Former African Boxing Union light-heavy champion Daniel Wanyonyi has promised a huge victory in his rematch with Tanzanian showboating pugilist Karim ‘Mtu Kazi’ Mandonga later this month.
The historic fight, promoted by Maurice Odera of Ultra Fight Series Promotion, will be held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi on July 22.
Wanyonyi has pledged to clear motormouth Mandonga with a knockout in the third round of this ten-round duel.
“He won’t last beyond the third round, it will be a massive victory,” Wanyonyi said at Pal Pal Gym in Nairobi where he has been training twice a day under head coach Julius Odhiambo.
“So far, I have worked on my counterattacks. I realised Mandonga is a rough and offensive fighter but he has no uppercut or any tactics for hooks. There’s nothing you can learn from his style of play,” Wanyonyi said.
“I have also worked on my side steps. This is what I will capitalise on to floor him.
“In our first meeting, I underrated him. But this time I’m preparing so well to finish the job early in the night, the fight will end very fast,” Wanyonyi warned.
By engaging in lots of sparring, Wanyonyi has conditioned his body to absorb more punches, a fact he says is a sign that his body is well-oiled for the slug-off ahead.
Since his loss to Mandonga in January, Wanyonyi has not had a break from training.
He believes lack of fitness is what contributed to his painful defeat in their first encounter after he failed to come out for the sixth round in the ten-round fight that was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
“I was so rusty, totally unfit. I was just coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic that hampered my training schedule. Mandonga had been doing intense exercises ever since as Tanzania was not under strict Covid-19 regulations,” Wanyonyi said.
“I can confidently say I have done my homework well. I have polished up. I’m ready for the rematch,” he emphasised.
Wanyonyi says his recent fight against Charles Kakande of Uganda, which he won on TKO at Kasarani Indoor Arena three months ago, is already enough proof that his body is fit and is ready to tackle big-talking Mandonga at Sarit.
Mandonga said he will finish Wanyonyi with a ‘Kinguki’ jab he recently ‘imported’ from Russia but Wanyonyi has dismissed this as hot air, saying he has slugged more Russians than the Tanzanian.
“I will use the so-called Kinguki jab to finish him off. Kitamramba (He will be consumed),” Wanyonyi said.
While inviting his legion of fans for the rematch, Wanyonyi said: ” Kindly turn up in large numbers on the day, and be punctual because this fight will end very fast.”
“I’m also inviting my Governor, Kenneth Lusaka, and area Member of Parliament, Didmus Baraza, to come to watch me carry the night.”
Odera says fans should expect a very exciting night of pure boxing on July 22.”There will be five hours of thrilling entertainment, pure talent will be displayed by the pugilists at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi,” he said.
When asked why he decided to hold the rematch fight, Odera said he believes the first bout was biased against Wanyonyi.
“It was an unfair loss for Wanyonyi. He did not train well, he had a long layoff,” he said.
“I felt Wanyonyi needed a chance to absolve his reputation, to show the fans that he is better than Mandonga and that Mandonga is just popular but not better.”
“Knowing Wanyonyi, knowing his history, knowing that he is among the older generation who have paved the way for the younger generation in the game, I had to give him this opportunity to redeem himself,” Odera observed.
Fight card
1.Superbantamweight: Albert Kimario vs Ben Ssajjabi (Uganda)-6 rounds
2.Featherweight: Consolata Musanga vs Rachael Musubika (Uganda) -6 rounds
3.Super Flyweight: Wilson Plumber vs Suleiman Gitau -6 rounds
4. Supermiddleweight: Lucien Botumbe (DRC) vs Juma Misumali. (Tanzania) -6 rounds
5. Lightweight: David Omollo vs Raphael Mutua -6 rounds.6.Light heavyweight: George Ochieng vs Majibu Musa-6 rounds
