Boxing: Jobless boxers punch above their weight

Dennis otieno (left) and Yvonne Achieng 'spar during the Tunza sports boxing launch at Nyalenda in Kisumu county on January 18th 2020. (Collins Oduor, Standard )

Given that Covid-19 pandemic is having a serious impact on the sports sector, plans are underway to organise a boxing extravaganza in a move aimed at keeping boxers fit ahead of the World Olympic qualifiers in Paris, France.

The World qualifiers are for boxers who did not secure tickets to the Summer Games at the Africa qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

Captain Nick Okoth, who won gold at the 2015 African Boxing Championships and Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare were the only two Kenyan boxers who made it to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for next year. 

Former Boxing Association of Kenya President John Kameta said the event will enable boxers prepare adequately for the global qualifiers as athletes continue to adhere to the government’s Covid-19 guidelines.

“The corona virus pandemic has hit the sporting world hard. Boxers and coaches who dependent on sports to earn a living are now struggling to make ends meet,” said Kameta when he visited Mombasa boxers at their training base in Tudor, Mombasa County.

“I have decided to engage the incumbent office and sponsors to come up with a boxing extravaganza that will ensure that boxers are able to put food on the table,” he added.

“I don’t see anything wrong with testing 10 boxers for covid-19 and quarantine them for 14 days then have them compete among themselves. Let’s not allow Covid-19 to disrupt our preparations for the world qualifiers,” added Kameta.

Coach Mike Davis, who is training the Mombasa boxers said the pugilists should not be kept idle because of Covid-19 pandemic.