Coach Benjamin tips boxers to reach second round

Boxing Instructor Benjamin Musa at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday 7, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

National boxing team head coach Musa Benjamin is optimistic the four pugilists heading to 2020 Tokyo Olympics will go past the second round and hopefully win medals.

Benjamin said he expects female players to go past the second round and male players will finish within the medal bracket in their respective bouts.

The coach said the four players in the team have improved in all international assignments that involved them for the past two years and he expects even better at the Olympics.

“It has taken us two years to reach where we are today and no boxer is willing to drop their guard after all the hard work and efforts invested into the team,” Benjamin told Standard Sports.

The four are 2015 Africa Boxing Championships lightweight gold medalist Nick Okoth, Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships super heavyweight gold medalist Elly Ajowi, Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medalist Christine Ongare and national welterweight champion Elizabeth Akinyi.

For the past two years, the four boxers have been part of different national teams that participated in four international assignments.

Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya says he is returning to the boxing ring for a bout against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort.

The 48-year-old De La Hoya announced Thursday that he will end his nearly 13-year ring retirement September 11 in Las Vegas for what is expected to be an exhibition fight.

The Golden Boy’s return is backed by Triller, the social networking service that has aggressively jumped into the fight game.