- Kenya’s John Juma and Tanzania’s Charles Chilala have rallied fans to turn out in large numbers for the SportPesa Boxing Night on Friday, April 3, at the Edge Convention Center, Nairobi.
- The duo will headline a 10-bout card as they contest the WBA Africa Gold Super Lightweight title.
- Five titles will be up for grabs on the night, with gates opening at 5:00 PM EAT and the first bout starting at 6:00 PM.
All is set for the SportPesa Boxing Night scheduled for Friday, April 3, at the Edge Convention Center Nairobi, featuring 10 thrilling fights and five championship belts to be contested on Good Friday.
Headlining the event, the main card will showcase Kenya’s John Juma, who is pitting against Tanzanian international Charles Chilala for the first-ever World Boxing Association (WBA) Africa Gold Super Lightweight Title, where the two will trade punches in a 10-round bout.
Tickets for the SportPesa Boxing Night are now available, and fans can secure theirs via ticketsasa.com.
Speaking ahead of the big day on Friday, Juma, who is on an 11-match unbeaten streak, including nine knockouts, urged Kenyans to come and cheer him on.
He promised he is ready to represent the nation in the ring and ensure the title remains in the country.
“First of all, let me thank gaming firm SportPesa and Odera’s stable UFS BXNG for making my return to the ring on Friday,” Juma told the press in Nairobi at weigh-in ceremony on Thursday.
“It will be my first shot at 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.”
ALSO READ: SportPesa Boxing Night: Good Friday set for explosive first-ever WBA Africa Gold belt clash in Kenya
Juma will go toe-to-toe, glove-to-glove against an opponent who has been in the game since his debut back in 2016.
Chilala steps into the ring with a record of 17 bouts: 11 wins (six by KO), three losses (one by KO), and three draws.
Chilala’s last outing was back in December 2025, where he faced fellow Tanzanian Ramadhan Omary Kondo and won by a wide margin on the cards.
Confident ahead of the clash, Chilala has vowed to give Juma a beating and return to Tanzania with the belt.
“I want to tell all my fans who are here in Kenya to come out in big numbers tomorrow as I fight in this battle brought by leading firm SportPesa. I know they will definitely love me because I have not come to play games but to ensure I take this title back home. I’m ready for tomorrow,” Chilala stated.
UFS BXNG, in collaboration with main sponsor and leading online gaming firm SportPesa, will stage a total of 10 electrifying bouts. The lineup includes five headline fights with championship belts on the line, while the remaining five undercard clashes will build up the excitement.
Before the main event, fans will enjoy the nine other contests of the day, including four additional title tilts.
Kenya’s Javan Buyu will be aiming to clinch the Pugilistic Syndicate of Tanzania (PST) lightweight title when he steps into the ring against Tanzania’s Athumani Nassoro.
Buyu carries a six-fight winning streak, three by knockout, and will look to extend it against the undefeated Nassoro.
In another title clash in the women’s division, Tanzania’s Leila Yazidu will face Rael Asubwe in a 10-round PST super-featherweight contest.
Two national titles will also be up for grabs. Richard Okoth will take on David Oluoch in a 10-round national welterweight bout, while Michael Oduor faces Stanley Mukholo for the national super welterweight crown.
In non-title action, former WBC women’s super-bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika makes her return to the ring in a super featherweight contest against Tanzania’s Flora Machela.
Other undercard bouts include Abdirahim Bashir versus Victor Komen in a six-round super flyweight contest, Alice Waiyego against Stacy Odindo in a four-round women’s lightweight bout, Stephen Kimani versus Duncan Otieno in a four-round cruiserweight clash, and James Mugeni taking on Samuel Muendo in a six-round bantamweight fight.
The SportPesa Boxing Night returns to life in the country following a KSh 40 million sponsorship deal aimed at uplifting local boxers.
This quarter’s main event follows the launch of the SportPesa Boxing Rising Stars series, where two fights were staged and broadcast live on the SportPesa YouTube channel earlier this year in January and February.
Where to get tickets for the SportPesa Boxing Night – Friday, April 3 – WBA Gold title: John Juma vs Charles Chilala
Tickets for the SportPesa Boxing Night are now available, and fans can secure theirs via ticketsasa.com.
General admission tickets are priced at KSh 1,000, while ringside seats go for KSh 3,500. No tickets will be sold on the event day, with the deadline set for April 2.
Gates will open at 5:00 PM EAT, with the first bout starting at 6:00 PM.
The action-packed event is expected to run through to midnight, with music, drinks, and good vibes promised to start your weekend on a high note.
SportPesa Boxing Night – Friday April 3 – Fight Card
Title Bouts
- WBA Africa Gold Lightweight Title: John Juma vs Charles Chilala (10 rounds) – Main Event
- PST Lightweight Title: Javan Buyu vs Athumani Nassoro -10 rounds
- PST Women’s Super-Featherweight Title: Rael Asubwe vs Leila Yazidu -10 rounds
- National Welterweight Title: Richard Okoth vs David Oluoch -10 rounds
- National Super Welterweight Title: Michael Oduor vs Stanley Mukholo 10 rounds
Non-Title Bouts
- Women’s Super-Featherweight: Fatuma Zarika vs Flora Machela (8 rounds)
- Super Flyweight: Abdirahim Bashir vs Victor Komen 6 rounds
- Women’s Lightweight: Alice Waiyego vs Stacy Odindo 4 rounds
- Cruiserweight: Stephen Kimani vs Duncan Otieno 4 rounds
- Bantamweight: James Mugeni vs Samuel Muendo 6 rounds