Kayira loses to Gwayani ahead of Namibia trip

The much publicized international boxing bout between Mzuzu based Laston Kayira and Tanzanian Moses Mwamulanda ended up being a national bout when boxing fans were amazed after already paying to see a Tanzanian boxer in the ring, with an announcement that the Tanzanian could not make it to Malawi due to his father’s illness and instead Byson Gwayani from Lilongwe had come to face Kayira.

Gwayani in black shot taking charge

Kayira occupied the redcorner in red trunks while Gwayani was in the blue corner in black trunks in an eight round non title bout at Obriegado Leissure Park on Sunday afternoon.

As is usually the case, the first round was for the two boxers to size each other up but boxing fans were quick to notice clever footwork and excellent dodging of punches from the visitor, Byson Gwayani.

In the second round, there was a brilliant and balanced exchange ofpunches but Gwayani looked to be on top of his game despite falling down due a slippery part of the ring.

In the third round, the bout also appeared to be balanced but the left arm of Gwayani was seen to be strong as it unleashed timely jabs and hooks with his flexibility both on the feet and the upper abdomen quite outstanding.

Kayira’s turn to fall down due to the substandard slippery ring was in the fourth round.

In the fifth round, it was serious business when both boxers were now very quick in movement and throwing of very powerfulpunches with an aim of getting a knock out which never came although serious and strong punches landed on Kayira’s face in the last 30 seconds of the round.

Kayira had his fair share of the bout in the sixth round when most of his jabs and hooks earned him vital points.

The last two rounds were fiercely contested by both boxers as each one of them longed for the much needed technical knock out but none of them managed to get it.

After the bout, Judge number one Frank Pongolani scored 76 for Red Corner (Laston Kayira) and 80 for Blue Corner (Byson Gwayani). Judge number two, Sergeant Sylvester Lajabu scored 71 for Red Corner and 79 for Blue Corner while Judge Lameck Phiri had 77 for the Red Corner and 80 for the Blue Corner.

These scores meant Byson Gwayani was a winner on points.

Speaking after the match, Laston Kayira said the bout was training for him ahead of his trip to Namibia.

He added that Gwayani was far ahead of him in terms of weight but he accepted to face him as he prepared to meet a boxer in his weight category in Namibia.

“I promise to do very well in Namibia because the boxer I will meet in Namibia is in my weight category of 65 kilogrammes and Gwayani who is 8 kilos heavier than me gave me a very good practice,” explained Kayira.

On his part, Byson Gwayani said he was happy to beat Kayira as he prepared for his trip.

“I have never lost a bout. I have a single draw on my record. This wasn’t my fight. I just got a call to come and fight in place of a Tanzanian who failed to come. I didn’t want to injure him because he would have failed to travel to Namibia. My big secret is that I have a good trainer in the name of Jobson Adams, a former Malawian international boxer,” added Gwayani.

And speaking to Nyasa Times, Phillip Ngwira of Ken One Boxing Promotions started by apologizing on Mwamulanda’s failure to make it to Malawi but said he was satisfied with what fans watched with the coming in of Byson Gwayani.

He also thanked Uliwa Night Club which is based in Chilumba, Karonga District, for sponsoring the tournament.

In the main supporting six round bout between Yahaya Mwaipopa and Amos Nkhata, referee Dunstan Nyamazi had to stop the fight in the third round in what is known in boxing as RSC (Referee Stops Contest) because Nkhata had sustained a deep cut on top of his left eye and was bleeding profusely. Mwaipopa won the bout.

The ring announcer told spectators that according to boxing rules, the bout could continue if the cut was below the eye but bleeding from above the eye results in poor sight of the boxer hence stoppage of the bout by the umpire.