Okwiri to fight Kalombo in South Africa on June 30
Boxing
By
Ben Ahenda
| Jun 12, 2022
Former Africa Boxing Union super middleweight champion Rayton ‘Boom Boom’ Okwiri is set to fight Emmany Kalombo of Democratic Republic of Congo in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 30.
The two boxers will face off in the 12-round-fight for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super welterweight title after a long lay-off for the Kenyan boxer.
Okwiri’s last fight was in October last year when he knocked out John Serunjogu of Uganda in a middleweight non-title fight in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Okwiri, who is trying to make a comeback after he was snatched his ABU title in 2020 by World Boxing Council after he participated in Africa Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal is trying to resuscitate himself with an aim to win world title before he hangs his gloves.
“I have done it (beating my opponents) in the past and it’ll not be any different this time round. This is a big fight for me and the title must come back home as I’m serious to win it,” Okwiri told Standard Sports.
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Okwiri who has so far had nine fights winning eight (with six knockouts) and a draw is going for one of the most lucrative and tough fights in his professional career but he’s not ready to let his fans down.
“I’m excited and raring to go as getting such an opportunity is in itself a big achievement in my professional boxing career,” Okwiri who is currently undergoing rigorous training under his trainer David Kiilu in Nairobi explained.
Kalombo said he has known Okwiri as an amateur fighter for a long time and that stopping him (Okwiri) is his ultimate goal in his quest to grab the super welterweight title.
“I have known Okwiri as an amateur boxer for a long time and I’m gonna chop him down and stop him from taking the title,” Kalombo told Standard Sports.
Kalombo’s words made Okwiri fume and instead said ‘Huyo jamaa nitamchapa na nimchafue vilivyo kama vile mimi huwachabanga wengine (This man I will beat him terribly the way I normally knockouk out my opponents)”.
Kalombo’s last fight was in April against Chikondi Makawa of Malawi whom he knocked out in the third round.
Kalombo has a record 16 fights with 15 wins, all knockouts and a loss.