Boxing: Policeman Shigali makes a formidable start in the second leg of Jamal Cup in Kisumu

Heavyweight boxer Elly Ajowi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Policeman Joseph Shigali knocked out Chris Omondi of Kenya Prisons to make a formidable start in the second leg of Jamal Cup Championships at Grace Onyango Social Centre in Kisumu this afternoon.

Shigali knocked down the warder in the second round of the bout to book his place in the quarterfinals of the welterweight clash and enhance his chances of being selected in one of the squads for international championships.

The tournament is being used to select boxers who will take part in the Africa Boxing Championships next month, World Women Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2022 and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, in July 2022.

Tournament director Albert Matito said selection of boxers will be done on merit from the preliminaries to the finals.

“We are here to select some of the best boxers for the three international tournaments coming up next year. All boxers are advised to take matches seriously,” Matito who is also the Boxing Federation of Kenya Technical Director told Standard Sports.

A total of nine bouts were played in the first sixty minutes this afternoon.

In the second match, Tony Owino of Kisumu defeated Charles Odenyo of Mombasa on unanimous points decision to reach the last eight in the welterweight.

Among the nine fights, two boxers lost their matches when the referee stopped the contest (RSC) to save them from further punishment from their opponents.

They were Rodgers Omondi of Kakamega and John Gachiri of Embu.

Omondi was beaten by Bravel Bureti of Murang’a and while Gachiri was stopped by Boniface Simiyu of Kajiado, both matches being welterweight fights.

In other welterweight fights, saw John Juma of Mombasa also match to the last eight after he defeated David Mathu of Dallas Muthurwa on unanimous decision.

On their part, Lenox Kusimba of Kentrack and David Ochieng of Nairobi picked their victories against Daniel Ngesa of Siaya and Moses Biko of Vihiga through RSC and split points decision respectively.

In the last match of that weight(welter), Ali Shaban of Laikipia lost to Hassan Wanende when the match was abandoned in the second round in favour of the latter.