Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri edges Malawian Makawa to claim WABA middleweight crown

BOXING Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri edges Malawian Makawa to claim WABA middleweight crown

Joel Omotto 09:36 - 10.09.2023

Okwiri executed a tactical fight to claim a unanimous points decision against the Malawian who was subdued for most of the contest in Nairobi.

Kenya’s Rayton ‘Boom Boom’ Okwiri claimed the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) Africa middleweight title after defeating Malawi’s Chikodi Makawa on Sunday morning.

Okwiri did look like someone who last fought eight months ago as he delivered blows with precision in front of a partisan crowd at Nyayo Stadium to win on a unanimous points decision.

The former Africa Boxing Union champion scored 100-90 from all the three judges to clinch the highly-coveted title.

In what was the main act of the Finix Fight Night, Okwiri started first and landed punches on his opponent in the 10-round fight that left his opponent with little room to respond.

Okwiri, who has nine wins, a loss, and a draw (9-1-1) subdued Makawa for most of the contest to the delight of the fans who filled up the Nyayo Stadium Indoor Arena.

It was a good return for the Kenyan pro boxer whose last fight was a unanimous decision against Shabani Ally Ndaro from Tanzania in a non-title contest at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in January 2023.

“This win feels really good tonight because I have worked so hard in preparation for this. At that level, I knew my opponent would be tough and indeed he was, but I am just glad that all the things I worked on in training yielded the victory,” Okwri said after the fight.

“The support was good and it kept me going through the whole fight, so I just want to thank everyone who came to support me.”

Makawa was coming from a unanimous decision win against countryman Chimwemwe Chiotcha recorded last month in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Daniel Wanyonyi, who silenced big-talking Tanzania’s Karim ‘Mtu Kazi’ Mandonga last month, beat Kaminja Ramadhan from the same country via a technical knockout in the super middleweight contest while Albert Kimario served the same dose to Baina Mazola as in the super bantam weight.

Anther Kenyan Elizabeth Akinyi floored Tanzania’s Lucy Macho on points while Praxedes Anyango got the better of Halima Bandola also from the neighbouring country.

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