Achieng-Reis

[len]

Yvonne Reis won a split decision over Conjesta Achieng in Nairobi, Kenya for the WBC Female Middleweight Title. The odd scoring was 96-94 twice for Reis and 100-94 for Achieng which must have been from a home town judge given the wide difference of opinion.

Also, Claudia Lopez (now 2-0) won a points decision over Maria Potenza (1-4) in Chabut, Argentina on Friday.

Anyone know what happened to the Bey-Johnson, Peck- Woody bouts in Tennesse, Huseman-Barnett in Texas, and Rivas-Zuniga boyut in Mexico?

[Dee Williams]

Congratulations to Yvonne, who's a member on this Forum so you can send her a message right here

She told me that she was planning to go on a safari as well as the fight so I don't know when she'll be back on-line again ... but this is a huge win for her far away from home and I hope we'll hear about it from her when she's back on the net! Yvonne had a very positive attitude going into this trip and she told me she felt she was very lucky to be able to do two things that she really loves ... box and travel!

Well done Yvonne!

[Marianne Chubirka]

CONGRATULATIONS YVONNE...YOU DESERVE A BIG WIN LIKE THIS...I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!
MARIANNE

[Allan Garside]

Way to go Yevonne;
You kept plugging away at it and finnaly came out on top. I am happy for you
Allan

[Dee Williams]

For some pre-fight background, this was posted on AllAfrica.com which aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations.

allafrica.com/stories/200603310744.html

Kenya: Conje Faces Reiss in WBC Title Fight

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

April 1, 2006
Posted to the web March 31, 2006

Nairobi

Conjestina Achieng' takes to the ring at the Kasarani gymnasium this afternoon to face off with American Yvonne Reiss.

The prize on offer will be the vacant World Boxing Council women's middleweight world title.

It will be the biggest pro-boxing contest staged on Kenyan soil since the introduction of the bare-chested game in the country in late 1985.

WBC ranks as the most prestigious title in the often-muddled world of international boxing, which has seen a proliferation of governing bodies now standing at 52.

In an interview with Saturday Sport yesterday, Conjestina was at her ebullient best, issuing her now-famous invocation for her fans to turn up at the venue of the bout early, because she would dispose of Reiss in super-quick time.

"Mafans lazima waje mapema kwa sababu job pia itaisha mapema. Mkono bado hauna speed governor" (I am appealing to all fans to turn up early because my hand still doesn't have a speed governor.)

Conjestina will go into the bout knowing full well that victory will guarantee her a chance to meet bigger names in world boxing.

The winner of the bout should also have best bargaining power for the unification of the world middleweight title against undisputed middleweight champion of the world, Leticia "Baby Girl" Robinson of America.

"After winning this one, I'll call on all the big girls of global boxing to come forward and challenge me," Conjestina said.

It will certainly be the biggest challenge of her five-year Pro boxing career and she has the steep task of adjusting her shots against her first ever southpaw opponent.

Southpaw boxers are the hardest for an orthodox to fight against.

They constantly move to the right in an anti-clockwise direction and as such, tacticians advise that the orthodox (right-handed boxer) should never advance or retreat too far in a straight line as they are liable to be caught by the surprise right hand punch beloved of all southpaws.

"As an orthodox, I have personally had problems in tackling southpaws at sparring but this is an issue we have addressed accordingly," Conjestina said.

Regardless of the outcome today, Conjestina -who is bracing up for her biggest homecoming party in Siaya after the bout - will carry home a whooping US$ 6944 (Sh500,000) pay packet negotiated by organisers Solid Rock Promotions.

Reis, on the other hand, takes home US$ 5000 (Sh 360,000) - the same amount Conjestina earned on Christmas Eve when she floored Argentine Guillermina Fernandez for the WBF title.

On paper, Reis starts as favourite. She is a skillful boxer. She says Conjestina has made her name from fighting inexperienced boxers and should be in for a bashing today.

From what has been deduced from training sessions, Reis can jab and hook freely and possesses a ferocious uppercut.

Conjestina, on the other hand, capitalises on her hard- hitting antics to floor her opponents.

Her last fight with Zimbabwean Monalisa Sibanda exposed anomalies in her reflexes and ring craft more so when on the receiving end.

"I don't wanna end this early because I believe in punishment," said Reis.

While Conjestina lacks amateur experience, Reis has fought 19 amateur and 14 professional fights.

Whatever her resume, though, Reis can be sure she will not only be up against a formidable opponent, but will also face the unbridled hostility of the thousands of fans expected to pack the Kasarani gymnasium to cheer on the home hero.

[Dee Williams]

Boxer Conjestina goes down fighting

By Samson Ateka

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=38868

It was agony for boxing fans yesterday as Conjestina Achieng’ lost her bid to claim the World Boxing Council title.

Conjestina, cheered on by a partisan crowd of about 3,000, got off to a flying start, landing a succession of jabs on her more experienced opponent.

But American Yvonne Reiss gradually took control as the bout wore on and, in the fifth round; a weary Conjestina gradually lost her grasp of the encounter.

The defeat was a bitter pill for the hometown hero to swallow, however, and Conjestina lambasted the judge’s decision.

Conjestina lambasted the judge’s decision.

"All through, I had been hitting her with hard punches. But I don’t know how the judge scored the points. I’m consulting with my coach and very soon, I’ll call for a rematch."

Judge Alfred Bukwana of South Africa and Eddy Bapoe of Ghana both called the bout in favour of Reiss 96-94, while Nemeth Kavise of Tanzania had it at 100-94 in favour of the Kenyan.

In the first four rounds, Conjestina appeared in command as the American took time to find her feet, spending most of her time ducking Conjestina’s onslaught.

Whenever Conjestina threatened to land a match-winning flurry, Reiss frustrated her by holding her off using her right hand jab.

From the fifth to the tenth round, however, the tide turned as Reiss gradually began to assert her authority.

A gallant Conjestina fought all the way, although she progressively found it hard to land her punches.

Reiss was bullish after the judges’ called the fight in her favour: "It is not unexpected. The win was deserved. The boxer (Conjestina) did not play her cards well because in most of the rounds, I was beating her to the punch. If she wants a replay, I’m ready. But there are anomalies in her techniques, especially her jabbing and hooking, which I discovered from the beginning."

Yesterday’s result could add impetus to calls for Conjestina to benefit from the experience of an international trainer, to help her hone her skills.

Former Kenyan international Kenneth ‘Valdez’ Ochieng’ spoke for many when he told Fever Pitch after the bout:

"Conjestina seriously needs a competent coach who can groom her. She should go back to the basics, to take her to the next level," he said.

[number1]

Good job Reis!!! You deserved it. Can't wait till the rematch. I predict you will win by KO.

[marcel]

Great job! I didn't think one could ever win a decision there. I hope you got your money and all wasarranged well Yvonne.

[Leatitia Robinson]

I suppose Yvonne's next step will be to rematch me. Anytime.....

[Rick Scharmberg]

Congratulations Yvonne!