It was fist pumping and dancing for the Kenyan contingent at the World Boxing Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, when Rayton Okwiri revived Kenya’s chances of winning a medal after he won his bout Wednesday.
Rayton Okwiri
Okwiri, who is the All Africa Games bronze medallist, unleashed terror in the ring when he showered his opponent Daniel Lewis of Australia with unstoppable and unblockable punches in the welter weight contest.
Okwiri’s win came at a time when three Kenyans had been bundled out of the championships after losing their opening matches and raising eyebrows about the country’s performance.
Boxing Association of Kenya Chairman John Kameta said Okwiri’s win was a major boost to the remaining boxers who are yet to take to the ring.
“It has been over a decade since Kenya won a bout at the World Championships,” said Kameta.
Kenya lost its three opening matches after Daniel Shisia, Denis Okoth and John Kariuki were bundled out. Shisia was the first Kenyan to enter the ring before he was floored 3-0 by Jim Andreasen of Denmark on Monday in the light weight (91kg) category.
The second Kenyan to be shown the door on Tuesday was Denis Okoth, who failed to tame Fatih Keles of Turkey.
Although Okoth made some brilliant punches, Keles was too good for him, to wrap up the match 2-1 in the light welter (64kg) category.
Okoth, who turns out for Kenya Prisons, was making his international debut. The third Kenyan boxer to be silenced was John Kariuki who turns out for Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club.
Kariuki had a serious head cut in the first round before the referee stopped the match for his opponent, Ologondalal Dorjnyambyuu of Mongolia, to easily win the bout.
Today, Nickson Ambaka faces Estonia’s Kaupo Arro in a middle weight (75kg) contest.
Tomorrow, Kenya’s Simon Nzioka, who got a bye in the fly weight (52kg) fight on Saturday, will fight, while Benson Njangiru, who also had a bye in bantam weight (56kg) will be in the ring on Sunday.
Also to fight on Sunday is Peter Warui who had a bye in the light fly (46-49kg). Warui takes on Kim Inkyu of Korea who also had a bye to the second round.
Elly Ocholla, who was given a bye to sail into the second round, takes on Simone Fiori of Italy on Monday. Fiori also benefited from a bye.
The championship has attracted 500 boxers drawn from 116 countries.
By Ernest Ndunda, The Standard
