Kenyan boxer Daniel Wanyonyi finally achieved his revenge over Tanzanian boxer Karim Mandonga in a highly anticipated fight held at Sarit Centre on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
The 40-year-old Wanyonyi, with a record of 29 wins, 15 losses, and 2 draws, secured a victory in the rematch against Mandonga, famously known as "Mtu Kazi Mandonga." He dominated the non-title light heavyweight rematch, taking control as early as the fourth round and delivering decisive knockdowns in the 6th and 10th rounds.
The judges awarded Wanyonyi a unanimous decision win after the intense cruiserweight main event.
Before this rematch, Wanyonyi had promised to knock out Mandonga in the first two rounds. In their previous encounter in January, Mandonga had defeated Wanyonyi by knocking him out in the fifth round.
Wanyonyi admitted that his lack of training at the time resulted in him being rusty and unable to continue, thus handing Mandonga the victory.
Following that defeat, Wanyonyi, who also runs a clothing business at Gikomba market, dedicated himself to rigorous training to prepare for the rematch. His hard work and determination paid off, as evidenced by his excellent performance and redemption in the ring against Mandonga.
"It was tough fighting against Mandonga. I was just pushing myself. I had not trained for long due to Covid-19. Things were also tough on my side. I had lost my Gikomba business through fire. Boxing was the last game to be re-opened (after Covid-19) and by the time I played Mandonga I was not fit. When we fought he was at his peak, while I had not fought for over four years. He fears me now," he told People Daily Digital in an interview after his loss in January.
