Conjestina Achieng

Last updated

Conjestina Achieng
Statistics
Real nameConjestina Achieng
Nickname(s)Hands of Stone [1]
Weight(s) Middleweight [1]
Nationality Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya [1]
Born (1977-10-20) 20 October 1977 (age 45) [1]
Umiru village, Yala division, Siaya District, Kenya
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights27
Wins17
Wins by KO8
Losses6
Draws4
No contests0

Conjestina Achieng (born 20 October 1977 in Umiru village, Yala division, Siaya District. Conjestina is the fifth born in a family of ten. Her father Clement Adalo is a retired medical officer and her mother is Gertrude Auma. Her elder brother, Joseph Kusimba is an ex-boxer who runs a boxing club in Mathare, Nairobi. She is a Kenyan female boxer who has been nicknamed "Hands of Stone" and is ranked number five in the world. She became the first African woman to hold an international title when she beat Ugandan Fiona Tugume to take the vacant WIBF Middleweight title. [2] She also lost out in controversial title fight circumstances to then WBC, and WBA Super middleweight Natascha Ragosina [3] Achieng, a single mother, plays in the middleweight division.

Contents

Personal life

Being otherwise unemployed, Achieng, who normally earned about $250 a fight, relied on boxing to pay for her inexpensive one-room rented apartment in Nairobi's impoverished Lucky Summer estate. Her greatest challenge was to finance her training and maintain a well-balanced diet. In a country where many survive on less than $1 a day, Achieng struggled to put food on the table and meet her basic needs. Government support for training facilities and equipment is limited and reliable boxing promoters are rare, so prize money is hard to come by.

"I earn a living the hard way", she said in an interview with Women Boxing Archive Network. "I can't afford the right foods and sometimes I don't even have the bus fare to go for training. When I look at other boxers like Mike Tyson and Laila Ali, my soul bleeds. They are rich and the kind of life they lead is not comparable to ours. But us we lead a dog's life. Things don’t fall on a silver plate. Every individual has to reap where he or she has sown and I am no exception."

"In Kenya, boxing is not well paying as people may think. I don’t have a permanent salary and I’m only paid when there is a fight and if I have won. Boxing is hard and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. One has to be committed and train hard."

"I have a son and younger sisters who are still in school, and all of them depend on me. My aging parents can no longer afford to cater for these people and I’m left in charge," she added.

Achieng's day began at 5.30 a.m. with 15 km of road work, then at 8.30 am she resumed her normal gym training till midday. "I enjoy boxing in the company of male boxers", said Achieng. "We train and share ideas."

In any spare time she volunteered at a nearby school assisting children through their assignments and marking their books. The school's owner, Jean Ikenga has always supported Achieng and sometimes paid her rent.

When Conjestina was in school she excelled in arts and crafts, and still pursues drawing and painting. Some of her work is displayed at Upendo Nursery in Mathare North. She said that one of her aims is to nurture young and aspiring artists.

She also wanted to fight Laila Ali. "I am training hard and hope to face her in the ring. She does not sound a threat to me and I long to fight her. I will decide on whether to continue boxing or stop only after I snatch that title from her." Her promoter Caleb Kuya, a Danish-based Kenyan, was equally confident but said "Conje" needs at least three more fights under her belt before she faces Ali, especially as she has boxed professionally only once outside Kenya. "She will be much better if she fights out of the country to get the feel of away matches and even jeering from other fans," he said as he outlined plans for seeking sponsorships for a potential Achieng vs. Ali showdown.

Health issues

In January 2011, Conjestina's father sent an appeal to Kenyans to help him take her to hospital after her behaviour deteriorated from the norm. According to her father, Conjestina had removed her son from school, set ablaze to all her boxing gear and disposed of all the equipment from her gymnasium, which she had opened in 2009. She was admitted at the Mathari hospital in Nairobi which specialises in mental health care. She was later released.

On 4 September 2012. a story ran on Citizen TV showing Conjestina in a state of confusion and utter despair. The former boxer showed off her belts. She was said to be living in poverty having not paid her Ksh 2000 ($23) rent for 4 months. She was under the care of her younger sister. Conjestina was later taken to the Mathari Hospital by Ida Odinga. A popular campaign on social media raised enough money for her to move into a more comfortable dwelling. The comedian Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill) personally donated 180,000 s to pay her rent after public pressure reminded him of a promise he had made to support her. [4]

