events lined up this year and we expect Kenya to present a strong team.”
Eight boxers have been selected to represent Mombasa in the Kenya Open Championships scheduled for April 16-19 in Nairobi.
The eight were picked after the Mombasa Open tournament held on April 13 at the Bombolulu Petrol Station.
Seven clubs – out of the 16 affiliates under Mombasa County Boxing Association – took part in the Mombasa Open.
Commenting on the low turnout, the Secretary-General of Mombasa County Boxing Association Chris Onyango said they looked at quality other than quantity.
“We have to accept boxing standards in Mombasa and Coast Region as a whole are currently unimpressive,” said Onyango.
Mombasa County Boxing Association Secretary-General Chris Onyango
“Most clubs can’t meet the threshold for National Open Championships but we’re working hard at the grassroots level. Expect serious calibration in the upcoming championships, we’re not just building participation but we’re cultivating podium-ready boxers.”
The eight boxers to represent Mombasa in the Kenya Open:
Minimumweight: Alex Mueni
Flyweight:Abdallah Juma
Bantamweight: Eliston Shinga
Featherweight: Vincent Ochieng
Light-welterweight: Goldsmith Wafula
Welterweight:Carlos Odeto
Women
Featherweight: Dora Mkacharo
Lightweight: Mwanatumu Ali
Mombasa’s current boxing’s posterboy is the defending Kenya Open featherweight champion Mwinyi Kombo who normally represents Prisons.
KENYA’S MECCA OF BOXING PICK 23 FOR KENYA OPEN TOURNEY
Nairobi County, the Mecca of boxing in Kenya, will be represented by 23 boxers – 19 men and four women – in this year’s Kenya Open Championships from April 16-19 in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.
The team was selected after the Nairobi Open finals on Saturday, April 12, at Pumwani Social Hall.
Sensational boxing brothers, featherweight Chris Juma and lightweight Benedict Juma including international flyweight Faith Nafuna and welterweight Francis Lenox are among Nairobi’s crack squad expected to do battle with national league champions KDF and former league champions Kenya Police.
In Saturday’ s finals, Chris Juma outpointed Michael Ndonga, lightweight Benedict Juma beat Evanston Kiragu, Nafuna defeated Damacline Boyani and Francis Lenox stopped Vahasha Musa in the first round.
The 23 Nairobi County boxers for the Kenya Open:
Minimumweight
Stephen Mogere
John Butugu
Maurice Kimani
Flyweight
Emmanuel Chondo
Stephen Mvoi
Bantamweight
Stanley Kimani
James Tachia
Featherweight
Chris Juma
Michael Ndonga
Lightweight
Benedict Juma
Light-welterweight
Wisdom Muinde
Clement Babu
Welterweight
Francis Lenox
Light-middle weight
Michael Oduor
John Muthiani
Middleweight
Joesph Shiluli
Sheldon Otieno
*Light-heavyweight*
Benard Nyamongo
*Cruiserweight*
Kennedy Otieno
*Ladies flyweight*
Faith Nafuna
Damacline Boyani
*Light-welterweight Cynthia Obwamo
Light-middleweight
Sally Ajema
Full results of Nairobi County Open Boxing finals:
Minimumweight
Stephen Mogere (Jericho) def J. Burugu(Thailand) on pts.
Flyweight
Stephen Mvoi(Thailand) lost to Emmanuel Chondo(Jericho) R.S.C rd 2.
Flyweight (Ladies)
Faith Nafuna(Thailand) def Damacline Boyani(Kasarani Youth) on pts.
Bantamweight
Dennis Mathu(NCC) lost to Stanley Kimani(Kasarani Youth) RSC rd 1
Featherweight
Michael Ndonga (Kayole Rapid) lost to Chris Juma(Kasarani Youth) on pts.
Lightweight
Evanston Kiragu(Queen of Peace) lost to Benedict Juma(Kasarani Youth) on pts.
Light-welterweight
Wisdom Muinde (Kasarani Youth) lost to Clement Babu(Jericho) on pts.
Light-weltereeight (Ladies)
Cynthia Wambui (M.North) lost to Slyvia Obwamu (Kariobangi) R.S.C. rd 1.
Welterweight
Vahasha Musa (NCC) lost to Francis Lennox (Kasarani Youth) R.S.C. rd 1.
Light-middleweight
Kimut Rono (L.A. Rockers) lost to Michael Oduor (Kasarani Youth) R.S.C. rd 2.
Middleweight
Joseph Shiluli (Jericho) def Sheldon Otieno (M.North) on pts.
Light-heavyweight
Bernard Nyamongo (Q.Peace) won via walkover.
