Kenyan female pugilist stops Argentine opponent after 10 rounds
It was tipped to be a thrilling night and it did not disappoint. Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) super lightweight champion Kenya’s Sarah Achieng ended the night win another prestigious collection to her trophy cabinet.
The 34-year-old Achieng who is commonly known as “Ängel of War” made history as the third Kenyan woman to win a world boxing title when she claimed the vacant World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Women’s World super lightweight title.
The mother of one chalked a unanimous point’s decision against Edith Soledad of Argentina in an edge-sitting 10-round contest on Saturday at the Charter Hall, Nairobi. Judges Rashid Modest, Ali Athumani and Linet Anam scored 97-93, 97-92 and 98-92 respectively in favour of Achieng, who was cheered to victory by a partisan crowd including Nairobi County Talent, Skill Development and Care Executive Brian Mulama and Nairobi County women representative Esther Passaris.
Achieng now joins Fatuma Zarika, who once held the World Boxing Council (WBC) world female super-bantamweight title and Conjestina “Hands of Stone” Achieng, who donned the WBF world and Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) titles.
“It was a good fight though not easy since I had to dig deep, study her tactics and score after avoiding her close body assault,” said Achieng, who stretched her record to 16 wins and two losses (16-2-0).
Achieng declared that she is now ready and ripe for a WBC super lightweight title and called out on the reigning champion Chantelle Cameron to face her.
“I believe my victory is a stamen enough that I can challenge for something big,” said Achieng, who dedicated her victory to Kenyan people, her family and her coach Alfred “Priest” Analo.
“Analo has really worked hard with my training regime to ensure that I deliver this sweet victory,” said Achieng, who was quite explosive in the first seven rounds where she dominated Soledad, who only picked up in the dying minutes of the rounds.
Achieng now holds four belts- the WBF, CBC, Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) and Kenyan title.
In other bouts of the extravaganza that was sponsored by Nairobi County, Zuizi Sports and Sarova Hotels among others, Joshua Wasike needed one minute and 35 seconds of the second round to knockout Wellington Busili in heavyweight.
Juma Oloo also took 10 seconds in the second round to beat Mustafa Omar in the welterweight contest as Fredrick Nyakesha claimed a unanimous decision against Ibrahim Odhiambo in a lightweight bout. Martin Achebi stopped McGregory a minute into the second round of their light welterweight contest as Brian Ocholla also knocked out Dan Olouch in the second round of their welterweight fray.
