Daniel Wanyonyi has promised fireworks when he battles American Kamron Humprey in a super middleweight bout during the Shujaa wa Mashujaa extravaganza at Kinoru Stadium, Meru County, on March 16.
Wanyonyi, 29-15-2, will fancy his chances against the American (3-2-0) in an eight-round duel.
“My opponent is 77 kilograms and my punch, ‘Dusra’, is about 250 kilograms. It will be fireworks. They (organisers) should bring an ambulance and a fire engine,” Wanyonyi threatened.
This will be Wanyonyi’s fight this year. His last was a 10-round unanimous decision light-heavy win over Tanzanian Karim Mandonga at the Sarit Centre, Nairobi, on July 22 last year.
Wanyonyi said he will keep fighting, especially after the sport saved him from crime and drug abuse. His agemates were not as lucky, he says, and are either dead or in prison.
“Were it not for sports, maybe I would have ended up in prison or be killed. Embracing one’s talent is very important as it keeps the mind and body engaged therefore avoiding vices like crime and drugs,” Wanyonyi said.
Meru-born boxer Charity Mukami (5-4-0)will be at home against Tanzanian Leila Yusuf in a women’s eight-round middleweight contest, the only ladies’ match in the eight-bout card.
Martin Achebi and John Juma Oloo, who both have 4-0-0 records, will fight for the national welterweight title over 10 rounds.
Two-time Commonwealth champion Lee Mac Alister (48-3) will face Five Class World Champion Amos Mwamakula (15-9) in a middleweight 10-round main fight.
Harry Simon, Jr (21-1) faces Briton Paul Peers (14-7) in a 10-round welterweight fight.
Taiwo Abolafi (6-0) and Kamala Ntege (6-3) will fight in a six-round middleweight fight while Ugandan Hebert Matovu will make his pro debut against Abdullah Tongolo (1-2) in a four-round heavyweight fight.
Two-time heavyweight champion of the world Chris Byrd (47-5) will face African great Harry Simon (31-0) in a four-round cruiserweight legends exhibition bout.
The fight is promoted by US-based Edward Mendy of Lion Heart Boxing Productions assisted by Caroline Gikunda of Alpha Charlie Solutions and Festo Muringi of Office Inn.
The match-makers are Corey Williams and Abdu Kessy Mohamed. The bouts are approved by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission.
The event seeks to create awareness of teenage pregnancies and education for teenage mothers in Meru.
Meru County executive committee member in charge of Youth, Sports and Gender, Benjamin Mungania said: “It is such a privilege and honour to host such an event. We urge the residents to turn up in large numbers and witness great action.”
“This is a good way of teaching our girls to embrace sports as a way to mitigate teenage pregnancies. I want to thank Mukami for her role in creating this awareness,” added Meru Municipality MCA Caleb Mutethia.
Mendy is excited to work with Wanyonyi — currently the biggest name in Kenyan boxing.
“Everybody who loves boxing across the world watched the matches between Wanyonyi and Mandonga. I was happy when Wanyonyi won the second fight,” he said.
