Okwiri warns Tanzanian nemesis Mwankemwa ahead of WBF fight

Kenya’s pro-boxing poster boy Rayton Okwiri has vowed to annihilate his Tanzanian nemesis Meshack ‘Smart Boy’ Mwankemwa during their WBF International middleweight title bout on March 23.

The former Africa Boxing Union (ABU) champion urged local sports enthusiasts to throng the Kenyatta International Convention Centre stands to roar him on, vowing to turn the face of his opponent into a cherry pie.

Okwiri, 37, made the remarks during a pre-bout plenary session held at the Quiver Lounge along Kangundo Road in Nairobi on Tuesday. Okwiri said he has been punching furiously on the bag in anticipation of the D-day.   

“I promise you, he’ll be sprawling on the surface in a matter of seconds. I’m sure he won’t even last one round,” Okwiri asserted.

“I’ve prepared well for this fight since late last year and I’m confident of running over my opponent,” he added.

On his part, Mwankemwa fired a warning shot to his host, vowing to shred him into tiny parts on home soil.

“I’m coming to teach him a big lesson he’ll live to remember for the rest of his life. I highly doubt if he has the aptitude to match my superior skills in the ring,” Mwankemwa started.

“I’ve watched him in action and I’ve put an effective strategy in place to finish him off completely. Rest assured he won’t be lasting long in that bout,” he added.

The 27-year-old 5’ 10” pugilist who fights in the orthodox stance boasts an impressive track record in his professional fights, including 18 wins(11 by KO), seven losses and two draws.

The development comes a couple of days after Okwiri failed to travel to Moka, Mauritius for his much-touted non-title fight against Malawian opponent Limbani Chikapa earlier slated for February 24, owing to the imminent threat posed by Cyclone Eleanor.

Okwiri has been training at the Ultra fitness hub along Kilimani Road in Nairobi under experienced gaffer Daniel Shisia.

“I’m polishing my skills under Silas Okuku Otieno who is taking me through strength and conditioning sessions at the Hill Park gymnasium while David Shisia is helping me to perfect my movement in the ring,” he added.

Okwiri, 37, enters the battlefield fresh from winning the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) Africa middleweight title the previous year.

On September 10, the Kenya Prisons officer defeated Malawi’s Chikodi Makawa by a unanimous points decision at the Nyayo Stadium Indoor Arena in Nairobi.

Eleven other bouts have been lined up for the fight night with boxers drawn from a host of countries including France, Canada, Mauritius, Uganda,  Tanzania, and Kenya. The event is a concerted effort between Solid Rock Promotions and the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission.