•The two pugilists went head-to-head for the prestigious title in the electrifying 10-round duel that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
•Had Okwiri been a pro-boxer somewhere in Europe or the USA, he would have walked away with millions of cash in his pockets.
Image: FILE
Boxing fans flocked to the Nyayo Stadium indoor arena last Saturday to watch an enthralling battle of the Titans.
In the spectacular display of might, Kenya’s pro-boxing superstar Rayton ‘Boom Boom’ Okwiri overcame Malawi’s Chikondi Makawa to win the World Alliance of Boxing Associations (WABA) middleweight title.
The two pugilists went head-to-head for the prestigious title in the electrifying 10-round duel that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Had Okwiri been a pro-boxer somewhere in Europe or the USA, he would have walked away with millions of cash in his pockets.
Unfortunately, like the rest of his peers, he has found himself in a country that does little to promote the sport. Out there, pro boxers flourish in wealth but the situation is quite different in the country.
There are already so many complaints, including disturbing cases of promoters disappearing as soon as they land deals with corporate bodies to sponsor events.
Okwiri, a sergeant at the Kenya Prisons, blasted unscrupulous promoters for failing to pay boxers at the end of tournaments.
He has called on authorities to establish a system to encourage the existence of honest promoters — those who keep their promises and pay their boxers on time.
It is very painful that a few boxing promoters have turned out to be unscrupulous leeches looking to reap where they have not sown.
Using his ordeal as an example, Okwiri expressed his dissatisfaction with how a Uganda boxing promoter handled his planned bout in the preceding year.
The Kenyan Olympian — standing at 5ft7 — was scheduled to fight Ugandan Kassim Ouma in a non-title fight in December, but the fight was canceled due to pay disagreements. He said he had never encountered a promoter who sounded genuine over the phone but was quite the opposite in person.
Okwiri recounted his ordeal at the hands of the promoter who failed to meet them at the airport, forcing them to pay for their transportation to the hotel. He said his sponsors footed every bill for him in Uganda after the promoter disappeared and failed to return phone calls or respond to messages.
The five bouts that were to be staged in Kampala were all canceled after the boxers refused to fight until they were paid. Such situations merely serve to constrain the number of entrants into the local pro-boxing scene.
For instance, former Hit Squad captain Nick Okoth ruled out a career in professional boxing after announcing his exit from the amateur scene.
Having graced two Olympics and four Commonwealth Games, many believe Okoth has mustered enough expertise to dare opponents in the pro arena, but the Kenya Defence Forces sergeant will hear none of it.
Okoth reiterated the need for local boxing promoters to fix things, noting that their house faced too many challenges.
As Okoth rightfully put it, one can't witness all the chaos going on in the house next door and still be in a hurry to go there.
He emphasised the need for local boxing promoters to market their product in a better way if they intend to attract any clients.
Okoth said while pro boxing is meant to make pugilists rich and famous, local boxers have been known to wallow in endless misery.
According to him, the kind of pay professional boxers in the country get is disappointing, and again, there is the question of how the professional arena is managed.
The appointment of Reuben Ndolo as the new WABA governor of the Commonwealth and Indo-Oceania region provides a glimmer of hope for the local boxing fraternity.
Ndolo has pledged to use his position of influence to restore the fortunes of African boxers. His statement is a welcome relief for Kenya and other countries under his jurisdiction.
Hopefully, he will set up a conducive environment for the continent to showcase its boxing prowess.