Abuko and Uganda’s Achayo take pride in Labour Day Championships.
By Tom Chepsoi | BARINGO,
Kenya’s Jeremiah Abuko and Uganda’s Mercy Achayo were given a standing ovation as Hand of God Boxing Championships came to an end at K-Fitness Gym in Nakuru City yesterday.
Abuko who’s one of the professional boxers from Nakuru defeated Jackson Munene in a split points’ decision in a mouthwatering see-saw super flyweight six-round-match.
In the first two rounds both boxers appeared to be studying each other’s tactics and therefore there’s no serious exchange of jabs. Coming into the third round is when real fight started as each boxer was salivating for the top prize money to take home.
In the fourth round, it was evident Abuko was on his way home with victory but with two vicious punches that one sent him to the canvas and the other fell him down. In the last two rounds, he (Abuko) made a comeback in retaliation with the two powerful jabs he received in the fourth round by pouncing on his opponent with sporadic jabs with little defence.
As the crowd roared Abuko Ni Kiboko Yao (Abuko is the Man to Beat), he (Abuko) finalized everything in the sixth round by overcoming his opponent with some vicious uppercuts that left some fans wondering if boxing was truly a sporting discipline. “I have done the job and we’ll repeat it next time and possibly in Eldoret. It was serious business and I’m happy to have emerged victorious,” Abuko said.
Abuko scored 58-56, 59-55 and 57-55 points. As Abuko reigned on Munene, Uganda’s Mercy Achayo knocked out Nakuru girl Stacy Odindo in the second round of the four round super featherweight bout.
From the word go, Odindo’s fitness levels was doubtful as she struggled with her footwork and was not accurate on target in the first round. Achayo took advantage of these weaknesses to knock out her opponent in the first few seconds of the second round. Achayo was happy to return home rich saying “That’s what brought me here from Kampala and in ready to return back again if invited”.
In the super welterweight match, home boy Maxwell Odhiambo won on unanimous points’ decision over Victor Okoyo. The event, which is meant to promote professional boxing at the grassroots in the first eight counties moves to Eldoret in the second leg of a series of these competitions. After going all the eight counties, it’ll culminate in the finals at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi in November.
Chief coordinator Patrick Ojil said theirs is to improve the life standards of boxers by putting money into their pockets at tender ages. “We don’t have to wait for boxers to be in their 30s to turn professional. We want to do it while they are in their 20s and teach them how to invest their money,” said Ojil.
THE RESULTS.
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT – Maxwell Odhiambo beats Victor Okoyo on points.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT – Mercy Achayo of Uganda knocks out Stacy Odindo of Nakuru in Round Two.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT – Jeremiah Abuko beats Jackson Munene on points.
