Uganda’s Kabona Medi endured a disappointing comeback on Saturday night after suffering a third-round technical knockout defeat to Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri in their middleweight eight-round contest at Masshouse Arena in Nairobi.

The fight, highly anticipated due to both boxers returning from long layoffs, turned into a nightmare for Kabona, who struggled to find rhythm after more than a year of inactivity. His last appearance had been on 10 August 2024 at New Club Obligato in Kampala, where he stopped Charles Misanjo in the second round.

Okwiri, who was also coming off an extended spell away from the ring—having last fought on 1 September 2024 at Paradise Hall in Vacoas-Phoenix against Freeman Mabvongwe—looked sharp, composed, and physically superior. The Kenyan southpaw quickly took control of the bout, exploiting gaps in Kabona’s defense with precise combinations and heavy body shots.

By the third round, Okwiri’s sustained pressure proved overwhelming. A flurry of clean punches forced the referee to step in, awarding Okwiri a TKO victory and marking a strong return for the Kenyan star.

For Kabona Medi, the defeat stands out as his most challenging performance to date, raising questions about his readiness after a long period away from competition. As he regroups, fans hope the Ugandan fighter will bounce back stronger with improved conditioning and activity.

Okwiri, meanwhile, has reignited momentum in his career with a dominant statement win, signaling readiness for more regional and continental opportunities.