'Now is the Time' -- Nick Otieno
ready for Z Gorres
May 10, 2008
(MAY 10) When Kenya's Nick Otieno steps into
the ring at the marvelous Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City in the Philippines
Islands, he will have only one thing on his mind. To ensure that he does not
see a repeat of his February outing against Mexico's Eduardo Garcia in a
title fight in Russia. As experience has shown him, there is not a surer
guarantee of a victory on foreign soil than that of a Knock-out.
"I now know that if I do not knock my opponent out cold, in those instances,
I had better deliver a one-sided beat down, leaving no room for the score
cards to doubt who fought well.
At the Russia fight with the crowd clearly awed by his performance, Nick
delivered a spirited performance against the champion and lost the fight in
a split decision 110-118, 114-114, 113-115. Nick is a complete boxer with
great defensive skills and an impressive ability to maintain the same fiery
pace from the first to the last round.
A late bloomer in the pro ranks, Nick Otieno is an archetype of the
fore-sightless management of the entire boxing scene in Kenya, he has only
fought as a professional for the last three years. In Kenya, corporates that
have amateur boxing teams and the military, i.e. Army, Police and Prisons
horde the best boxers, recruiting them as early as 15yrs and with the
assurance of employment reap from their best years in a grand effort to fill
their amateur medals cabinets with Olympic, Commonwealth, and even Military
games awards. By the time a boxer is able to turn professional, he is more
or less done with, often over 30 years and his 'employer' turns to the
younger crop.
After an illustrious amateur career, Otieno turned pro at 31 years old. Many
would expect such boxers not to last, or rather not to make an impression,
but he obviously had other plans. As he made his way through his first five
fights without a loss and only registering one KO, many, though entertained
by his style assumed that he wouldn't last long.
Winning the vacant UBO Bantamweight title against the tough Twalib Mubiru,
and brought some appreciation to his boxing. A rematch with Mubiru for the
same title (where he registered his second stoppage) earned him the full
recognition that he deserved.
However, the much expected invitations to fight in Europe, or Asia were not
in the mail, and Otieno, a World Champion, had again to move side by side
with the local system.
Whether it benefited him or not is another story, but his next four victims
in a row were young local débutantes. He had not defended the UBO title for
a year and that had no option but to take those fights. He quickly put the
débutantes in their place denying them a great opportunity to impress
against an experienced boxer on their debuts. Further more he registered a
further two KO's in the process.
Nick remembers the day he learnt that he will be given an opportunity to
challenge the IBF International Continental champion Eduardo Garcia in
Russia.
'I knew this was my big chance to show my skills' He says 'I was so happy
with that opportunity, i would not have minded about the money if it had to
come to that. I was not going to let anyone down in Russia, that I was sure'
But he was in for probably the most stress full six days of his boxing
career. Arriving at Moscow Airport on the Tuesday before the weekend fight,
Otieno, his Trainer Paul Otieno and a Kenyan Promoter were denied entry by
Immigration Officials. Apparently, someone at the Embassy had issued them
with Tourist instead of Sports Visas that required that they have logistical
and hospitality reservations with them on arrival. They were boarded on the
next flight back to Nairobi.
'I knew it was all over and I sulked on my plane back home, however my
trainer led us in prayer and assured us that we will make the fight on that
Saturday' He recalls. 'Of course that was had for me to take as there was no
way we would make it back to Russia before the Weigh-in'
Under those circumstances, not many boxing promoters would do what the
Russian Promoters Koztsya Tszyu did. After lengthy telephone and many emails
between the Kenyan promoter and the Russians in the changeover at Doha
Airport, U.A.E. the promoters agreed to pay for another set of air tickets.
Nick Otieno and his companions landed in Nairobi on Wednesday night and were
off again for Russia on Thursday morning after sorting out the visas. By now
things were getting hard for Otieno, as he had to maintain weight and yet he
now had spent almost 60 hours in four days airborne without any exercise.
They arrived in Eketeringburg on Friday Morning only two hours before the
weigh in. started. Otieno had to shed a Kilo before making weight. The
promoters expressed their concern about whether the boxer would last the
fight because of fatigue or even be able to fight the next day. Assurances
from the Kenyan Team, the boxer and a 100% medical, Nick hit the gym for the
first time in five days in preparation for his title fight due in the next
20 hours.
Otieno lost the fight, the Russian fans loved him, naming him 'Black Sugar',
The Kenyan media documented that fight extremely well and the boxing fans in
Kenya nodded their approval.
Fate has a funny way of coming around. When African Super flyweight Champion
Tanzania's Francis checked into town for a non-title fight with Nick Otieno,
he had already signed a contract to fight Philippines' Z Gorres for the IBF
International Super flyweight Title in May. Basically Miyeyusho was just
passing by on his way to the beautiful Cebu City and a lucrative title shot.
That fight ended in 65 seconds of the 1st round with two knock downs and a
full count for the African Champion (Miyeyusho) on the canvas.
The rest as they say is history. The Philippines promoters, Ala Boxing
promptly canceled the Miyeyusho contract and sought to replace him with this
unknown man called Nick Otieno. However by the time negotiations were
completed, the promoters pushed ahead plans for a Z Gorres title fight and
signed nick for a 10 round non-title fight.
'I really need to prove myself, and i wanted to go for the title.' Otieno
says 'But I am happy with the opportunity to face the no. 5 rated boxer in
Super flyweight for a title or not. And I know I can win that fight'.
The Z Gorres, Otieno fight will be on the 31st of May 2008, and has aptly
been dubbed 'One More Time' obviously with a lot of undertones of the home
boy's (Gorres) victory[s].
'One more time?' Nick laughs and says 'Yes and this time it is my time, ' I
am 33 years I have lots of things to do in my life, so I have to make the
best out of this before I quit boxing. He adds
