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In 2018, Kenyan boxers performed dismally at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia.

The 2021 Birmingham Games have a lot to offer especially for boxers who have been around for sometime.

Nick “Commander” Okoth is a household name when it comes to boxing and now he feels he is under pressure to deliver not only from the whole republic but also from his own family. 

Okoth has been given an ultimatum by his wife Rachael Ouko to win a medal in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The father of three (two girls and one boy) is the first Kenyan in the ring on Saturday July 30 against Guyana’s Keevin Allicock in the featherweight division.

Over the years his wife Rachael has been very supportive of her husband’s progress in the ring. She’s also his number one fan and confidant.

“Before departure she told me a medal is a must, and she has repeated the same in our Whatsapp chats, she’s very serious,” says Okoth who’s worried Rachael might desert her if he doesn’t win a medal in England’s second largest city.

“She has not told me she’ll go, but l know my wife is very passionate about boxing. You never know. I’ve assured Rachael I’ll not let her down,” Okoth said in an interview with Nenez Media.

A gold medallist in the 2017 Africa Championships in Congo Brazzaville, the 39-year-old Okoth, a sergeant in Kenya Defense Forces, says this is his last appearance for the national team, and is therefore keen to sign off with a major achievement.

“I’ve boxed for Kenya from 2005, it’s now time to move to the next stage. I want to win gold of course.

“We’ve prepared very well for the Games, there’s no excuse here. Right now l’m in a relaxed mood not shaken by anybody. I want the same mood to prevail until Saturday.”

This is the fourth time Okoth is taking part in the Commonwealth Games.

He made his debut in the Games in 2010 in New Delhi, winning a bronze medal.

Two next appearances in 2014 and 2018 did not yield any medal. In the last Games in Gold Coast, Australia, he lost on points in his first fight to Michael Alexander of Trinidad and Tobago at lightweight.