Mukami eager to return to the ring for the WBA Pan Africa Women's Middleweight title

Former Kenya women's boxing middleweight sensation Charity Mukami (right) spars with Crimson Communications Boxing Promotion CEO James Chunguli in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

After being out in the cold for a decade, former Kenya women's boxing middleweight sensation Charity Mukami is back with a bang.

Mukami is not only back, but she has returned to the boxing saddle in a big way.

On October 22, 2023, the boisterous hard-puncher will put her life on the line for the prestigious World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan Africa Women's Middleweight title against home girl Mapule Ngubane in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Mukami has been upping her training at the historic Pal Pal Gymnasium in Nairobi under coach Julius Odhiambo and new promoter James Chunguli of Crimson Communications Boxing Promotion.

"I have been training seriously for two and a half months now for the belt.

"I have been loading and  sparring with very experienced boxers," Mukami told Standard Sports.

Mukami has planned to combine some of the new techniques she's learning at the gym with heavy road work ahead of her departure to South Africa.

And does she feel being out in the ring for ten years will have an impact on her game in a negative way?

"I don't think so, I have been keeping fit ever since.The only problem was that I lacked opponents to challenge me in my weight in the whole period. So, I just feel great to make a grand comeback.

"To me this is a Godsend opportunity, I just feel it will be a victorious comeback," she stated.

And what does she promise her legion of fans in the forthcoming title fight?

"I know I'm fighting away from home but I'm pledging that it will not be a walk in the park for my opponent, I will deliver this belt home. I will stage a fight never seen before, like the one I did in 2009 in Australia where they shamefully denied me the belt while everyone in the hall was screaming my name that I had won," Mukami underlined.

Mukami is grateful to Crimson Communications Boxing Promotion for facilitating her to travel to South Africa for the high-profile bout.

Apart from the trip, Crimson is supporting Mukami with the upkeep, training gears, moral and psycho-social support and career branding to leverage on the fight.

"We hope that Mukami's participation and highly anticipated victory will open up numerous opportunities for aspiring female boxers to embrace the sport and follow in the footsteps of new generation fighters like Sarah 'Angel of War' Achieng who is the current World Boxing Foundation Super Lightweight champion," Chunguli said.

Kenya Proffesional Boxing Commission President Reuben Ndolo (left) hands over certificate to James Chunguli of Crimson Communications Boxing Promotion in Nairobi on Friday.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

While being handed over the license in Nairobi yesterday, Chunguli said his stable will majorly focus on female boxers as they are out to create a platform which women fighters can use to exploit their skills at the same time earning decent wages.

"I thank Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) for the license.We are definitely out to raise standards of boxing in women and it is our prayer that they will get decent livelihoods in the game in the paid ranks," stated Chunguli.

Chunguli says his first bouts will be staged in Nanyuki immediately after Mukami's fight in South Africa and it will be an all women's card.

While hailing Chunguli for coming on board as a new promoter, KPBC president Reuben Ndolo said: "This is definitely another step in the right direction for boxing.

"It's a great win for the girl child as Chunguli's stable will focus on promoting the sport among women."