Why Kenya Police are favorites to win league title

Washington Wandera of KDF in blue vs Ethan Maina of Police in the fourth leg of the National Boxing League in Nanyuki. Maina won on points.[Ben Ahenda]

Defending champions Kenya Police are at the verge of winning the league title for the sixth consecutive year after the conclusion of the fourth leg of the National Boxing League in Nanyuki over the weekend.

Police won the leg with 33 points ahead of former champions Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)'s 26, Nairobi 10, Siaya 2, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia tied on a point respectively.

As a result, the policemen have taken an unassailable lead with 120 points ahead of KDF 98, Nairobi 30, Kenya Prisons 27, Kibra 10, Nakuru 9, Siaya 7, Vihiga 7, Laikipia 7 and Kisumu with the final leg set for Kisumu next weekend.

"It was a tough leg from the first to the last match on all my opponents and this has proved the league matches are tough," said Africa Zone Three bantamweight gold medallist Shaffi Bakari.

Bakari who boxes for Kenya Police and has since shifted from bantamweight (54kg) to featherweight (57kg) said he hopes to repeat the same fate in Kisumu.

Bakari forced Francis Oduor of Kongowea on a Referee Stop Contest (RSC) rule in the second round.

KDF's flyweight Kevin Maina said he was optimistic he'll land a place in the national squads for World Olympic Qualifiers in Italy and Thailand next year.

"As a number two in this weight (fly) and having won the fourth leg in this weight, I believe the coaches have seen my potential to select into one of the squads," Maina told Standard Sports.

Maina had beaten Paul Omondi of Nairobi in the flyweight finals. 

Prisons failed to travel for the Nanyuki Championships that made them fall to the fourth spot behind Police, KDF and Nairobi County.

Nakuru Club are steadily taking their place in the national Boxing after landing a number of their boxers in the finals and one of them emerged victorious, thanks to the efforts of Hungarian trained coach Carlos Muthee Mwangi.

In the only victory, Carlos Wandera of Nakuru defeated Alloice Vincent of Police in the light welterweight finals. Wandera won on points.

In the light heavyweight (81kg) finals, Humphrey 'Jakababa' Ochieng' is poised to win that weight title after he beat experienced Hezron Maganga of KDF in the finals on points.

Ochieng had done the same at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru weeks back.

THE TOP FIVE TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE STANDINGS.

Kenya Police - 120 points.

KDF - 98 points 

Nairobi County 30 points.

Kenya Prisons 27 points.

Kibra 10 points.

Nakuru 9 points.

Siaya/Vihiga/Laikipia - 7 points.

Kisumu - 5 points.