Cruiserweight
Kennedy Otieno (Kibra Youth) def Elijah King (Embakasi) on pts.
Super-heavyweight
Kevin Likami (Kariobangi) def Yusuf Mutuku(NCC) on pts.
Isaac Mejah on top and below reigning Kenya Open featherweight champion Mwinyi Kombo (left) and Chris Juma (right). Juma is not convinced Kombo defeated him in the 2024 Kenya Open finals.
Ever since Isaac Mejah got involved with boxing in 2001 at St John’s Boxing Club in Korogocho, he had never been knocked out.
Under the tutelage of the late coach James Odongo, Mejah – a natural southpaw – learnt the ropes fast. In 2008, Odongo introduced him to the current national team head coach Benjamin Musa who further sharpened his boxing knowledge at St.
Isaac Mejah (right) in a past local tournament
Teresa’s Undugu.
Armed with new skills imparted by coach Musa at Undugu, Mejah showed his mettle by winning the national novices and intermediate titles in 2010, clinching the Best Boxer Award in both tournaments.
On his way up until he made his international debut in the 2010 World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and took part in the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom, Mejah avoided KO defeat like a plague.
But in the 2024 Kenya Open Boxing Championships at Green Park Hall, Mejah was for the first time KO’d in round one by the big-hitting Mwinyi Kombo from Kenya’s port city of Mombasa.
Mwinyi Kombo and Prisons coach Dan Shisia in the final leg of the national league at a packed Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay in December, 2024.
“I lost my concentration for a moment and then he went in with a left hook straight to my chin that sent me to the canvas,” recalls Mejah.
“It was such a painful defeat losing by a KO but I accepted it and moved on, infact I took it as a lesson.”
After the KO defeat, Mejah returned to the ring in the first leg of the league winning all his fights minus his close challengers.
He then took a break to concentrate on his work at KDF, and now he has decided to return to the ring to redeem himself in the Kenya Open.
“I’m going to do my best to reclaim my glory,” says Meja, and is not overly worried of his main challengers Kombo and Nairobi’s Chris Juma.
“I know their styles already, I’m going to use a different strategy and my experience too to ensure that I come out victorious”
He is however not taking his opponents lightly.
“I respect each and every pugilist, and the efforts they put to be where they are right now. Its not an easy thing to participate in the biggest tournament in the country. I know they are well prepared and so am I. But they should just be prepared for a different Mejah.”
Kombo has been training at One80 Fitness Centre at Tudor in Mombasa ahead of his title defence. He defeated Chris Juma in the finals of the 2024 Kenya Open.
On their way to the finals, they both caused major upsets.
Besides seeing off Mejah, Kombo scored a shocking first round KO victory over 2022 Africa Championships silver medallist Samuel Njau of KDF while the 17-year-old Chris, a form two student at Mwiki Secondary at the time, beat the 2019 African Games silver medallist Shaffi Bakari of the Kenya Police.
With Shaffi going back to bantamweight – he has not made an impact at featherweight – and KDF soldier Njau busy at work, the battle for major honours in the featherweight division in the Kenya Open is a three-horse race between Mejah, Kombo and Juma.
On whether Mejah and Juma are a threat to him, Kombo doesn’t rate them highly.
“To be honest, both of them are not worrying me, and are not that tough for my level. I’ll handle them,” says Kombo, adding: “What matters most is my performance to come out the best against any opposition.”
Chris Juma is not convinced Kombo defeated him in last year’s Kenya Open finals.
“What I know I boxed better than him and inwardly I take myself as the winner, he didn’t beat me,” says the Kasarani Youth boxer who turns 18 years in September this year.
Among the three, Mejah is the longest-serving with more experience, and if he can also capitalise on his southpaw stance and the knowledgeable coaches at his disposal, the KDF Corporal is capable of having the last laugh.
At 34 years, Meja says he will continue fighting until he is 40 years, the official retirement age for amateur boxers.
“I’m addicted to boxing, it’s not easy to quit now and I’m still strong,” says Mejah whose father, David Oduor, is the one who introduced him to boxing at the age of 10 years.
“I used to play basketball but one day my dad told me to switch to boxing and introduced me to coach James Odongo.”
Mejah did not disappoint his father. In addition to winning the novices and intermediate titles as well as being named the Best Boxer in the two tournaments in the flyweight division, he was also adjudged the Best Boxer in the 2010 Nairobi Open and won gold in the 2010 Inter-Cities clash between Nairobi and Kampala at the latters backyard. He also represented Kenya in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games.
In 2014, Mejah’s impressive show in boxing landed him a job at KDF.
