After beating Argentine Edith Soledad to clinch the vacant WBF Super Lightweight title on Saturday night, Sarah ‘Angel of War’ Achieng is already calling on challengers to come forth and claim her crown.
Achieng stopped the former WBC/WBA unified featherweight world champion on points after going the full distance in a 10-round bout at Charter Hall, Nairobi.
“My fight against Soledad wasn’t easy. I had to study her tactics as the fight went on. The victory has made a statement that I can challenge for something bigger,” Achieng said.
However, she observed that defending such titles has been the biggest challenge for Kenyan boxers, especially at home.
“It’s a fact that I have won this title but when it comes to defending it, it usually becomes a big challenge,” said Achieng. “I am therefore calling on boxing promoters as well as sponsors to come on board and support me defend it even as we target bigger titles.”
Achieng’s calls were echoed by her coach Alfred ‘Priest’ Analo, who claimed it has become very difficult to have regular bouts for Kenyan boxers, both at home and abroad.
“For Sarah to win this title is not a surprise, it was just a matter of time. We had some challenges heading into the fight and as Sarah says, winning is usually not a problem, defending is, especially at home,” said Analo.
“To get sponsors and promoters has become such a very big challenge but I want to thank all those who made this fight a success, moreso the county government of Nairobi.”
Saturday’s win sends Achieng’s record to 16 wins and two losses from which she holds three international titles, including the WBF, CBC and Universal Boxing Organization (UBO).
In other bouts during Saturday’s fight night, Pracedes Anyango beat Joyce Awino on points in a six-round Super Lightweight exchange.
Another welterweight fight saw Marvin Achola stop Dan Oluoch in a first-round TKO while Fredrick Nyakesha beat Ibrahim Odhiambo on points in a six-round Lightweight encounter.
John Juma stopped Mustapha Omar in the second round of a light welter weight duel while another lightwelter weight contest saw Martin Achebi stop McGregor Ochonge in Round Two.
