Risum Boxing: Onyango, Kimori Finish Strong In 2007

On Saturday December 15 at the Temeke Luxury Pub in Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania, on a show promoted by Neleah Petro Promotions in cooperation with Risum Boxing, Kenyan super middleweight Samson Onyango and welterweight “Jesse” James Kimori closed out 2007 with action against locals Idd Kigula and George Mtagwa.

Kimori, for the first time scheduled to go six rounds, didn’t even need one to get rid of Mtagwa, as he came out full force and knocked his opponent down after just 36 seconds. Mtagwa got up on unsteady legs, and was quickly overwhelmed again and continuously pummelled with punches before his corner threw in the towel 2 minutes and 19 seconds after the opening bell. This being his first professional fight outside Kenya, Kimori stays unbeaten at 7-0, with five wins inside the distance.

In an eight-round rematch of an entertaining 2005 encounter, which Onyango won by third-round knockout in Kenya, the man known as “The Hammer” had to come off the floor to emerge victorious in another all-out war with tough former IBF Youth title-challenger Idd Kigula. After an evenly contested but fierce first round where both fighters gave and took hard shots, Onyango was knocked down in the second and had to go all out to get back in the bout. It was clear that these two had history with each other, and both men were determined to win.

In round three Onyango levelled things by scoring a knockdown of his own, flattening Kigula with a straight right hand. The Tanzanian got up, but Onyango smelled blood and put on the pressure to end matters then and there. He didn’t succeed, but Kigula looked a beaten man when he returned to his corner. After taking too much punishment in the third, Kigula didn’t come out for round four, as a badly swollen and closing eye prevented him from seeing, and once again Onyango was declared the winner and moved his record to 13-2 (10).

Manager Henrik Risum is planning to put Kimori and Onyango, as well as his third Kenyan fighter David Kiilu, back in action in early 2008 tune-ups before aiming at title fights for all three. Kimori most likely at home in Kenya, while Kiilu and Onyango could be headed for Europe once again.