Kenyan veteran boxers Zarika and Okwiri eye WBC title shots in 2026
Zarika, 40, is set to face Tanzanian Halima Vunajebi in the super featherweight division, while Okwiri, 39, will test his strength against Uganda's Muhamad Sebyala in a middleweight contest.
Kenyan boxing veterans Fatuma Zarika and Rayton Okwiri are preparing for a high-stakes return to the ring, with both eyeing another shot at World Boxing Council (WBC) titles next year.
Before that dream can materialise, the pair must first clear a major hurdle, winning their Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) elimination fights set for November 21 at MassHouse, Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi.
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Zarika, 40, is set to face Tanzanian Halima Vunajebi in the super featherweight division, while Okwiri, 39, will test his strength against Uganda's Muhamad Sebyala in a middleweight contest.
Both bouts, promoted by Kalakoda Promotions, are scheduled for eight rounds and will determine who advances to fight for the CBC titles on January 26, 2026. Victories at that stage could earn the pair a shot at WBC belts in August 2026.
A win against Vunajebi would pave the way for Zarika's long-awaited rematch with Britain's Kirsty Hill, who narrowly beat her by split decision 20 months ago to claim the CBC title in Blackpool, England.
"I am ready for a good fight with Vunajebi, whom I respect. She has a good record," Zarika, who has been training under coach Marvin Obuya, said, according to The Nation.
"I wasn't happy with the split decision, but I understand she was fighting on her home turf. I would like to win at home in a clean way."
Zarika, a mother of two and a veteran of 50 professional fights, made history in October 2016 when she became the first African woman to win a WBC title after defeating Jamaica's Alicia Ashley.
She successfully defended the belt three times, beating Zambia's Catherine Phiri twice and Mexico's Yamileth Mercado once, before losing it in a rematch with Mercado in 2019. Since then, she has fought three more times, winning two and losing one to Hill.
On the other hand, Okwiri, a former Africa Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight champion, will be looking to revive his international career by overcoming Sebyala, who has 23 wins, 15 losses and one draw.
Victory for Okwiri, who holds a record of 11 wins, a draw and a loss, would earn him a title bout against Britain's unbeaten George Liddard, who captured the CBC middleweight crown on October 17 after stopping Kieron Conway in the tenth round.
According to Kalakoda Promotions manager Greige Kalakoda, the MassHouse event marks the start of a consistent calendar aimed at restoring Kenya's professional boxing scene.
"We intend to hold promotions on the last Friday of every month, starting this month, as we build up to more prestigious title bouts in Nairobi towards the end of next year," he said.
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