The winners in the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions at the second edition of Nightmare in Nairobi, set for Friday at Masshouse on Ngong Road, will punch their ticket to a coveted Commonwealth title fight, the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) chief Reuben Ndolo has revealed.
A Commonwealth title fight is a professional contest sanctioned by the CBC, bringing together elite fighters from over 50 Commonwealth nations.
In the cruiserweight division, Joshua Wasike squares off against Tanzania’s Jacob Maganga, with the East and Central African title up for grabs.
National heavyweight champion Morris Okolla will trade leather with Tanzania’s Hudson Muhumuza for the East and Central Africa heavyweight title.
Ndolo, who is also the president of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC), confirmed, ”Whoever is going to win for these East and Central African bouts will have a shot at the (respective) Commonwealth title (s).”
”Any boxer who wins this is already rated in the Commonwealth as one of the best 10, so he is ready to go for the shot. After the fight, even next month they can get the fight whenever they are ready,” he added.
He rallied behind the home fighters as they prepared to defend national pride against regional rivals.
”I hope things will go well for the Kenyans and I wish them luck,” he said.
Wasike insists he has left no stone unturned in his preparations for the fight.
”I have been preparing for about two months and I am very ready for the clash. I have been focusing on my footwork and speed work,” said Wasike. ”My fans should expect nothing else but a win. To my opponent, he should come prepared,” he said.
Okolla, meanwhile, was in no mood for diplomacy.
”I have never been beaten in Kenya. I have held the Kenyan belt since 2015 and everyone is afraid to come take it from me,” he said. ”This fight is just like a warm-up to me. I am sure I will beat him by the third round. If you look at my opponent, he is someone I’m sure can’t move in the ring.”
”What I can assure Kenyans is that this will be an easy win, so they should turn up in large numbers.”
His preparations for Friday night have been meticulous.
“I have been training for two months and two weeks at Vision Plaza along Mombasa Road. My main area of focus was building endurance,” he added.
The undercard for Friday’s bonanza is equally mouthwatering.
Hit Squad captain Elizabeth Andiego makes her long-awaited professional debut after nearly two decades in the amateur ranks, stepping into a super middleweight division clash against Tanzania’s Christina Raura.
”It’s a great time for me to go pro and I am thankful to the federation for allowing fighting pro and representing Kenya,” she said.
Calm, composed and tactically aware, she knows the chess match that awaits inside the ropes.
”I don’t know her that much but I have seen some of her videos. I am also sure she has studied me so I’ll see how I’ll handle her in the ring.”
Elsewhere, South Africa’s Felix Loggenberg locks horns with Uganda’s Frank Ngobi in a super welterweight duel, while Martin Achebi faces Tanzania’s Karim Migea in the welterweight division.
Zimbabwe’s Gift Tembo will flex is muscles against Uganda’s Abdul Kasozi in what promises to be a high-tempo super lightweight battle.
