Tight battles: Police, KDF rivalry continues at 5th leg of boxing league ongoing in Nakuru

Patrick Maina of Nakuru(in red) trade punches to David Njuguna of police (in blue) during the 5th Leg National Boxing League at Nakuru Amateur boxing hall PHOTO BONIFACE THUKU

Defending champions Police landed five players in the semi-finals as the final leg of the National Boxing League boxed off at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru on Thursday night.

League leaders Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) who are pursuing the title for the first time in seven years had four players to keep their fiercest opponents Police in a precarious position in the race for the
title.

The policemen included Victor Onyango in the welterweight, Morris Ochieng (fly), Martin Oduor (bantam), Kingstone Otieno (light) and Peter Kiarie (light fly).

Onyango(Victor) knocked out Xavier Odhiambo of Nanyuki, Ochieng walloped Peter Githinji of Administration Police on points,
Oduor (Martin) dismissed Francis Nyagah of Nanyuki, Otieno (Kingstone) demolished David Omollo of Nyanza Combined while Kiarie knocked out Kevin Michira of Prisons in the first round.

On KDF’s part, Dennis Okoth stop Salim Mustapha of Nakuru 3-0 in a bantamweight clash in the welterweight.

Uledi Mohammed (fly) also stopped Stephen Ndung’u of Central Combined on points as experienced Nick Okoth (light) knocked out novice Julius Onyimbo of Administration Police in the first round.

Victor Odhiambo also cruised into the last four with a 3-0 win over John Kyalo of Police in the light welter.

Hosts Nakuru ABC and Prisons managed three boxers each in the semis of the three-day championships that are very competitive for the first time in seven years.

Hard hitting Patrick Maina of Nakuru overwhelmed policeman David Njuguna on points in the middleweight as teammate and speedster John Kariuki defeated Anthony Ngugi of Prisons on a unanimous points decision in the lightweight.

Nakuru’s Chege Kamau bashed Bashir Mangi of KNH on points in the flyweight.

Jacob Kimathi (welter), Steven Okoth (bantam) and Joseph Njogu (light welter) were the Prisons boxers who made it to the last four.

 Joseph Njogu of Prisons made mince meat of Paul Mwaura of KNH with a 3-0 thrashing in the light welterweight.

Kimathi (Jacob) and Okoth (Steven) won their matches against Yusuf Abdulkhalif of Coast Combined and Francis Mwema of KDF in the welter and bantamweights respectively.

In other matches, Iddi Kweyu of Nyanza Combined lost to James Osore of KNH on unanimous points decision in the middleweight.

Nyanza Combined’s Michael Ochieng snatched a 2-1 victory over Fredrick Odhiambo of Nakuru as Administration Policeman Vincent Mugara defeated Benson Wanyonyi of Central Combined.

In the last epic tussle, Erick Otieno of Nyanza Combined destroyed Dennis Thimbi of Administration Police in a knockout.