This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
Published on July 10, 2020
Former Africa Boxing Council professional middleweight champion Rayton Okwiri is gearing up for the world Olympic qualifiers in Paris, France, later this year.
After opting out of a chance to compete in World Boxing Council fights to focus on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualification, Okwiri is determined to make his mark.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Okwiri has intensified his training sessions to boost his chances of being selected for the national boxing team to Paris for the global qualifiers – once the World Health Organisation gives the green light on the resumption of sports activities.
Okwiri resumed training four weeks ago, when boxers from the Kenya Prisons Service were released to train and regain fitness, following President Uhuru Kenyatta's lifting of a ban on travel restrictions.
‘As a professional boxer, things are not so tough. I am used to challenges. But team training is always the best,’ said Okwiri.
Okwiri's coach, David Kiilu, has been taking him through the paces in the last four weeks, while he also follows a training programme from the national boxing technical bench tailored by head coach Musa Benjamin and his assistants David Munuhe and John Waweru.
‘The coaches have given me a programme to follow. I hope to be selected into the squad,’ he said.
Okwiri trains twice a day, going for a morning run before attending strength and conditioning sessions in the afternoon.
He expects stiff competition from boxers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Cuba in the world Olympic campaign.
‘I should have qualified for the Olympics but was denied in Dakar in a quarter-final match against Ugandan Emmanuel Ssemuji, who lost in the semifinals. If given another chance, things will be different,’ he said.
Since making his debut with Hit Squad in 2006, Okwiri has been a consistent member of the national team, making him the longest-serving member of the squad.
‘That motivates me a lot. It puts me in good fighting spirit during major championships,’ he said.
