Retired Hit Squad captain Nick Okoth has ruled out a career in professional boxing after announcing his exit from the amateur scene last month.
Having graced two Olympics and four Commonwealth Games, many believe Okoth has mustered enough expertise to dare opponents in the pro arena, but the Kenya Defense Forces sergeant will hear none of it.
In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Okoth reiterated the need for local boxing promoters to fix things, noting that their house faced too many challenges.
“You cannot witness all the chaos going on in the house next door and still be in a hurry to go there,” Okoth said.
“They need to market their product in a better way if they intend to attract any clients,” he added.
Okoth said while pro boxing is meant to make pugilists rich and famous, local boxers have been known to wallow in endless misery.
“The kind of pay professional boxers in the country are getting is also disappointing. I mean, why put in the effort to get a paltry Sh3000 at the end of the fight?” Nick asked.
“Again, there is the question of how the professional arena is managed. Our amateur competitions are more organized and run in a better way. Out there, pro boxers flourish in wealth but the situation is quite different in the country.
“Some people have turned professional boxing into an avenue of minting quick cash, denying it the respect and competitiveness it deserves.”
Echoing Okoth’s sentiments, Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) communications director Duncan Kuria called upon the bodies entrusted with running professional boxing in the country to polish their act.
“There is a need for the Boxing Federation of Kenya to work closely with the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC).
“Once such a healthy relationship has been established, it will be easy for BFK to serve as the constant supply chain for KPBC where retired Hit Squad boxers will be in a position to move to the next stage.
“But as things stand now, there are so many complaints already in place, including disturbing cases of promoters who disappear as soon as they land deals with corporate bodies to sponsor events in the country,” Kuria said.
Okoth, 39, exits the stage after flying the country’s flag at the Africa Boxing Championship in Maputo, Mozambique where he marked his final journey in the ring.
Okoth clinched the silver at the premier continental showpiece in Maputo where he also pocketed Sh600,000 from his exploits.
In an exclusive interview last month, Okoth conceded that age had denied him the gusto to carry on any further.
He said he would spend his remaining years stropping the claws of a new generation of Kenyan boxers.
“Enough is enough. I no longer possess the stamina to take on the younger and more vibrant blood,” Okoth said.
“It’s now time to pave the way for budding boxers. We only need to tap into the existing pool of talent. I have got a good number of upcoming boxers with the potential to make our country proud,” he added.
