•The Kenya Prisons officer triumphed over Malawi's Chikodi Makawa on a unanimous points decision at the Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Arena on Saturday night.
•The former Africa Boxing Union (ABU) champion said his emphatic win against Makawa demonstrates the massive potential he has as he seeks to scale new heights.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya's pro-boxing sensation, Rayton "Boom Boom" Okwiri has revealed his plans to take on Tanzanian ringmaster Hassan 'Tornado' Mwakinyo in his next title fight.
Okwiri, 37, spoke after storming the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) Africa middleweight title on Sunday morning.
The Kenya Prisons officer triumphed over Malawi's Chikodi Makawa on a unanimous points decision at the Nyayo Stadium, Indoor Arena on Saturday night.
The former Africa Boxing Union (ABU) champion said his emphatic win against Makawa demonstrates the massive potential he has as he seeks to scale new heights.
All three judges scored 100-90 in his favour, sending the arena into a celebration frenzy. The victory brought his impressive track record to nine wins, a loss, and a draw (9-1-1).
Okwiri said the victory set his season in motion and laid the perfect foundation for a vicious fight against Mwakinyo.
"He has avoided me for a long time now but I won't allow him to get away this time around. Our meeting is long overdue and I believe I will triumph," Okwiri said.
The Kenyan pugilist said he has been yearning for a match-up with the highly rated and technically gifted boxer because they have a lot in common with Mwakinyo.
"He is an orthodox boxer just like me whom I can easily beat if I prepare well enough," said Okwiri. He said he would not waste time-fighting wannabes anymore but would go straight for the scalps of titlists.
"I chose him because a champion like me shouldn't be wasting time fighting nondescript boxers who have nothing to offer in the game. It's time to separate boys from men. You can only be the best if you fight the best," he added.
Mwakinyo, whose real name is Halfan Hythani Hamza, has won 20 fights out of the 23 bouts he has fought since making his debut in 2020 against Alibaba Tarimo on November 29, 2015.
He rose to the global limelight after clinching the WBF Intercontinental light-middleweight title twice in 2020.
Mwakinyo boasts a decorated trophy cabinet that includes the UBO International super welterweight title won in 2018, the WBF Intercontinental super welterweight in 2020, and the ABU super welterweight title in 2021.
Okwiri said that the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) promised him a WABA World title fight in Dubai next year.
"It's after the World title that I shall know if I will fight for another major belt at the World Boxing Council or International Boxing Federation," said Okwiri.
Echoing Okwiri's sentiments, the newly appointed World Alliance Boxing Association governor of the Commonwealth and Indo-Oceania region, Ruben Ndolo said they have a title fight in mind for the boxer.
"What we want as the new WABA office is to propel African boxers to unprecedented heights and so we intend to create more world champions from the continent. The seasoned administrator said he will work closely with WABA member associations to boost the status of African boxers on the global front.
"My main objective is to ensure that African pro-boxers get the same recognition their colleagues from other continents get on the global stage," Ndolo said.