Kenya's Onyango Getting Fist-Ready For Pialari Showdown In Dar

17th October 2018

Tanzanian UBO Welterweight champion to trade punches against former WBC titleholder in non-title fight on November 3

Former World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Welterweight champion, James Onyango, when he won the belt against Tanzanian Saidi Mundi at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on December 2, 2017.PHOTO/SPN
Former World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Welterweight champion, James Onyango, when he won the belt against Tanzanian Saidi Mundi at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on December 2, 2017.PHOTO/SPN
SUMMARY
  • Onyango was due to defend his vacant belt against Chikondi Makawa of Malawi but the latter failed to show-up at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on July 14 for the scheduled title fight
  • He later travelled to South Africa to challenge Jason Bedeman in Sun City on September 23, but again his opponent failed to step into the ring prompting officials to cancel the fight
  • The Kenyan who will go to the bout as the underdog promised his fancied opponent a good old slugfest, admitting he has turned to the World Wide Web to plan his assault on the Tanzanian


NAIROBI, Kenya- World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Welterweight champion James Onyango has trained sights at upsetting home favourite and Tanzanian fighter, Idd Pialari when they clash in a non-title bout at Kinesi Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam on November 3.

The ring-rusty former Africa Commonwealth Welterweight champion is stepping training for the showdown against the decorated Pialari who is the Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) International Welterweight titleholder at Nairobi’s Kariobangi Social Hall.

“I have trained hard for the last six months but with no opponents to fight after two challengers backed off at the last minute,” Onyango told SportPesa News.

The Kenyan who will go to the bout as the underdog promised his fancied opponent a good old slugfest, admitting he has turned to the World Wide Web to plan his assault on the Tanzanian.

“I have been using YouTube videos to establish his fighting pattern. My schedule is very light. I do pad work and punches on Monday.

“Tuesdays are reserved for sparring. I do a lot of skipping on Wednesdays which I combine with more pad work and punches while Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for sparring,” he told.

Boxing promotion

Onyango was due to defend his vacant belt against Chikondi Makawa of Malawi but the latter failed to show-up at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on July 14 for the scheduled title fight.

The WBF then stripped him off his title after six months elapsed without a defence according to the rules of the global boxing promotion.

He later travelled to South Africa to challenge Jason Bedeman in Sun City on September 23, but again his opponent failed to step into the ring prompting officials to cancel the fight.

“I hope Pialari will not do the same,” Onyango who is grateful to promoter, Ejay Mathews, of Bigger Than Life Entertainment, for helping him to secure the fight hoped.

Onyango was crowned WBF champion at the same venue on December 2, 2017 after he beat Saidi Mundi of Tanzania on an unanimous points decision, with the judges scoring 118-114, 120-107 and 116-109.

Tale of the tape

Idd Pialari

Country: Tanzania

Weight: Welter

Fights: 28

Wins: 24 (Knock-Outs 17)

Losses: 3 (Knock-Outs 2)

Draws: 1

James Onyango

Country: Kenya

Weight: Welter

Fights: 37

Wins: 24 (Knock-Outs 19)

Losses: 11 (Knock-Outs 3)

Draws: 2