Onyango aims to emulate Okwiri, ready to floor Njego

World Africa Boxing Association's Denzel Ali Onyango (left) and Ignatius Njengo Onyango (Madliar) during weigh-in ahead of Rise Above boxing night in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya’s Denzel Onyango will be seeking to emulate Rayton Okwiri when he takes to the ring to battle with Ignatius Njego of Uganda for the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) Africa supreme light heavyweight 10-round title fight at Charter Hall, Nairobi on Saturday.

A fortnight ago Okwiri emerged the new WABA Africa supreme middleweight champion after flooring Chikonde Makawa of Malawi on unanimous points’ decision at the same venue.

And Onyango is also determined to ensure the title remains at home.

Like Okwiri against Malawi’s Makawa, it will be the first time the two boxers are facing off in a professional title fight.

“I’m ready to ensure the title remains at home as I get ready to prove my worthiness so that it could earn me more fights of this nature in future,” Onyango told Standard Sports.

So far, the 22-year-old Onyango has fought three times winning all of them (with two knockouts).

His last fight was against Kenneth Lukyamuzi of Uganda on May 13 in Nairobi which he won.

The one-day competition has attracted a number of foreign boxers who are ready to face regional players.

And one of them is Shawn Miller of the United States who will take on James Nyariki of Kenya in a non-title fight as Lucien Botumbe of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) clashes with Dennis Ouma of Uganda with most fights being in the lightweight division.

There will be five four-round-curtain raiser bouts for a number of young boxers who recently turned professional.

The first curtain raiser fight will be between Boaz Odinga against Martin Akebi in the light welterweight followed by a bout between Brian Munyolo and Abdul Aziz in the lightweight.

Mohammed Issa and Amos Torek will then face off in the light welterweight bout before Mc Coregory Ochenge battles with Emmanuel Kivoli.

There will also be two six-round-bouts, with the first fight pitting Gabriel Ochieng’ against Majibu Kabogo of Uganda in the featherweight before paving way for the bout between James Mugeni and Michael Wakaria in the super featherweight.