The boxing journey has not been a bed of roses for the Coast boxer who’s now on the verge of joining Kenya’s national team.
Like most boxers, Mwinyi Kombo’s boxing journey has not been a bed of roses.
He has gone through bumps and potholes but never gave up because he believed in himself.
Kombo (pictured) started boxing in 2012 at Changamwe Boxing Club under coaches Shaban Wangalwa and George Opiyo aka Spider, both former boxers with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
“The two coaches are the ones who made me what I am today, they gave me a firm foundation,” says Kombo.
The going then was not easy for Kombo. As a light-flyweight, he faced stiff competition from top boxers in his weight category at Changamwe such as Abdallah “One Love” Juma and Leonard Mwambingu.
“I was 14 years, they treated me as a small boy, and also to gain selection into the Coast team you had to take part in the trials,” recalls Kombo now likely to land a permanent job at Kenya Prisons but if they delay, KDF will pull a fast one on them.
Kombo’s breakthrough came in 2015 when he was picked in one of two Coast teams to feature in the East African clubs championships in Mombasa. He made his presence felt by punching his way to the semi-finals at Makande.
“I was very happy with my performance, those who had been doubting my ability started respecting me in the ring.”
The following year was even more fruitful for Kombo when he travelled with the Mombasa team to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for Mayors Cup tournament.
He won gold in the light-flyweight division in Dar, and went on to clinch the national novices title.
To prove that his sterling show in Tanzania and in the novices tournament was no flash in the pan, Kombo captured the 2017 national intermediate title at Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi representing Kongowea Boxing Club.
He joined Kongowea officially in 2018 and became a student of popular coach in Mombasa, William Okumu.
“Competition was tough at Kongowea, due to weight problem I moved up to flyweight. Mohammed Ali was their best flyweight.
“I was still young, I had to show I’m good though it was not easy in the flyweight. Ali and I were good friends but I had to prove myself I’m better than Ali in sparring which I did.”
With Kombo proving his mettle, Ali moved up to bantamweight.
“We spoke as friends and Ali agreed to go up to bantamweight, he was a very good boxer and we wanted to maintain our strength, Hamza Said had to vacate bantamweight going up to lightweight to fight it out with Said Baguan, he’s in Dubai currently boxing as a pro. There was no featherweight class then.”
Kombo appreciates coach Okumu for exposing him to the national boxing league which enabled him meet tougher opponents.
Why did he decide to join Prisons Boxing Club?, I ask Kombo.
“Boxing right now in Mombasa and Coast Region is down, there’s little activity unlike the past during the days of John Kameta we had several competitions, I love boxing, I had to join Prisons to be more active and come out of my comfort zone.”
Kombo started representing Prisons last year but they’ve not yet employed him. He’s currently working as a gym instructor at 180 Degrees Gym in Tudor, Mombasa.
“If Prisons offer me a job fine, my options are open, I’m ready for any good employer even KDF and Police,” says Kombo born 24 years ago in Kisauni and now residing in Kongowea.
In addition to his natural power, Kombo’s other positive attribute is his ability to read his opponent’s game plan and quickly repulse that with his own strategy.
“I’m always fast to know the plan of my opponents, and counter by beating them at their own game or force them into my trap during which I take charge and punish them accordingly,” says Kombo who is very grateful to former KPA boxer George “Spider” Opiyo for sharing with him a variety of tricks in the ring which of course he can’t disclose here for obvious reasons.
Having stamped his authority in the featherweight division during the Kenya Open event, Kombo is now on the verge of joining the national team.
He has proved himself by beating the best. Among the international tournaments beckoning include Mandela African Boxing Cup in Durban, South Africa, this month and the 2nd World Olympic Qualification in Bangkok, Thailand, in May.
Credit: Nenez Media Services
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