“That’s something to be proud of, I’m now working really hard to move up the ladder at my place of work,” says Mejah who attributes his success to coach Musa Benjamin and the pool of coaches he met at KDF when he joined the Army among them Sammy Magima.
“I owe my success in the ring to coach Musa Benjamin, I gained a lot of skills from him,” says Mejah who hails from Siaya County.
“Musa was not just my coach but he was my guardian too because when my father shifted to Kisumu, it’s Musa who used to pay my rent and help me with bus fare to attend training sessions at Undugu.”
Mejah has yet to stamp his authority at the senior level though a couple of controversial decisions, he says, have derailed his progress but he is confident the best is yet to come.
He made his international debut for the senior national team in the 2022 Zone Three Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo but did not win a medal.
He is looking forward to make it in Kenya’s team for this year’s World Championships, Commonwealth Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Morris Okolla (right) in a face-off with his Czech Republic opponent Lukas Fajk . The two heavyweights fight tonight (April 11) in Prague.
MORRIS OKOLLA, JANE KAVULANI FIGHT TODAY IN PRAGUE
Morris “Hercules” Okolla (13-4-0, 10 KOs) is convinced his Czech Republic opponent, Lukas Fajk (10-1-0), will not last the full course in tonight’s fight in Prague.
“I will knock him out in the third round, I looked at him during the face-off he’s so scared of me,” Okolla told boxersworld.co.ke from their five-star hotel ahead of his heavyweight duel against the Czech Republic boxer.
Okolla last fought in September last year outpointing Louis Cedric of Mauritius in a six rounder.
“We’ve been welcomed well, the atmosphere is fantastic,” said the southpaw Okolla, a former international boxer who won gold in the 2005 Zone Five Championships in Nairobi.
Okolla, who is the younger to former international and now Prisons coach Dan Shisia, made his professional debut on November 11, 2011, defeating James Nyariki.
Jane Kavulani
The other Kenyan in action tonight, Jane Kavulani (19-18-5, 7 KOs), battles home girl Fabiana Bytyqib (21-1-2, 5 KOs) in a six rounds bantamweight fight.
Kavulani last fought in Germany in June last year losing to Elina Tissen via an eigth round TKO.
Jane Kavulani (right) and her opponent Fabiana Bytyqi staring at each other.
The Kenyan turned pro in June, 2002, and in her debut lost to Tanzania’s Monica Mwakasanga who decisioned her in a six rounds bout that was supposed to be four rounds since Kavulani was making her pro debut.
The two Kenyan boxers are accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) Franklin Imbenzi.
Tallman David Attan (left), arguably Kenya's best ever light-middleweight, fighting then as a semi-pro in Germany. His absence was greatly missed in the 1974 Kenya vs Uganda Urafiki Cup boxing contest at Nairobi's City Hall...
NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: Uganda’s bitter dose to Kenya in 1974
War is war!!!...KDF's international light-welterweight Cynthia Mwai (left) and newly-crowned national intermediate champion Sonia Atieno (right) set for a gruelling showdown in the Kenya Open Championships from April 16-19 in Nairobi
Kenya’s latest female light-welterweight find, Cynthia Mwai, has been sitting pretty secure in the knowledge she’s now home and dry after punching her way to the national team.
Within a short span since she started boxing in 2023 at Nyahururu Boxing Club under coach David Wambua, the 20-year-old Cynthia announced her arrival in Kenya boxing by clinching the national novices title that same year. She then added the intermediate lightweight crown in 2024 and went on to represent Mombasa Combined team in Tanga, Tanzania where won one bout and lost the next fight to Africa Championships bronze medallist Najma Isike.
Cynthia facing stiff challenge from Atieno
Cynthia’s impressive performance made the national team selectors to sit up and take notice. It therefore came as no surprise when she deservedly made her way to the national team which participated in this year’s Women’s World Championships in Serbia.
Hardly has the talented Cynthia settled in the national team, there’s this equally promising 18-year-old student, Sonia Atieno, from the lakeside city of Kisumu threatening to unseat her in this berth previously the fort of Zone 3 champion Teresiah Wanjiru, now a Star-1 coach
Atieno showed her potential in clinching the national intermediate light-welterweight title in Thika on April 5, 2025. She put up a dominant performance to stop Nairobi’s Cynthia Wambui in the third round.
Depending on the draw and number of entries in women’s light-welterweight, these two Africa’s Emerging Stars are poised to face off in the Kenya Open scheduled for April 16-19 in Nairobi. This one will definitely be a cracker to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Be there don’t miss it
Sonia Atieno with Kisumu County coach Vincent Odongo
Cynthia is now pondering on how she will handle the determined Atieno who is also the national novices champion.
