(MAR 5) Conjestina’s ‘Hands of Stone’ finally did the talking after a week of verbal sparring and good-humored banter with middleweight opponent Charity Mukami. This was the day Conje moved ‘cut the crap’ amidst their grudge match transforming into a ‘brawl’ of sheer punishment as, Conjestina’s erstwhile American opponent Yvonne Reis would put it. She was enthusiastic to talked to SAM ATEKA and EDWARD SANDE.

The Eagle: Do you really think Mukami is worth her pre-match banter allegations?

Conjestina: I guess she is now swallowing a humble pie. I really wanted to punish her for the simple reason that she alleged the match we drew some two years back was an unfair decision. Now she knows what I am really made off. I was really at it, I must admit. She was just a punching bag all the way.

Q: Many thought your hard-hitting antics got thwarted by the fact that she went the full distance. What’s your take on this?

A: Let folks get it right. This was only a buildup. I didn’t go for any kayo. My aim was to improve on my record and inflict pain on my opponents, and I surely did. I also needed to shake off some little rust.

Q: You came off the ring with a swollen chick. She must have really hit you had as the fight wore on.
A: You saw for yourself, she was at no point a threat to me. I taught her a real boxing lesson. This scar you are seeing today is an old injury I sustained in training. This is a game that you hit and get hit.

Q: Do you feel you should now fight abroad forever for lack of opponents at your middleweight class?

A: Not really. But it is a reality that there are no meaningful opponents in Africa and I guess I still have my credentials -as the African queen-intact. My advice to Mukami is that she should move a berth down to the super-welterweight category because she will never dominate this weight in my presence. If I were her, I would take the advice of his handlers with a pinch of salt. Coming down is the way for her to go. But I really must congratulate her for a big heart.

Q: What Immediate plans do you have?

A: Well, I am gaining a lot of following and goodwill in Germany. I shall be leaving next month to prepare for a fight against a Chinese world champion I am yet to get her name. It will be a double header of the WBC and The WIBF. This will be an opportunity for me to get back on top of things. My Manager is really canvassing to get my career to the top again and I believe it will be a long trudge to glory. My career started with a bang but it took a nose dive when I started losing matches. I am glad that I have been losing to world class boxers and this was a good lesson too.

Q: What has changed you since you started fighting in Germany?

A: Quite a lot. My character and discipline has changed. You must have realized that this is a different Conjestina who hardly talks. I let my hands do the talking nowadays and let the people judge me. Secondly, I have changed my training mode, and had a good tutorial of basics

Q: You have fought the great Natasha Ragosina and the judges’ decision widely castigated by the foreign press.

A: I have not known quite which fight the judges have been watching or officiating for that matter. I believe I won on both occasions because I had the crisp clean punches; but for some strange reason they thought otherwise. But I am happy that my manager is treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves. I blame the government for not taking sports seriously. When I am fighting abroad, I am marketing Kenya in sports tourism. If the Kenya tourism Board gave me a flag and support, then things can only get better. I was very touched the fact that Kenyans living in Berlin thronged the venue to watch my fight.