Boxing to glory: Kimani beats Zambia’s Noza to win World Youth title

Francis Kimani displays the World Professional Boxing Federation Youth Super featherweight title he won in Kitwe, Zambia, at the weekend. [Photo:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

 Boxing sensation Francis Kimani has won a world youth title.

Kimani is the proud owner of the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) Youth Super featherweight belt he won in Kitwe, Zambia, on Sunday.

Kimani won the prestigious title after flooring Zambia’s Bazila Ngoza in the third round of the ten-round title bout held at the Arthur Davis Stadium.

“I was so relaxed in the fight. I was calculative. I knew the opponent was under pressure fighting in front of  a capacity home crowd that filled the stadium, so I waited for the right moment to hit him off,” said Kimani when he jetted back to the country on Monday night.

While savouring the victory Kimani said: “It’s the greatest moment in my boxing history, I thank God to be the proud owner of a world title.”

The bout was balanced at the start of the first round. But cunning Kimani worked out ways to distract his opponent with a right hook to the jaw that send Ngoza reeling to the canvas.

The second round was disastrous to the host who again was felled twice in a similar fashion. Kimani used this advantage to   knock off Ngoza in the third round with a left hook to claim the deserved victory.

“I am glad the bout was  balanced and  fair. In most cases if you fight away  from your own country, you can never be handed victory,” Kimani told Fever Pitch.

Amateur category

The win has inspired Kimani, 25, who has been fighting in the amateur category  for over a decade without a local title.

“I started engaging in boxing when I was 12 years old. I turned professional in 2011 and I am glad this has started paying off,” he said.

Kimani’s manager, Thomas Mutua Kiswili of Afribox Camp International,  said Kimani will defend the title in September at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

“Apart from defending the title we are looking forward for him trying his hand in other senior titles continentally and globally,” said Kiswili, who accompanied the boxer to Zambia.

Kiswili believes Kimani has a great future in the sport should he  get sponsors to help him realise his dream.

“He will need a lot of fights and build-ups that can be successfully achieved with sponsorships,” said Kiswili.

 Apart from Kimani, Afribox Camp International also manages light welter sensation Samuel ‘Snake’ Kamau.