Local boxers reduced to minced meat by Ugandans

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Kenyan boxers were reduced to minced meat by their Ugandan rivals in an international Jamhuri Day boxing tournament at the St Teresa’s Community Hall in Nairobi.

East Coast Boxing Club represented Uganda in the contest, where the visitors reaped heavily. Led by two-time East and Central Africa champion and 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games light weight gold medallist, Hussein Khalili, the visitors beat Kenya’s St John’s 9-5 despite home support.

Uganda had begun their quest for medals on a good note through Juma Fazil, who picked victory without breaking a sweat when Kenya’s 14-year-old Geoffrey Ouma was found under weight. Oumai weighed 43kgs in the 45-kg boy’s Under-15 contest.

SECOND CONTEST

In the second contest, Kenya’s Francis Omondi outclassed Miro Juma 3-0 in a one-sided affair of the Under-17 category that involved boxers weighing 47kgs level the results 1-1.

This year’s Kenya Open National champion, Matayo Keya, improved the hosts’ performance by beating Umar Mutebi 2-1 in a light flyweight bout.

In the women’s category, Christine Shisoka outboxed Maureen Nakiriowa 3-0 in the flyweight contest. Yassin Sajabi revived the visitors’ hopes by beating Kenya’s national youth champion, Morris Ochieng’ 3-0.

Uganda’s Diana Tulyanabo was no match for Kenya’s national featherweight champion Lorna Kusa. Tulyanabo had to be saved by the referee from further humiliation as the four-round lightweight bout was stopped in the second round.

Kenya’s Fredrick Nyakesha stopped Uganda’s Muzami Ssebi 2-1 in a men’s lightweight duel. This was the last fight of the evening to be won by the Kenyans as Ugandans soon took over the proceedings.

Herbert Mugisha stepped onto the ring to revive Uganda’s hopes by beating Kenya’s Philip Otieno on a technical knockout after the referee stopped the fight because of a deep cut sustained by the Kenyan on the eye in the first round of the lightweight encounter.

Uganda’s Mohammed Kassim then outclassed Kenya’s Wycliffe Ouma 3-0 in a boys’ Under-17 category (47kgs), as Kenya’s Daniel Ngugi suffered in the hands of Bashir Nassir 2-1 in another Under-17 category (47kgs) fight to level the scores 5-5. Hellen Baleke put Uganda in the lead with a score of 6-5 by beating Kenya’s Caroline Achieng’ 2-1 in the women’s light welterweight bout.

But Herbert Mugalula consolidated the visitor’s lead by getting the better of Kenya’s Paul Mwaura in the men’s light welterweight fight.

Uganda’s Simon Wandera then made it 8-5 by outpunching Kenya’s Saul Otatua 2-1 in a welterweight category clash.

Uganda’s national champion Khamis Ssemakula completed the rout with 2-1 win over Kenya’s Peter Wanda in another welterweight fight. The return leg will be held in Kampala on January 26. The Amateur Boxing Association Nairobi Branch Competition Secretary Maurice Maina said the event was organised to expose local boxers.