Meru will on March 16, 2024 hold inaugural international boxing tournament at Kinoru Stadium with the aim of ending teenage pregnancies in the county.
While the historic boxing bout dubbed ‘Shujaa wa Mashujaa’ is meant to promote the sport, it is also motivated by a need to address the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Meru.
According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) of 2022, Meru was ranked fourth nationally with 24 per cent of all deliveries being by teenage mothers.
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The tournament will also help raise funds for Greenland Schools, which offer teenage mothers a second chance to education.
Event promoter Edward Mendy from Lion Heart Boxing Productions said the fights comprise an eight round World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) duel between Kenya’s super middleweight champion Daniel Wanyonyi and American Kamron Humphrey.
Former two-time commonwealth champion Lee Mac Alister will square it out with Tanzania’s Amos Mwamukula in another WABA title contest while Charity Mukami who was born and raised in Meru will defend her home turf against Tanzanian Leila Yusuf in a women’s eight round middleweight contest.
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In the National Walter weight fight, Martin Achebi will face Juma Oloo while others in the fight card are American Chris Byrd against Namibian Harry Simon, Harry Simon Junior (Namibia) against Paul Peers (UK) and Taiwo Abolafi (US) against Kamala Ntege (US).
“Wanyonyi is the biggest boxer in Kenya right now and he will be in Meru for the fight. It is a historic event in the region. Mukami has promised that she is definitely not losing in her own backyard. We believe this will inspire many more girls from Meru,” Mendy said.
Purity Gakii from Alpha Charlie Solutions said the boxing event is meant to kick out teen pregnancies from Kenya.
Speaking in Meru during the preparations for the event, Wanyonyi said he was banking on home advantage to win.
He said the sport saved him from crime and drug abuse calling on the youth to take their talents seriously.
By John Majau
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