Former African Boxing Union (ABU) light heavyweight champion, Daniel Wanyonyi, shared his thoughts on his recent victory against Tanzania’s Karim Mandonga.
The bout marked a significant moment for Wanyonyi, as it avenged his earlier defeat to Mandonga through technical knockout in a non-title super middleweight fight held at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi in January.
After securing the victory on Saturday, Wanyonyi revealed that he could have ended the fight in the early rounds, but he chose not to, out of respect for the spectators. He wanted to ensure that the fans received value for their money and witnessed an entertaining match.
While Wanyonyi managed to knock Mandonga down twice during the fight, he refrained from finishing the bout early, confident in his ability to emerge victorious. “I was sure he couldn’t beat me this time, so I punished him. I am sure he did not get a good night’s sleep,” Wanyonyi stated.
He attributed his success to the extensive preparation he undertook before facing Mandonga in the non-title bout at Sarit Center Expo in Nairobi. Wanyonyi’s strategy and determination paid off, as he emerged as the winner by points after scoring knockdowns in the sixth and tenth rounds.
In response to his defeat, Mandonga, who initially dominated the first three rounds of the bout, gracefully congratulated Wanyonyi on his victory. However, he vowed to seek revenge in their next encounter. “Nothing bad has happened, I have lost this fight, and I congratulate him. Today he has won; tomorrow it will be me,” Mandonga declared.
With this latest victory, Wanyonyi’s professional boxing record now stands at (29-15-2), while Mandonga’s record is (6-4-2). The stage is set for their future rematch, and fans eagerly anticipate another thrilling showdown between the two talented boxers.
