Four Kenyan boxers eliminated from World Boxing Championships

Boxing
By Ben Ahenda | Oct 27, 2021
Team captain featherweight Nick Okoth [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Five Kenyan boxers are officially out of the World Boxing Championships.

The last pugilist to lose his match was light-middleweight Boniface Mogunde who was beaten on points by Alban Beqiri of Albania at Stark Hall in Belgrade, Serbia on Wednesday.

It was a sad day for Kenya who are yet to register a win after sending a full team of 13 boxers to the global championships, this being the highest number of boxers by any African country in the tournament.

Despite the loss, Mogunde exhibited confidence and energy in all the three rounds of the Albanian who will remember the heavy jabs he received from the Kenyan policeman.

Mogunde joins the quartet of flyweight David Karanja, light welterweight Victor Odhiambo, light heavyweight George Cosby Ouma and heavyweight Joshua Wasike who were the first to fall by the wayside on the second day of the tournament to some seasoned global boxers at the round of 32 in the ongoing two week sporting extravaganza.

After an earlier elimination of Karanja (David) and light welterweight Odhiambo (Victor), light heavyweight George Cosby Ouma and heavyweight Joshua Wasike also followed falling to some seasoned giants.

Both (Ouma and Wasike) boxers lost on the unanimous points’ decision.

Ouma was beaten by Ziad El Mohor of Belgium as Wasike fell in the hands of Uladzislau Smiahlikau of Belarus.

Their exit has left eight more boxers who are yet to take the ring.

Despite these loses, the boxers were happy the matches were exposing them for serious future international championships.

Karanja admitted having lost to an experienced opponent who has been at the world championships but was ready to improve on his performance to enhance his chances of being selected into the national team.

“Yes I have lost in my debut at the global championships, but I’m happy they (matches) are shaping us for future international championships,” said Karanja after his match against Luis Delgado of Ecuador who beat him 4-1.

Most of the boxers are eyeing selection into the national team for Commonwealth Gamers in Birmingham, England next year.

Odhiambo also admitted having lost to an experienced opponent having given his best in the light welterweight bout.

“He (Mohor) was so tactical than me. As my first time in the global championships, it has given me the confidence required to perform better in future tournaments”, he said.

Odhiambo lost the vastly experienced Shiva Thapa of India on a unanimous points’ decision.

Two matches were yet to be played by our press time last evening.

They were lightweight clash between the Kenyan captain Nick ‘Commander’ Okoth against Alexy Dela Cruz of Dominican Republic and the cruiseweight bout Hezron Maganga and Riyad Alhindawi of Jordan.

RESULTS.

Light middleweight; Boniface Mogunde was beaten by Alban Beqiri of Albania.

Light heavyweight;- George Cosby Ouma Ouma was beaten by Ziad El Mohor of Belgium.

Heavyweight;- Joshua Wasike lost to Uladzislau Smiahlikau of Belarus.

 

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