Why Sarah Achieng' is a frustrated woman

Sarah Achieng' of Kenya after being crowned the winner against Edith Soledad Matthysse of Argentina during their World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Women's World Super Lightweight title bout at Charter Hall, Nairobi, on June 10, 2023. [File, Standard]

When she ventured into professional boxing, she was determined to go places and become a world champion.

And after years of protracted practice, indeed she became a world champion, but it did not come on a silver platter on her way to the top.

It involved lots of sacrifices in training sessions, which included road races, gym work and bag punching, weight control measures, and sparring ahead of friendly matches.

In all that, she first emerged as a national champion, then a regional champion, followed by a Commonwealth queen, and finally she strode to become a world champion by all rights.

Evidently, it was not a walk in the park to accomplish all these achievements. But through sheer hard work, consistency, and dedication, with lots of keenness from advice from her coaches.

That's how World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super lightweight champion Sarah Achieng' sprung to be among the few female Kenyan professional boxers from Africa who entered history books as they became world champions in the fight for top honours.

And winning these titles could be easy, but maintaining the winning streak to successfully defend them is another chapter altogether and the biggest challenge to most professional boxers.

However, there are those who in the past had won titles and simultaneously retained them.

Achieng', the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super lightweight champion, is one of the few African female boxers who are in good shape to defend her two belts.

But her ambitions of doing so hang in the balance owing to different factors beyond her control.

Besides the WBF super lightweight (61.3kg) title, she is also the Commonwealth super lightweight titleholder, which all requires her to enter the ring to defend them lest she get stripped of both belts after the elapse of the mandatory six-month defence period.

Achieng' is also a holder of three other titles, which include the East and Central Africa featherweight (57kg) champion, Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) super lightweight title holder, and the national super lightweight champion.

And with all that success, she is not a happy lady at the end of the day.

The professional boxer is worried about her chances of defending the first two titles.

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

Achieng' is not happy with the promoter handling her two cases and the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) accusing them of not assisting her in achieving her ambitions.

"I'm disturbed after training so hard, and at the end of it, there's nothing to celebrate about. This comes with lots of sacrifices, which include resources, time in training and workouts, etc., and yet I cannot box," a frustrated Achieng' told Standard Sports.

She was to defend the Commonwealth title against Monalisa Sibanda of Zimbabwe in Kisumu on August 31 last year, but it never materialised.

She first defended the title against Chiedza Homakoma of Zimbabwe on December 16, 2023, in Nairobi but pointed out that time was running out for her second time to do so.

"If somebody can come to my rescue, I'll really appreciate him/her. This is because they can save my career at a time I'm in good shape, and this should not go to waste," said the 36-year-old boxer.

Achieng' appealed to Homa Bay Governor Glady Wanga and other women leaders in the country to come to her rescue.

"I'm ready to successfully defend the WBF title. What about the Commonwealth title? I appeal to any well-wisher to come to my rescue. Kindly, Your Excellency Gladys Wanga and others, come to my rescue," she pleaded.