All set for Kenya Open Boxing Championships

Julius Atito (in red) from the Kenya Prisons ABC trade punches with Humphrey Ochieng (in blue) from the Kenya Police ABC in their light weight category semi final bout during the Sportpesa Boxing Kenya National League First Leg at the Modern Fitness Boxing Lounge in Mombasa, April 15, 2016. Ochieng won the bout 3-0. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Boxers from Kenya Police and Kenya Defence Forces will be the favourites against opponents from nondescript clubs in a tight contest for top honours as Kenya Open Boxing Championships commence this afternoon at Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi.

Pugilists from the lowly ranked clubs are out to prove a point that you do not have to play for an established club in order to become a champion but it is the skills in a player that matter in the race for top honours.

The tournament, which is meant to pick national champions in all weight categories, is open to all clubs and players so long as they have in the past participated in the Kenya Intermediate Championships.

However, tournament director Albert Matito said players who feature in the Amateur Professional Boxing Championships including bantamweight Benson Gicharu, welterweight Rayton Okwiri and middleweight Nick Abaka have been exempted from the competition.

“This is a tournament meant to assemble players from all corners of the country including those with or without clubs to showcase their skills before Boxing Association of Kenya picks a provisional team for national champions in all weight categories,” said Matito.

League champions Kenya Police and arch rivals KDF once again come face to face in a cut throat competition that give national team selectors easier time in picking refined players for next season’s international assignments.

All teams taking part in the National Boxing League have confirmed participation according to Matito.