Top guns floored as former champ Ramogi reclaims his national title

Shaffie Bakari is among the top boxers who were beaten at the weekend. [File, Standard]

A number of top names were stopped as former champion Fred Ramogi made it possible for his selection into the national team for Africa Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal in September.

Ramogi reclaimed the super heavyweight bout by beating Douglas Sagali of Trans Nzoia in a match stopped by the referee in the second round at Charter Hall, Nairobi over the weekend.

With Africa Zone Three super heavyweight champion Elly Ajowi of Kenya Police out of the contest who was his main arch-rival, Ramogi found it easier to reclaim the title that has eluded him for the past three years.

National head coach Musa Benjamin said not all finalists will make it to the final team for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers.

“Some of the finalists are not worth to be included in the national squad. However, we’ll assess them at the non-residential training camp,” Benjamin told Standard Sports.

The team starts non-residential training on Wednesday.

As Ramogi was making a comeback, several top boxers were disappointed by upcoming boxers in the top fight for top honours.

They were Africa Zone Three bantamweight champion Shaffi Bakari and KDF duo of featherweight Pauline Chege and heavyweight Hezron Maganga.

Bakari who boxes for league champions Kenya Police lost on a walkover to steady Samuel Njau of KDF, Chege lost to Angeline Otieno of Nairobi on points while Maganga was also beaten on points by KDF sensation Peter Abuti.

However, four experienced boxers could make it to Africa Olympic Qualifiers for the second time and possibly feature at the big games for the second or first time.

Deputy captain and Africa Zone Three heavyweight gold medallist Elizabeth Andiego who was in 2020 Tokyo Olympics, policemen light middleweight Boniface Mogunde, Christine Ongare and flyweight David Karanja are set to make the team.

Andiego beat Metrin Sagina of Vihiga on RSC, Mogunde beat teammate Steve Olang on points as Ongare, the former Commonwealth flyweight bronze medallist defeated Anna Wanjiru of Kongowea on points in the light-flyweight.

On his part, Karanja saw off Kelvin Maina on points.