Not that Muthoni lost anything in defeat to Menzer, because her whole-hearted effort brought Fight Production’s only female boxer unanimous approval from everyone who saw the 10-rounder. Still, manager Olaf Schroeder wanted his charge to gain more experience to be better equipped for future title shots and Damaris responded with a strong showing, whipping Ugandan Nantongo Mulinde by TKO in four rounds on November 12 at Nairobi’s Pal Pal Gymnasium. That win improved Muthoni’s record to 7-3-2 (3 KO’s).

Now she is back again for the final time this year, when taking on Zambia’s Esther Phiri on Monday, December 12. The scheduled 6-rounder is part of what surely must be the biggest professional boxing event in Kenya for a very long time, with promoter Franklyn Imbenzi of Solid Rock Promotions featuring no less than five championship bouts of different discriptions. Schroeder’s Fight Production is supporting the event in exchange for Muthoni appearing on the undercard.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old trainer Julius Odhiambo has taken over the daily training of Muthoni in Nairobi, while in Germany the attractive lady boxer is coached by former International German heavyweight champion Mario Guedes. Odhiambo is in boxing since he was 12 years old only, and was quite a successful amateur, fighting in later years for the boxing team of the Kenyan police force, whom he joined in 1987. “Julius has worked with Conjestina Achieng and Fatuma Zarika, together with Damaris the most successful Kenyan female pro boxers, and therefore I am very glad that Damaris can also learn from him now,” said manager Olaf Schroeder. Photo: New trainer, Julius Odhiambo