Okwiri to vie for WBO Africa title on 'boxing day'

Kenya's pro boxer Rayton "Boom Boom" Okwiri returns to the ring on 26 December to battle Ghana's Joshua Allotey for WBO Africa super welterweight title fight in Accra.

The Africa Boxing Union super-middleweight champion was initially scheduled to face Enock Musambuzi in Dar es Salaam on 26 November but the fight was cancelled. It was reported that he would face Charles Maluchi of Zimbabwe in Dar on 31 December. 

However, he will now face his toughest opponent yet in Allotey (16-10, 14 KOs) since turning pro in 2017. 

Okwiri (8-0-1, 6 KOs) is unshaken by Allotey's record. "I have fought tougher opponents in APB pro boxing, I'm ready for him but I will not take it as an easy fight. Ghanaians are tough boxers," says the unbeaten Kenyan southpaw who has been shaping up at Advanced Gym in South B.  

Okwiri has already received the blessings of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission. 

"I met the commission officials last week, we discussed at length all details pertaining to the fight so I'm going there with their full backing," says Okwiri who leaves for Accra on 22 December. 

Okwiri secured his place in the welterweight event in Rio by winning a gold medal in the 2016 African Boxing Olympics Qualification Tournament. He defeated Ghana's Mohameed Azumah in the semis to linch his place as part of the Kenyan team in Rio before going on to beat Egyptian Walid Sedik in the final. 

Okwiri made his professional debut on 4 February 2017, defeating Salehe Mkalekwa at the Crowne Plaza Nairobi. He won the African Boxing Union middleweight title in his sixth pro fight on 8 June 2019, beating Hussein Itaba.