Kyakonye makes light work of Vasquez to clinch WBF heavyweight title
The win marks Kyakonye’s 10th knockout in 12 professional bouts, maintaining his undefeated record at 12-0-0.
Kyakonye's (centre) posing with his newly clinched World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title with his trainers. (Courtesy)
Fred Kisekka
Sports reporter @New Vision
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It took just two minutes and 39 seconds of the first round for Uganda’s Netherlands-based Willy ‘The Ring Tiger’ Kyakonye to emphatically knock out Venezuela’s Wilmer Vasquez and claim the World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title.
Fighting inside the fully packed Kalverdijkje Multi-Purpose Sports Arena in the Dutch city of Cambuur, Kyakonye, stationed in the red corner, entered the ring knowing this was a make-or-break moment in his professional boxing career.
A man on a mission, Kyakonye swiftly floored Vasquez with a sharp jab followed by his trademark atomic right overhand hook that sent the Venezuelan ‘Assassin’ crashing to the canvas.
Uganda's Netherlands-based heavyweight Willy 'The Ring Tiger' Kyakonye (right) landed a heavy punch against Venezuela's Wilmer Vasquez before knocking him out in the first round. Kyakonye then clinched the World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title. (Courtesy)
It was Kyakonye’s tenth career knockout in the professional ranks—a clear testament to the Ugandan hard puncher’s devastating power.
Bout referee Eric Van Den Heuvel wasted no time in ending the contest, declaring Kyakonye the winner without a count.
The fight was scheduled for twelve rounds, but Vasquez could only withstand two minutes and 39 seconds.
“My plan was to first read my opponent’s tactics in the first round, but God had another plan for me, to finish the business in just a minute. This was supposed to be a tactical first round,” Kyakonye said after the fight.
Adding that: “But God had other plans. I saw Vasquez leaving his chin open, so I countered with a double jab and my best punch.”
“With the WBF title now already in my trophy cabinet, my fans back home must expect a lot from me, including the WBC world title.”
The win marks Kyakonye’s 10th knockout in 12 professional bouts, maintaining his undefeated record at 12-0-0.
Only Germany’s Vincenzo Anzalone and Croatia’s Ades Markovic have ever taken him the distance.
Vincent Stikkolorum, Kyakonye’s trainer at Kyoku Gym in Cambuur, is confident the Ugandan has what it takes to reach the top.
Kyakonye's (centre) posing with his newly clinched World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title with his trainers. (Courtesy)
“Kyakonye is destined for greatness. We’re focused on helping him become one of the world’s top heavyweights. We’re on the right path.”
Kyakonye won Uganda a bronze medal at the 2015 Africa Boxing Championship in Morocco and remains the only Ugandan boxer to have competed in the World Series of Boxing (WSB), where he featured between 2015 and 2016.