To overcome Atieno, Cynthia will have to be faster and get over her habit of dropping her hands. She could easily kiss the canvas courtesy of Atieno’s powerful diagonal right punch.
Is Atieno worried about the possibilty of fighting Cynthia in Nairobi?
“I’m not shaken at all even if she has represented Kenya, I want to take over,” Atieno told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
A grade nine pupil at Central Primary School in Kisumu, Atieno said she is now training harder than before at Korumba Boxing Club under her coach Charles Onyango who has been handling Atieno since she started boxing in 2023.
“I’m not shaken by Cynthia even if she has represented the national team,” says a defiant Sonia Atieno
Cynthia is currently sweating it out with the Kenya Defence Forces team preparing for the Kenya Open at Jamhuri Park under experienced coaches with a wealth of knowledge in boxing. Among them include former internationals Sammy Magima, Nick Abaka, Black Moses Mathenge, Nick Okoth, Tabu Orieyo and Simon Mulinge.
Peter Abuti (left) battling Egypt's Hazem Kandli in the round of 16 at the 2024 Africa Olympic Games qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal. Abuti won 5-0 but lost 3-2 to Mozambican Gabriel Albino in the quarter-finals.
BOY WA MBOTELA ABUTI WARY OF SURPRISES IN THE KENYA OPEN
Abuti and Nigeria’s 2023 Africa heavyweight champion Adams Olaore in Yaounde.
Peter Abuti is currently the country’s top heavyweight but he’s not taking chances in the Kenya Open Boxing Championships set for April 17-19 in Nairobi.
Since 2022 when he lost to Joshua Wasike of Police in a league match in Trans Nzoia, the 28-year-old Abuti is so far unbeaten. Wasike turned professional, and will be missing in action.
This is the first _Peter Abuti (left) battling Egypt’s Hazem Kandli in the round of 16 at the 2024 Africa Olympic Games qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal. Abuti won 5-0 but lost 3-2 to Mozambican Gabriel Albino in the quarter-finals_time Abuti is taking part in the Kenya Open Championships, the flagship event of the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK).
A soldier with Kenya Defence Forces, Abuti is well aware that shocks and surprises are part of sports.
Jab jab Abuti
“I know the upcoming boxers are training singing my name because I’m the heavyweight to beat but I’m not underrating any boxer,” Abuti told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview ahead of what promises to be a fiercely fought and action-packed Kenya Open with all clubs being allowed to parade all their good boxers in each weight category.
“I expect challenges in the Kenya Open, I’m training hard ready for anything,” said Abuti.
With pro boxer Wasike out of the show and Elly Ajowi having retired, ring analysts argue Abuti has no challenge given that it’s rare for a heavyweight to come out of the blue without first having made an impression in the lower weight categories. Wasike and Ajowi are the toughest opponents Abuti has met locally losing twice to the two boxers. Ajowi defeated Abuti at light-heavyweight and heavyweight and Wasike first beat Abuti in 2020 in Kisumu though controversially according to Team KDF officials.
Abuti started boxing in 2016 at Mbotela Boxing Club under long-serving coach Raphael Kamuya aka Kamwana.
His potential came to the fore in 2017 when he won the novices and intermediate light-heavyweight titles.
Former prominent international and now a senior coach at KDF, Nick Abaka inspired him to take up boxing.
“King Abaka made me love boxing, by then he was trending a lot in the media,” said Abuti.
“Abaka was also my friend on Facebook, his posts made me want to know more about boxing, that’s how I found myself at Mbotela Hall with coach Kamwana to emulate King Abaka.”
Coincidentally, Abuti finally came face to face with his idol Abaka not in the streets but in the ring. This was in the finals of the 2018 Commonwealth Games trials at Kaloleni Social Hall where Abuti lost on points to the KDF boxer but his superb performance saw him included in the team as Abaka’s sparring partner.
“I gained a lot of knowledge training alongside my idol Abaka, a very down to earth boxer, he encouraged me a lot in our residential training camp in Nakuru,” recalls Abuti.
It was not until 2023 that Abuti made his international debut in the Africa Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon.
That’s the second time I watched Abuti in action covering the tournament for AFBC’s website. He really impressed me with his refined approach. His movement in the ring was perfect and jabbed with precision.
Abuti outpointed 5-0 Congo Brazzaville’s Baltazard Tsoni in the quarter-finals but found the going rough in the semi-finals against Nigeria’s eventual gold medallist Adams Olaore who beat the Kenyan 5-0.
It was a remarkable achievement for Abuti winning a bronze medal in his debut for the national team.
