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 Impala grounds.

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.