- The second edition of the SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars was held on Thursday, February 26, and was streamed exclusively on the SportPesa YouTube Channel.
- Kenyan favorite Denzel Onyango went toe-to-toe with Uganda’s Rashid Abdul in a six-round, non-title cruiserweight clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
- The event is part of a nine-tournament lineup made possible through a KSh 40 million SportPesa sponsorship deal, in partnership with the Ultra Fight Series (UFS).
Eight thrilling bouts lit up the ring on Thursday, February 26, as the SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars moved into its second edition, building momentum ahead of the first quarterly showdown scheduled for this April.
The event is part of a lineup of nine tournaments made possible through a SportPesa sponsorship worth 40 million shillings, in partnership with the Ultra Fight Series (UFS) an initiative aimed at reigniting the boxing scene in Kenya.
Thursday’s card featured two standout headline clashes; in the main event, Kenyan favourite Denzel Onyango went toe-to-toe with Uganda’s Rashid Abdul in a six-round, non-title cruiserweight contest that had fans on the edge of their seats.
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The co-main event saw another Kenyan talent, Salim Omoit, take on Ugandan Taafu Odoyi in a six-round, non-title super middleweight battle.
SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars second edition recap
Both fights delivered fireworks, with the winners determined by unanimous decision after full six-round efforts.
Onyango, who entered the ring with a record of five wins, one loss, and three knockouts, proved why he’s a former WABA Africa Supreme Lightweight champion.
He held nothing back, pushing through all six rounds against a durable Abdul, who absorbed shot after shot without backing down. Onyango eventually secured the win on points, handing Abdul his fourth career loss.
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Speaking after the fight, the Ugandan contender reflected on the contest with respect.
“The man is good; he carries serious power I felt it. But I also showed him I wasn’t a pushover. Sometimes the rock is hard, but water can wear it down. I used my power to challenge him the best I could,” said Rashid Wanyama.
For his part, Onyango admitted the battle was tougher than expected, especially given his limited preparation time after representing Kenya at the inaugural Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia on April 20, 2025.
“That guy is tough he is a solid opponent from Uganda. It was a real challenge for me because since I fought in Riyadh, I have not stepped into the ring. This was my first fight back, and I only had one month to prepare,” he explained.
Earlier in the night, the co-main event delivered just as much drama.
Kenyan boxer Omoit claimed victory over Uganda’s Odoyi in their super middleweight showdown, marking his first win against an international opponent.
The triumph left Omoit beaming with confidence.
“It feels great to fight someone from outside the country. It’s good exposure, and now I believe I can take on even more international opponents who come my way,” Omoit said after the fight.
You can watch the exclusive replays on SportPesa YouTube channel ;
The SportPesa boxing initiative, run alongside UFS, will consist of nine events spread across quarterly installments.
Each quarter features two smaller events dubbed – SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars to spotlight emerging talent, followed by a flagship evening known as the SportPesa Boxing Night.
Some events will be closed to live audiences and produced exclusively for streaming.
With the second round now complete, all eyes turn to the main event: the SportPesa Boxing Night, set for Friday, April 3. Tickets are expected to go on sale soon.
SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars – Second Round Results; Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Denzel Onyango (Kenya) vs Abdul Wanyama (Uganda) – Cruiserweight, six rounds (Main event) – Onyango via Unanimous Decision
- Salim Omoit (Kenya) vs Taafu Odoyi (Uganda) – Super middleweight, six rounds (Co-feature) – Omoit via Unanimous Decision
- Collince Nyakwaka vs Otieno Owenge – Super middleweight, six rounds – Nyakwaka via first-round knockout
- Simon Muriithi vs Amos Amenya – Super lightweight, four rounds – Amenya via Unanimous Decision
- Jin Shen vs Jeremiah Aboku – Super bantamweight, four rounds – Shen via Unanimous Decision
- Albert Kimario vs Isaac Kibe – Lightweight, four rounds – Kimario via first-round KO
- Edwin Owino vs Salim Irungu – Super featherweight, four rounds – Owino via Unanimous Decision
- Omar Karanja vs Dennis Ashley – Lightweight, four rounds – Ashley via Unanimous Decision