Younger brothers of Ouma and Ashira both win
Press Release: The younger brothers of Kassim Ouma and Evans Ashira both scored victories over the weekend at a show in Nairobi Kenya.
Welterweight prospect “Jesse” James Kimori had a rough time with tough-guy Andrew Samba, who, despite moving up from lightweight, gave a very good account of himself all the way. Samba holds a great win over former world-class contender Athanas Nzau, and came to shock Kimori too. But Kimori showed his potential, and escaped with a unanimous decision after four rounds. Scores were 40-37, 40-37 and 39-37. Kimori improves to 5-0 (3), and Samba goes to 2-8 (0).
Younger brother of former IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream” Ouma, super middleweight Wandera Ouma, took his record to 5-0 with 5 KOs with a third-round demolition of local journeyman Bob Harrison. Ouma, who is co-managed by his brother and Ashira, is looking very promising, and controlled action from the start. In round three he ended matters by technical knockout with a beautiful combination after basically landing his punches at will. Harrison is now reportedly 2-8-2, and might be best off considering retirement.
Another sibling on the show was Ashira’s own younger brother, Stanley Ashioya Katibi, a light middleweight with a striking facial resemblance of this cards promoter. After a late fall-out of his original opponent, Katibi instead took on recent Kenyan title-challenger Joseph Odhiambo, and a decent performance took him to a unanimous decision after six moderate-paced rounds. Katibi, who preferred to take the fight on the inside and score with hard body-shots, is now 10-3-2 (4) and riding a five-fight winning streak. The scorecards in this one read 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54.
Super featherweight David Kiilu, who recently did Kenya proud with an admirable, albeit loosing, performance in France for the WBF world title, returned to the ring with a third round knockout of Kevin Odhiambo, but had to overcome a massive scare in the first round. Odhiambo came out confident, and caught the favourite with a good shot midway through the first round which send the former Intercontinental champion down. It was however a flash knockdown, and Kiilu only seemed to get more determined from the surprise embarrassment. From that point on Kiilu took complete control, and battered the brave Odhiambo from pillar to post until the referee had seen enough early in round three. Odhiambo didn’t go down, but was not punching back, and the stoppage (TKO) was well-timed. Kiilu’s impressive ledger now reads 26-8-2 (14). Unfortunately no official record was on hand for Odhiambo. The fight was scheduled for eight.
In another eight-rounder, this one at super middleweight, Samson “Nyundo” Onyango, AKA “The Hammer”, returned to action after no less than three late cancellations of a planned rematch with Kenyan champion Mohammed Orungi. Orungi got a very controversial technical decision victory over Onyango last December when almost everybody felt Onyango was ahead at time of stoppage, or that Onyango should have been disqualified for head butting instead of getting the benefit of a technical decision, and since then “Nyundu” has been chasing a rematch. Yesterday he had to contend with a rematch against Stephen Esonga, who he beat on points in 2005.
Esonga seemed determined to revenge the defeat he suffered in their first go-around, and came out swinging in the first round. Unfortunately for him the taller Onyango had his measure, and easily avoided the wide hooks coming at him. Onyango used his piston-like jab with great efficiency, and won the first two rounds handily, but Esonga never stopped trying his hardest.
In round three, Onyango increased the tempo, cut off the ring, and cornered Esongo before unloading with everything in his arsenal. Esonga covered up, but neglected to punch back, and after around twenty unanswered punches the fight was stopped and Onyango awarded a deserved TKO triumph. It was a good fight, and Onyango, improved to 11-1 (8). Esonga fell to a deceiving 6-13-1 (1). He is a much better fighter than his record suggests.