Any hopes Abuti had to improve on his Yaounde performance went up in smoke at the 2024 Africa Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo, dropping a suspicious 4-3 Bout Review verdict to Gabon’s Njinnou Mouandat.
Abuti has no regrets involving himself with boxing which has enabled him land a job in KDF.
“Boxing has really changed my life through God’s grace,” said Abuti.
“It’s not easy to be employed these days in Kenya, so being a KDF staffer to me is such a big achievement because I know my future is secured.”
_Abuti in safe hands under head Musa Benjamin far left, deputy head coach David Munuhe far right and trainer John Waweru_
Abuti in safe hands under head coach Musa Benjamin far left, deputy head coach David Munuhe far right and trainer John Waweru.
As he looks forward to stamp his authority in the Kenya Open Championships, Abuti’s burning ambition for now is to make it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Kenya’s avid boxing fans can’t wait to watch Abuti in action in the Kenya Open Championships.
Kenyan boxing fans will now be watching top Uganda pro boxers such as Owen Kibira aka Matrix pictured here when he signed with promoter Steve Sembuya in Kampala
The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission today, April 9, welcomed Uganda’s leading promoter Steve Sembuya who has relocated to the capital city Nairobi.
Deadly welterweight Henry Kasujja
Sembuya, the CEO of 12 Sports Round Promotions, said he will now be staging all his fights in Nairobi due to what he described as “economic sabotage” of his business at home by the National Sports Council and the Uganda Boxing Federation which is now in charge of pro boxing also as per the ne_Kenyan boxing fans will now be watching top Uganda pro boxers such as Owen Kibira aka Matrix pictured here when he signed with promoter Steve Sembuya in Kampalaw Sports Act.
“As promoters we’re against the Sports Act putting us together with amateur boxing, we feel it’s an insult to have us operate under Uganda Boxing Federation,” said the United States-based Sembuya whose delegation led by advocate Joshua Sewankambo received business promotion licence from the KPBC President Reuben Ndolo in Nairobi.
The President of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) Reuben Ndolo third from right hands over promotion licence to advocate Joshua Sewankambo. Ndolo was flanked by KPBC secretary general Franklin Imbenzi far left and assistant secretary general Julius Odhiambo second from right
Sembuya said they have realised the new changes are just meant to frustrate them with some petty officials using the opportunity to settle old scores.
“We’ve been pushed out of business by our own government, instead of assisting us get sponsors they’re making it difficult for us to do business,” explained an angry Sembuya.
“Recently our fight card which had 40 boxers and equal number of coaches was cancelled, the aim was just to show us who is in charge of pro boxing, that’s how low Ugandan boxing has sunk.
“By cancelling the event suppliers of the ring, Tshirts, chairs and those in the transport business were hit hard, we’re bringing business to Kenyans, I’m happy the KPBC has welcomed us warmly in our good neighbourly spirit.”
Ndolo, a former promoter in the 80s, was flanked by the secretary general Franklin Imbenzi and assistant secretary-general Julius Odhiambo who is also the acting treasurer.
“I’m pleased to announce we have approved Sembuya as our new promoter and licenced 20 Ugandan boxers to fight in Kenya,” said Ndolo who appealed for more Ugandan promoters to shift to Kenya.
“We have had good boxing relationship with our Ugandan neighbours since the 50s, what is happening in their country is unfortunate but we will not dwell much on that since our aim is to create a conducive atmosphere for our East African promoters to thrive without hitches.”
Sembuya’s first promotion will take place on May 10 in Nairobi. Some of the top boxers to feature in the card are welterweight Henry Kasujja, hottest property in the Champions League Owen Kibira aka Matrix and big punching light-heavyweight Abdul Njego.
Sembuya previously managed newly-crowned ABU super middleweight champion Shadir Bwogi and current Asian middleweight champion David Ssemuju, both former international star boxers with the national team Uganda Bombers.
“When a business moves from Uganda, it creates jobs and opportunities where it has gone, so it’s Uganda that has lost and Kenya has gained big-time. We will make Kenyan pro boxing vibrant by staging regular quality fights,” said Sembuya, adding:”Instead of improving the low amateur boxing standards they’re wasting their time on pro boxing.”
Boxing analysts view Sembuya’s decision to relocate to Kenya as a big embarrassment to the Ugandan government, and a bitter pill to swallow for those who have been sabotaging his efforts to develop pro boxing in Uganda.
Kombo has been training at One80 Fitness Centre at Tudor in Mombasa ahead of his title defence. He defeated Chris Juma in the finals of the 2024 Kenya Open.
