Nairobi News

Former Boxing Open champion Nick Otieno Kanyankole won the Buruburu open title after flooring Kennedy Owiti on points at Club Casurina at the weekend.

Kanyankole was in fine form as he knocked his opponents, three on knock outs and two on points to win the event that attracted a huge crowd on Saturday.

He defeated his Owiti 16-10 after 12 rounds, dominating the exchanges throughout the match to mark a winning return to the ring.

Kanyankole was last in the ring in October at the Thika Municipal Stadium where he knocked out Remmy Iga after three rounds.

“I am excited about this win, it is a morale boost as I make my comeback to boxing, I look forward to many such bouts”, Kanyankole told NairobiNews.

It was however a bitter sweet return for veteran professional boxer Robert Ochung who failed to advance to the knock out stages after losing out to the eventual winner in the third round.

Ochung had made an impressive start, winning his opening fight against Gabriel Ochieng of Mbotela boxing club.

Ochung outpointed his opponent 10 -7, using all his experience to floor his younger opponent who seemed to run out of ideas in the latter stages of the exchanges.

Buoyed by the win, Ochung went into the second round full of confidence and again showed great technique as he defeated Charles Okoth of Undugu on points to advance to the third round.

He was however stopped by the eventual winner, Kanyankole who knocked him out in the seventh round despite Ochung dominating proceedings.

Kanyankole’s strategy was to tire his opponent and then knock him out when he least expected it. The strategy worked against the Lan’gata Pilates boxer who could not recover after the knock out.

He lay on the ground as Kanyankole celebrated and eventually went on to win the event.