Achieng' and other Kenyan boxers hoping for the best in 2025

International professional female boxer Sarah Achieng (left) in past action. [FILE]

International professional female boxer Sarah Achieng' hopes to defend two world titles as national boxing teams are scheduled to take part in five international assignments this year.

Coming at a time Kenya's boxing standards have started to take shape, effective performance by the amateur and professional boxers in different international assignments should return Kenya to her previous position as Africa champions and a global powerhouse.

To start us off should be the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super lightweight champion Sarah Achieng' who is expected to defend her title anytime soon in the next six months.

Achieng', who is also the Commonwealth super lightweight champion, is also expected to defend this title within the aforementioned period lest they (the two titles) are snatched away from her by their respective boxing bodies.

All these should happen before July this year.

In not, the two positions will be declared vacant by World Boxing Foundation (WBF) and the Commonwealth Professional Boxing Commission (CPBC).

According to international professional boxing rules guiding the sport globally, a title holder must defend his/her title within a specific period of time (mostly from six to twelve months) or the position be declared vacant.

For CPBC, a title must be defended in a rough estimate of less than six months from the time a titleholder wins a title fight and Achieng' is racing against time on her two titles.

"Winning the world title was not easy and defending it is equally an uphill task. The demand in succeeding is heavily laden with financial responsibilities. I was ready to defend the two titles last year (2024) but hopefully it can happen this year (2025) if all goes well," Achieng' told Standard Sports.

All that hindered from successfully defending the two titles were the financial implications that revolved round the sponsorships of the two fights in Kenya and abroad.

"These two fights were long overdue and should have been fought last year. I'm looking forward to having them this year in pursuit for top honours. I'm only praying to the Almighty God to make things work," said Achieng' who still holds three more regional titles.

Other titles she is still holding are the Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) super lightweight, the East and Central Africa super lightweight as well as the National Super lightweight.

Last year, Achieng' was to defend the Commonwealth title against Monalisa Sibanda of Zimbabwe in Kisumu in June, which never materialised owing to Gen Z protests in the country.

Achieng's General Manager Alfred Analo said their failure to land sponsorships at the right time is what delayed the hosting of the two fights.

"Once we land the corporate sponsorship, we're good to go but we're still working round the clock towards this achievement. However, we appeal to well-wishers to support us towards this cause," appealed Analo who is also the head coach of the professional boxer.

CPBC Secretary General Reuben Ndolo said they had done all in corridors to ensure Achieng' retained the two titles and they are not stopping anytime soon.

"But we are ready to assist all boxers wherever we can or whenever we have been approached," he said.

Ndolo who is also Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) president was quick to distance themselves from the sponsorship issue.

"The work getting sponsors belongs to the promoters. Ours is to issue licenses to professional fights and we'll not stop," he said.

The 39-year old Achieng' has a record of 16 wins (with eight knockouts) and two defeats from 18 bouts in 18-2-0.

Although the International Boxing Association (IBA) is yet to release their 2025 calendar of events, the national boxing teams are scheduled to take part in five international championships this year.

Some of the events they are scheduled to compete in include World Men and Women Boxing Championships to be held separately at different venues and on different dates in the course of the year.

The World Women Boxing Championships, which was not held last year in Astana, Kazakhstan will this time be hosted in Belgrade Serbia in March 2025 with IBA expected to come up with due dates before then.

The World Men Boxing Championships are scheduled for M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, London from September 4-14,2025.

National team head coach Musa Benjamin said the two global championships are crucial to the men and women's teams.

"These two international assignments are good for us after Kenya started to register incredible international positive results last year. By taking part in them, it should give our boxers the impetus and exposure required to push us forward in other similar assignments in future," he stated.

Other international assignments the 'Hit Squad' is expected to take part in this year are Africa Boxing Championships, Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships and the Nelson Mandela International Boxing Championships.

Africa Boxing Championships, Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships and the Nelson Mandela International Boxing Championships are under the auspices of Africa Boxing Federation (AFBC), Africa Zone Three Secretariat in Yaounde, Cameroon and International Boxing Association (IBA) respectively.

"The venues and dates of these three international assignments will be communicated to the African countries by Confederation of African Boxing (AFBC) and International Boxing Association (IBA) and zonal bodies," stated the head coach.

And in the local scene, the national calendar will start with the National Novices Championships in February to be followed by National Intermediate Championships at venues and dates to be announced by Boxing Federation of Kenya once IBA releases its International Calendar of Events (ICE).

Dates and venues of all national championships will be harmonised with those of IBA, once their calendar is out.

Thereafter, the first to the fifth legs of the National Boxing League will box-off at different venues with their dates also being slotted in thereafter.