Five titles will be on on the cards at SportPesa Boxing set for the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi on Friday night.
John Juma of Kenya has promised the over 50 million Kenyans that he is going to deliver the prestigious 10 round World Boxing Association (WBA) Africa Gold Super Lightweight Title pitting him against Charles Chilala of Tanzania in the 10-bout card that is being promoted by Maurice Odera of UFS Boxing.
“First of all, let me thank gaming firm SportPesa and Odera’s stable UFS BXNG for making me return to the ring on Friday. It will be my first chase for a title and I’m promising my fans that I’m going for a Knockout (KO). Someone should tell Chilala that the ring will be so hot for him, I hope the medics have an ambulance ready that will ferry him to the hospital,” Juma told the press in Nairobi at a charged weigh-in ceremony on Thursday.
On the other hand, Chilala said he has not come to Kenya to play. He told Juma to prepare for the beating of a lifetime as his mission is to go back with the prestigious title back to Tanzania.
National Lightweight champion Javan Buyu also stated that he is ready to take on Athuman Nassoro of Tanzania in a 10 Round PST Lightweight Title fight that is also expected to be explosive.
Other title fights in the night will include Rael Asubwe versus Leila Yazidu of Tanzania (PST women’s Super-featherweight title), Richard Okoth versus David Oluoch (National welterweight title) and Michael Oduor versus Stanley Mukholo (National super welterweight title), all 10 rounds.
Former WBC women’s Super-Bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika will also return to the ring in an eight round Super featherweight non-title slug-off against Flora Machela of Tanzania.
SportPesa Partnership and Sponsorship Manager Japheth Akhulia noted that they are glad to bring the WBA title in Kenya for the first time reiterating that the winner between Juma and Chilala will be supported to go for a global title this season.
Odera too noted: “We also have the SportPesa Rising Stars initiative that is currently churning out very youthful boxers for UFS BXNG like the one we will have on Friday. We have planned to tour Mombasa and Kisumu and other counties until we get that talent that will be capable of winning a gold medal for Kenya at the Olympics.”
Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) President Reuben Ndolo commended the lined up bouts on Friday night saying they are fair match ups that are making Kenya to be the Mecca of boxing in East and Central Africa.
Boxing fan Gabriel Omari from Lucky Summer said he cannot wait for the crunch fixtures to happen, promising to be at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi very early on Friday to support his number one pugilist Juma.
“I know our home boy has prepared well, he is not going to go past the third round with Chilala. We are headed for a WBA victory,” Omari said.
SportPesa Boxing fight card on Friday April 3, 2026 in Nairobi
1.WBA Africa Gold Super Lightweight Title: John Juma KE vs Charles Chilala TZ (10 Rounds)- Main Card
2. Women’s Super Featherweight: Fatuma Zarika KE vs Flora Machela TZ-8 Rounds
3. PST Lightweight Title: Javan Buyu KE vs Athuman Nassoro TZ- 10 Rounds
4. PST Women’s Super-Featherweight Title: Rael Asubwe KE vs Leila Yazidu TZ- 10 Rounds
5. National Welterweight Title: Richard Okoth KE vs David Oluoch KE- 10 Rounds
6.National Super Welterweight Title: Michael Oduor KE vs Stanley Mukholo KE- 10 Rounds
7. Super Flyweight: Abdirahim Bashir KE vs Victor Komen KE- 6 Rounds
8. Women’s Lightweight: Alice Waiyego KE vs Stacy Odindo KE -4 Rounds
9. Cruiser Weight: Stephen Kimani KE vs Duncan Otieno KE- 4 Rounds
10.Bantamweight: James Mugeni KE vs Samuel Muendo KE- 6 Rounds
