Only one boxing fight of note, featuring all American boxers has been held on African soil; Ali Vs Foreman in Zaire [now Congo]. A couple of years ago, American Hasim Rahman met Briton Lennox Lewis in South Africa in another big fight. In December, women boxing seeks to make another first when WBC Middleweight Champion, Yvonne Reis and WIBA Middleweight World title holder Leatitia Robinson, both Americans will become the first American women’s bout on the African Continent for the vacant WIBF Middleweight World title in Kenya’s capital City of Nairobi. The fight is the main bout of an ambitious boxing event promoted by Jabjab Promotions which will feature five other American women against African boxers. Shadina Pennybaker, Janaya Davis, Keli Cofer, Michelle Linden and Terri Blair will make the American Team, while the home side will feature Kenya’s Conjestina Achieng, Zambia’s Esther Phiri, Zimbabwe’s Monalisa Sibanda and Uganda’s Fiona Tugume. The event will take place on December 2, 2006.

Yvonne has traveled widely in Africa, visiting a number of West African Countries in her younger days and in April this year won the WBC Middleweight crown in Nairobi Kenya. Leatitia Robinson will be making her first trip to the African Continent, and is excited about it. “Whenever I fight outside of Chicago, I think of it as my home. For example, I have had many fights in the Boston area and the first time I stepped into the ring there, it felt like home, the fans were great and embraced me. I know that when I step off the plane in Nairobi, it will feel like a homecoming. This will be my first time in Africa, I am sure it won’t be my last” she says, “I can’t explain it, it is a great feeling to know I will be fighting in Africa. I dreamed of visiting Africa since I was a child, it means the world to me to go over there and fight. I am excited and blessed with the opportunity to get to know more about my history and my ancestors”

The two boxers met earlier in their pro careers and Leatitia is confident of the fact that she will win against Yvonne Reis. That fight was in 2000 for the IWBF title that Leatitia won on points. Yvonne is one of the few boxers who have not been knocked down by the hard punching ‘Baby Girl”

“No doubt I will win again’, Leatitia says, “The only problem I had with that [2000] fight is that I didn’t knock her out. The facts for this game also speak for themselves. I had a better amateur record, 37-1 to her 14-3, my record is superior and I am also much younger than her”

Leatitia will turn 26 years old, on September 30, and for her, the idea of traveling to Africa to fight is enough of a birthday present.

Yvonne’s last outing in Kenya saw her win lots of fans with her wit and cheerful nature, in the ring against the local girl Conjestina Achieng, Yvonne was cheered by a sizable part of the 3,500 crowd, and even her victory over Achieng was in some circles heavily celebrated. That Yvonne has fans already waiting for her in Kenya does not seem to faze the WIBA Champion. “The ring is my home and I will dominate in the ring, no matter where that ring is located. Any psychological advantage she has because she has fought in Nairobi before is in Yvonne’s mind, not mine. I suppose she’ll find out how committed her fans are after she spends some time in the ring with me”.

About Kenya’s first all women’s card, Leatitia says, “An all women’s card is the best thing for women’s boxing. I am tremendously excited to be put on Jabjab Promotion’s Fists of Steel card. The women on this card are of excellent caliber and will put on a fabulous show.