Professional boxing record

27 fights17 wins6 losses
By knockout81
By decision95
Draws4
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
27Win17-6-4 Flag of Russia.svg Angel McKenzieUD10, 2:0027 Feb 2010 Flag of Kenya.svg Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya
26Win16-6-4 Flag of Kenya.svg Batroba LihaviTKO429 Aug 2009 Flag of Kenya.svg Chui Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya
25Draw15-6-4 Flag of Sweden.svg Maria Lindberg PTS10, 2:008 May 2009 Flag of Sweden.svg Royal Event Center, Spandau, Sweden
24Win15-6-3 Flag of Kenya.svg Charity MukamiUD6, 3:0028 Feb 2009 Flag of Kenya.svg Hotel Casuarina, Buru Buru, Nairobi, Kenya
23Loss14-6-3 Flag of Russia.svg Natascha Ragosina UD10, 2:0028 Nov 2008 Flag of Germany.svg Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Germany WBA and WBC Super middleweight titles.
22Loss14-5-3 Flag of Russia.svg Natascha Ragosina UD10, 2:0011 Jul 2008 Flag of Germany.svg Germany Rundturnhalle, Cuxhaven, Germany GBU and WIBF Super middleweight titles.
21Win14-4-3 Flag of Kenya.svg Batroba LihaviTKO3, 1:5813 Apr 2008 Flag of Kenya.svg Club Afrique, Nairobi, Kenya
20Win13-4-3 Flag of Kenya.svg Charity MukamiMD6, 2:008 Dec 2007 Flag of Kenya.svg Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya
19Win12-4-3 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Emily KabwaloPTS6, 2:0014 Jul 2007 Flag of Kenya.svg Moi International Sport Centre, Kasarani, Kenya
18Win11-4-3 Flag of Kenya.svg Jalala SalumKO212 May 2007 Flag of Kenya.svg Charter Hall, Nairobi, Kenya
17Win10-4-3 Flag of Tanzania.svg Monica MwakasangaTKO510 Mar 2007 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya
16Loss9-4-3 Flag of the United States.svg Laura RamseyTKO620 Jan 2007 Flag of Kenya.svg Travellers Beach Hotel & Club, Mombasa, Kenya GBU Female World Middleweight title
15Loss9-3-3 Flag of the United States.svg Janaya DavisPTS6, 2:002 Dec 2006 Flag of Kenya.svg Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
14Win9-2-3 Flag of Uganda.svg Florence NalukwagoUD6, 2:005 Aug 2006 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya
13Loss8-2-3 Flag of the United States.svg Yvonne ReisSD10, 2:001 Apr 2006 Flag of Kenya.svg Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WBC World Female Middleweight title
12Win8-1-3 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Monalisa SibandaUD6, 2:004 Feb 2006 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya
11Win7-1-3 Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermina FernandezTKO1, 1:4224 Dec 2005 Flag of Kenya.svg Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WBF Women's Middleweight title
10Win6-1-3 Flag of Tanzania.svg Monica MwakasangaTKO921 Aug 2005 Flag of Kenya.svg Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi, Kenya WIBF World Middleweight title
9Win5-1-3 Flag of Tanzania.svg Monica MwakasangaKO525 Mar 2005 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya
8Win4-1-3 Flag of Uganda.svg Fiona TugumeUD10, 2:0019 Dec 2004 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya GBU Female Middleweight title
7Loss3-1-3 Flag of Tanzania.svg Monica MwakasangaUD6, 2:0015 Nov 2004 Flag of Tanzania.svg Tripple A Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania
6Win3-0-3 Flag of Uganda.svg Fiona TugumeKO723 Oct 2004 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, KenyaAfrica Women's Middleweight Title
5Draw2-0-3 Flag of Kenya.svg Jane KavulaniPTS4, 2:0028 Aug 2004 Flag of Kenya.svg Jam Rescue 2 Club, Nairobi, Kenya
4Draw2-0-2 Flag of Kenya.svg Fatuma Zarika PTS4, 2:0013 Dec 2003 Flag of Kenya.svg Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya
3Win2-0-1 Flag of Kenya.svg Jane KavulaniPTS4, 2:0015 May 2003 Flag of Kenya.svg Nairobi, Kenya
2Draw1-0-1 Flag of Kenya.svg Damaris MuthoniPTS4, 2:00Sept 9, 2002 Flag of Kenya.svg Nairobi, Kenya
1Win1-0-0 Flag of Kenya.svg Naomi WanjikuPTS4, 2:008 Jun 2002 Flag of Kenya.svg Nairobi, Kenya

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Conjestina Achieng Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. http://allafrica.com/stories/200412200800.html Conjestina wins World Title, allafrica.com, Retrieved 06-09-2012
  3. Another Bad Decision: Natascha Ragosina Beats Achieng; Stieglitz Returns with a Win "Another Bad Decision: Natascha Ragosina Beats Achieng; Stieglitz Returns with a Win". Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  4. Nairobi Wire. "Churchill Finally Pays Congestina's Rent". Mashada. Chyulu Media. Retrieved 15 April 2016.