Kenya Police take no prisoners in boxing league battle

Martin Oduor (in a red jersey)of the Kenya Police ABC attempts to follow Isaac Meja (in a blue jersey) from the KDF ABC after sending him to the canvas in their bantam wight category during the Sportpesa Boxing Kenya National League Leg one at the Modern Fitness Boxing Lounge in Mombasa, April 14, 2016. Meja won the bout by points. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Defending champions Kenya Police returned to the top of National Boxing League table standings after winning the fourth leg at Mulu Mutisya grounds in Machakos over the weekend.

After the result, police have 73 points, nine better than second-placed KDF with 64 points. Kenya Prisons are third with 35, Oscar Kassongo Sports Academy (OKSA) 22, Kentract 16, Coast Combined 15 and Thika 12 points.

Kenyatta National Hospital, Githurai 45 and Nyanza Combined are tied in eighth spot with four points each, while Kibra and Nairobi Metropolitan are both ranked 10th with three points each. Ndenderu have one point, same as Muthurwa Dallas, while Nakuru ABC do not have a point.

During the fourth leg, Police got 29 points for victory in the Machakos Championships, after their squad won all their bouts, bar one player, while KDF were second with 11 points ahead of Kenya Prisons, who had seven, OKSA six, Coast Combined five and Kentract four.

Nyanza Combined and Kenyatta National Hospital both had two points, while Nairobi Metropolitan and Githurai 45 had one point each. Nakuru ABC and Ndenderu did not have a point.

Police Deputy Coach John Waweru said the title is theirs to lose and would not look back, with only two legs left.

“We are out to retain the title. It is only a miracle that would deny us the title going by our current form,” Waweru said.

William Waweru of Kenya Police was the only boxer who lost his match to experienced Fred Ramogi of KDF in the super heavyweight.

The policemen, who won their bouts were Shaffi Bakari in the light flyweight, Maurice Ochieng (fly), Martin Oduor(bantam), Ethan Maina(light), Joseph Shigali(light welter) Boniface Mugunde (welter), Silas Masake(middle), Elly Ajowi(lighy heavy) and Tobias Okeyo(heavy).

Bakari defeated Mohammed Hussein of OKSA 3-0, Ochieng (Maurice) defeated Harrison Mathuku of Prisons 3-0, Oduor (Martin) dismissed Isaac Meja(KDF) 2-1, Maina(Ethan) defeated Washington Wandera of OKSA 2-1, while Shigali (Joseph) won 3-0 against Patrick Owino of Kentract.

In other fights, Mugunde (Boniface) defeated Kennedy Omondi of Prisons, while Masake(Silas) knocked out Chris Orengo of Coast Combined in the second round.

On his part, Ajowi (Elly) hit Hezron Maganga of KDF 2-1, while Okeyo (Tobias) won 2-1 against Olympian Aziz Ali of Prisons.

In the juniors, James Ng’ang’a of Nairobi Metropolitan defeated teammate Joshua Wekonga in the 12-year-category.