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Boxer Daniel Wanyonyi dreams of world title after home victory
Super middleweight boxer Daniel Wanyonyi during weigh-in session at Kenya National Archives on July 18, 2025 before his Kenya Professional Boxing Commission super middleweight title fight dubbed 'Roar in the Ring II'.
Fresh from retaining the national super middleweight title, boxer Daniel Wanyonyi is back in training as prepares to take a shot at the World Boxing Federation (WBF) title in October in Frankfurt, Germany.
Wanyonyi will fight German boxer and defending champion, Alexander ‘The Great’ Rigas, in a 12-round bout, which will be the first shot by the Kenyan boxer at a world title.
On Saturday, Wanyonyi needed two minutes and 57 seconds to floor Daniel Owino in the second round of the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) super middleweight title fight. Dubbed “Roar in the Ring II”, Saturday’s bouts at Charter Hall, Nairobi, were organised by Melk Promotion.
Rigas beat his fellow countryman Benjamin Blindert to win the unified WBF and International Boxing Organisation International super middleweight title on June 22 last year in Hochlandhalle, Weilheim, Germany.
Rigas, 33, has orthodox fighting style and has registered 21 wins and three losses in his career, while Wanyonyi, 42, has registered 30 wins, 16 losses and two draws.
“I am delighted at the prospect of taking a shot at the world title for the first time. This calls for good preparation on my side,” said Wanyonyi.
Last year, Wanyonyi lost the fight for the vacant Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) world light heavyweight title to Michael Ryba from the Czech Republic on December 21 at Vodova Arena in Brno, Czech Republic.
Wanyonyi’s coach, Julius Odhiambo, said the fight against Rigas requires a good strategy.
“He (Wanyonyi) has the experience and trains well without any supervision. This is a big match, and we shall review his opponent’s past bouts to see how to approach the assignment,” said Odhiambo.
Wanyonyo trains at Palpal Gymnasium in Nairobi.
KPBC chairman Reuben Ndolo, who is in the United Kingdom organising quality bouts for Kenyan boxers, urged former Africa Boxing Union super middleweight champion Wanyonyi to prepare adequately for his fight against Rigas.
Ndolo will be in the UK to discuss how Kenya’s Sarah Achieng' will defend her Commonwealth Boxing Council super lightweight title on October 18, this year in Nairobi. Achieng’ beat Aniahs Basheel of Malawi in 2021 to win the title before defending it against Chiedza Homakoma from Zimbabwe at Charter Hall in 2022.
Second edition of the ‘Roar In The Ring’ fight card results
1. Super Middleweight: Daniel Wanyonyi vs Daniel Owino Okoth (National Title Fight)
-Wanyonyi won on TKO second round
2. Super Featherweight: Evanson Kiragu vs Dennis Ashley
-Ashley won 33-37, 36-38, 35-39
3. Featherweight: Jeremy Munga vs Boniface Nazangi
-Nazangi won 36-40, 36-40, 36-40
4. Welterweight: Stanley Museve vs David Kileo
-Museve won 39-36, 39-36, 39-36
5. Flyweight: Victor Komen vs Lawrence Owino
-Owino won 39-34, 40-33, 40-33
6. Featherweight: Fredrick Omondi vs Joshua Mutua
-Omondi won 59-40, 60-54, 69-45
7. Lightweight: Abdulrazack Mwenga(Tz) vs Nick Mwangi
-Draw (73-79, 76-76,79-73)
8. Lightheavy: Collins Nyakwaka vs David Ochieng
-Nyakwaka won on TKO second round
9. Middleweight: Dennis Okoth vs Amri Omari (Tz)
-Okoth won on TKO second round
10. Bantamweight: Nicholine Achieng vs Samira Kassim (Tz)
-Achieng won 40-35, 40-35, 40-35
11. Welterweight: Owen Isaac Kibira (Ug) vs Mohamed Faki (Tz)
-Kibira won 60-53, 60-53, 60-53
12. Middleweight: James Ssebalumu (Tz) vs Kelvin Masanja (Ug)
-Ssebalumu won on TKO eighth round
13.Middleweight: Stanley Mugerwa (Tz) vs Shafii Idrisa (Ug)
-Mugerwa won on TKO first round
14.Bantamweight: Catherine Nanziri (Uganda) vs Halimah Bandola (TZ)
-Nanziri won on TKO second round
Para-boxing
15: George Atito vs Augustus Kamau
-Kamau won 39-36, 36-40, 36-40
16.Emmanuel Agavihi vs Evans Odhiambo
-Draw (20-18-18-20)
