Sparks went flying today early morning when Kenya's middleweight Champ, Rayton Okwiri Knocked out Colombian Fidel Munoz in the 2nd round of an 8-round non-title bout in the USA. The referee had to call the fight after Okwiri simply overpowered Munoz who staggered thrice after a barrage of heavy blows.
Okwiri left the country in May for more intensive training in the United States in preparation for a series of fights lined up for him in the US and in East Africa. He first landed in Cancun, Mexico for intensive physical conditioning training with Namibia's Walter Kautondokwa before moving to Boston for a sparring camp.
The 2016 Rio Olympics quarter-finalist is now based in Boston on a 5-year managerial contract with Raynelo Management who are partners with Reyes Boxing Inc. The 35 year old has now won all his 7 fights including 5 KOs and one draw since turning professional four years ago. In his fifth fight in June 2019, Okwiri captured the vacant Africa Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight title with a third-round KO over Tanzania's Hussein Itaba at the Charter Hall.
Okwiri said his burning ambition is to become a world champion before he's 40 years old.``Between now and 40, I promise my fans I'll win a world title, that's my eventual goal in pro boxing. I am capable of doing it judging from difficult opponents I've beaten in amateur boxing and in Aiba professional boxing.'' He also said he prefers training in the US because of tough sparring partners unlike in Kenya where he lacks stiff competition during sparring sessions.