Kenya’s Javan Buyu and Uganda’s Catherine Nanziri stole the spotlight at an action-packed SportPesa Boxing Night after recording devastating stoppage victories at the Edge Convention Centre in South C, Nairobi, on Saturday night.
Buyu stopped Tanzania’s Ramadhan Idd in the second round to claim the vacant UBO Intercontinental lightweight title, adding the belt to his National Lightweight and Pugilistic Syndicate of Tanzania (PST) lightweight crowns.
Earlier, Nanziri dismantled Tanzania’s Husna Zamba in just one minute and seven seconds of the opening round to win the vacant PST super bantamweight title, adding it to her Ugandan national, East and Central Africa and Africa Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight belts.
The main event started at a frantic pace, with Idd using his speed and timing to frustrate Buyu during the opening exchanges.
But Buyu gradually took control, unleashing punishing attacks to the body before ending the contest with a crushing body shot that left the Tanzanian clutching his ribs and unable to continue after two minutes and 13 seconds of the second round.
Buyu said the stoppage was the result of a carefully executed game plan developed after his team identified a weakness in Idd’s style.
“The fight wasn’t easy. It was tough, but it was part of the plan… to pressure him in the first few rounds, maybe up to the fifth, then start boxing with him,” he said.
“We watched clips from his previous fights and one thing was certain—he had never been touched on the body. So the moment I started landing punches to the body, he started clinching and getting scared of fighting. But I’ll say he had good timing in the first round.”
The victory also carried special emotional significance for the Kenyan.
“It feels great to win the UBO title. Winning in front of my mum was one of my dreams. It feels very good.”
Buyu also thanked his promoters while outlining his ambitions beyond the latest triumph.
“I’d like to thank UFS, SportPesa and promoter Maurice Odera for choosing me and giving me this golden opportunity to represent Kenya and become a champion,” he said.
“As I said earlier, I wish to mentor and encourage young fighters. Additionally, I’m looking forward to representing Kenya on bigger stages and globally.”
Nanziri was just as dominant, overwhelming Zamba from the opening bell in their rematch before the referee intervened to stop the contest.
The Ugandan first split her opponent’s lower lip with a jab before landing a devastating shot to the right side of Zamba’s torso, leaving her unable to continue.
“The fight was so easy for me because I think I prepared so much better and trained hard. That’s why I fought easily,” said Nanziri.
“In camp, I had the best coaches and the best sponsors—Friends of Boxing. It’s a great pleasure that I’ve been supported well to reach this win.”
She said the quick finish was not part of her original strategy.
“It wasn’t my plan to finish the fight in the first round. I had prepared to go for all eight rounds. But I was so good… that’s why I won the fight in the first round,” she said.
Nanziri also dismissed suggestions that the bout had been a mismatch.
“It wasn’t a mismatch. It’s me who trained hard. My coach is an Olympian and so am I. She (Zamba) came for revenge, I came for the win.”
The Ugandan has already set her sights on a world title, declaring: “I’m now looking forward to the WBC title. I’m so ready.”
The undercard also produced a series of explosive stoppages.
DR Congo’s Lucien Botumbe stopped Uganda’s Taafi Odoyi in the second round of their super middleweight contest, while Kenya’s Michael Oduor needed just one minute and 17 seconds of aggressive boxing to dispatch Uganda’s Fredrick Okou in their super welterweight bout.
Kenyan flyweight Jin Shen recorded another stoppage, forcing a fourth-round technical knockout against debuting compatriot Calvin Omondi.
Morocco’s Nasro Habib delivered arguably the most spectacular finish of the night, flattening Kenya’s Nicodemus Hagai with a first-round knockout after one minute and 24 seconds.
Several bouts, however, went the distance.
Kenya’s Musa Najib defeated Uganda’s Ignatius Onyango by unanimous decision in the light heavyweight contest, while Jamal Hathwani upset Morocco’s Hamsa Bounabri by unanimous decision in the featherweight division.
Alice Waiyego edged Uganda’s Mercy Acayo by split decision in the women’s featherweight contest, Ethiopia’s Roman Asefa earned a unanimous decision over Kenya’s Jane Kavulani, and Teddy Murimi outpointed compatriot Meshack Okuku by unanimous decision in the super welterweight division.
The scheduled super lightweight contest between Kenya’s John Juma and Uganda’s Ben Ssababi was declared a no contest after Ssababi failed his pre-fight medical.
SportPesa Head of Marketing Senorine Wasike described the event as another milestone in the company’s continued investment in Kenyan boxing.
“It’s been a fantastic night. We’ve had SportPesa Boxing and it’s been an exciting night,” she said.
She noted that Buyu had risen through the SportPesa-backed Rising Stars programme.
“We also sponsor the Rising Stars, which Javan was part of. We’ve seen him not only grow but also get some wins. Next, we are planning a bigger fight in November, so look out for us.”
UFS BXNG promoter Maurice Odera praised the quality of the card despite several late setbacks.
“Tonight’s fights were amazing apart from a few challenges. We had one fighter from Uganda who didn’t pass his medical and we also had three pull-outs, which meant late replacements. But all in all, everything has gone well,” said Odera.
“The support we are getting from SportPesa is unbelievable. Without them, there’s no high-level boxing in Kenya. Ever since we joined forces, we are now the only ones doing high-level boxing,” he added.
Odera singled out Buyu as Kenya’s next major boxing star.
“The cream of the crop was Javan Buyu. We are taking him to the world stage. We will expose him gradually. Winning this belt makes him the number one-ranked Kenyan in the division,” he said.
“SportPesa took him under their wing when he was still young and we are going to take him all the way to a world title since they believe in champions in addition to their focus on grassroots development.”
