Had things turned out differently, Hit Squad flyweight boxer David Karanja would have been one of the best kickboxers in the country.
However, due to a lack of proper facilities to grow the sport in the country, the diminutive fighter — born in Chinga, Nyeri County — decided to take up boxing instead.
This seems a wise decision considering he is the Africa Zone 3 Championships silver medalist.
"I was very interested in martial arts and I started with kickboxing which was only available at Ruai in 2010. I was the dominant figure in the sport but I felt I did not have the kind of challenge (with all due respect to my opponents then and the kickboxing fraternity). I needed to become an international kickboxer. I thus retired undefeated, "the 24-year-old recalls.
After high school, Karanja would travel eight kilometres from Ruai along Kangundo Road to Jericho to box.
"I was determined to use my talent as a fighter and I had to sacrifice a lot financially to achieve my dream," Karanja says.
Like many upcoming fighters born in the 90s, Karanja looked up to Seoul Olympics gold medalist, the late Robert Wangila, who died in 1994, way before he was born.
"From when I was a kid, my father would tell me about him (Wangila), how he was a knockout artist and a fearless warrior in the ring. I also admired Mike Tyson for the way he was aggressive in the ring despite fighting opponents who, in most cases, were bigger than him," Karanja recounts.
Love for fighting
To achieve his dream of being a renowned prizefighter, support from a family of a young man pursuing his dream is paramount and Karanja had his in his corner.
"My family has always been supportive. I was once employed and stopped boxing but my mother told me to quit and chase my boxing dream because she recognised the talent that I possessed and the passion I had for the sport," he says.
"My dad was equally enthusiastic about how keen I was in boxing despite the fact that there was no boxing gym in Ruai."
From his school days, Karanja was keen on becoming a champion. Whenever a teacher would ask everyone about their preferred careers, he instinctively knew he wanted to be a boxer.
However, due to his slight frame and fear of becoming a laughing stock among peers, he would often hold back from expressing his true dream.
"I told the teachers I wanted to be an engineer but deep inside I knew I wanted to box. However, I couldn't tell them. Being the smallest guy in the class, it was like a joke, "he reminisces amid laughter.
Already a national champion in his flyweight division, Karanja has conquered many to reach the pinnacle of boxing in the country.
He, however, had to go the distance against Burundian in the Zone 3 Championships in Congo. He readily admits that was his toughest opponent to date.
"My opponent from Burundi was as tough as nails during our fight in Congo. He took all my best shots; he was tough but not smart as I outpointed him," Karanja says.
The silver medal he won in the tournament remains the hallmark of his career but he is determined to be the best in his division in the not-too-distant future.
"I would have wished for many things but time is still on my side for me to accomplish my dreams," he says.
"I, therefore, don't have any regrets, just lessons. I give thanks for what the lessons have taught me as they will help me hone my skills and be better prepared when another competition comes around."
Future ambitions
The orthodox pugilist, who was part of the sparring partners for the four Hit Squad boxers who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is determined to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots and be in the Hit Squad for the Paris Olympics in three years.
Before then, he has his eyes fixed on playing at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in England.
"My short-term aim is to participate in the Commonwealth Games next year and the Olympics in Paris. I want to go down as one of the best in my division. I know it will take hard work and discipline to achieve what I want. I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my ambitions," he says with a determined look.
In his five years of experience in the sport, meeting with the AIBA World Boxing president Umar Kremlyov is among his most cherished moments in his relatively short time as an amateur pugilist.
"He is a very professional administrator and easy-going person for someone of his standing in boxing. I, like my colleagues in the national team, was honoured to meet him and hear about his plans for Amateur boxing. I truly believe AIBA is in the right hands and if he can accomplish his manifesto, boxing will be very good going forward," he says.
Two coaches that he credits for shaping him into a fine boxer he are national team head coach Benjamin Musa and Alfred Priest Analo, Boxgirls founder and renowned coach at the Eddy Papa Musi Boxing Club in Kariobangi.
"The two coaches will always remain my mentors. However, my career turns out. They are true masters of the sweet science and I always endeavour to carry out their ideas whether in training or when in the ring," he says.
Despite spending a large part of his life in Nairobi, Karanja remains a farm boy in his heart and rears animals while not in training.
"I do farming. It's a passion I have always had since I was a kid as my parents reared animals; pigs, goats, chicken and ducks. So it was only natural that I continued in that path," he concludes.