27.5.2005: Billed as “The Showdown At Shark Palace”, former African heavyweight champion Joseph Akhasamba promoted a five-bout card at the Shark Palace Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya on the afternoon of Saturday May 28. The show, which had Akhasamba himself in the main event, was made in conjunction with Risum Boxing, Fight Production, Pro Team Ashira Oure and the Professional Boxing Federation Of Kenya..
In the show-opener, female featherweight Damaris Muthoni improved her record to 6-2-2 (1) with a clear and unanimous decision over former foe Jane Kavulani in a four-rounder. Muthoni, who recently signed with German management company Fight Production, took charge from the first round, and controlled the game Kavulani all the way through. With the loss, Kavulani drops to 2-3.
In a welterweight encounter, Stanley Ashioya Katibi returned after six months of inactivity following a TKO 4 loss last year to reigning WBF Middleweight champ Arsen Kachachtrian in France (non title bout). Katibi knocked down opponent Charles Juma three times, and scored an impressive second round knockout to move his record to 6-3-1 (2). The fight was scheduled for six rounds, and Juma is now 0-3.
Former Kenyan champion Athanas Nzau also returned to winning ways, after a controversial split decision loss in France in March, when he got the short end of the stick against danger-man Leva Kirakosian in a fight for the WBF super featherweight crown. Nzau had an easy time with Bob Obala in a fight made at lightweight, and got rid of his foe in the third of a scheduled six. Nzau is now 18-5 (7), while Obala, according to BoxRec, falls to 1-6.
In another lightweight fight, David Kiilu out-pointed Andrew Samba over six in a gruelling bout that left both boxers well spend at the end. The scores were unanimous, but Kiilu was made to work very hard for his W. Kiilu is now 19-6-2 (9), and Samba lost for the second time in six outings.
The main event was quite the mismatch, as Joseph Akhasamba outclassed and stopped Ahmed Salim in three one-sided rounds for something called the UBO Intercontinental title at cruiserweight. Akhasamba was superior in every department, and finished Salim off with a beautiful right hand midway through the third. Akhasamba, however, looks rejuvenated after moving down from Heavyweight where he won Kenyan, African and WBB titles, and it is very doubtful that there is any domestic opposition to threaten him. Wit the win, and the new title in his new weight class, Akhasamba improves to 13-7-1 (9), and Salim is reportedly now 3-4 (1).