32 boxers promoted to the National Boxing League

32 boxers have qualified to play in the Kenya Open Championships and the National Boxing League this season.

These boxers got the nod to take part in the two top flight boxing championships after reaching the finals of the National Intermediate Boxing championships that ended at Thika Social Hall over the weekend.

The 32 are six female and 26 male boxers drawn from different counties across the country with Nairobi leading while former national boxing powerhouse Nakuru having none.

Nairobi had 12 boxers, Mombasa five, kajiado three, Siaya two, Kenya Defence Forces two, Nyandarua one, Kiambu one, Vihiga one, Machakos one. Kisumu one,

All the winning and losing finalists have been approved to take part in the league championships and Kenya Open Boxing Championships having fully finished the process of their participation in the national Intermediate Championships said Boxing Federation of Kenya Technical Director Albert Matito.

“They’ll first feature in the Kenya Open Championships and then afterwards the league championships,” said Matito.

The league is set to box-off in September after the conclusion of four international championships Kenya is expected to feature in this season.

They are first expected to take part in the Africa Zone Three Championships in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo from April 3-11, then Africa Boxing Championships in Tunisia at the end of April, World Women Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in May and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in July.

The squad for the Africa Zone Three Championships will be named this week.

Among the 32 boxers who qualified for two top flight competitions are six female players who include Vivian Atieno of Nairobi, Immaculate Orwenjo of Siaya, Sarah Mutinda of Machakos, Sylvia Abwamu of Nairobi, JUlieet Akinyi of Siaya and Friza Anyango of Kenya Defence Forces.

The men boxers are Abdalla Juma of Mombasa, Abdul Aziz of Kajiado and James Kanyi of Kiambu, Chris Murungaru of Nyandarua, Lawrence Owino of Nairobi B and Khalif Aderian of Nairobi A.

Matito said the boxers who fell by the wayside in the semifinals will have to go through the same process before they are equally promoted.

“As a contact and tedious sport, promotion always comes on merit and players must go through the same process before they are admitted into the top flight league championships,” he said.

FULL RESULTS.

Minimumweight(48kg) - Abdalla Juma of Mombasa beat Chris Murungaru of Nyandarua on points.

Flyweight (51kg) -  Abdul Aziz of Kajiado beat in Lawrence Owino of Nairobi B on points.

Vivian Atieno of Nairobi defeated Sarah Mutinda of Machakos on unanimous points decision.

Bantamweight(54kg) - James Kanyi of Kiambu beat Khalif Aderian of Nairobi A on points.

Featherweight (57kg) -  Wycliffe Jesire of Nairobi A lost to Rehan Nuer of Nairobi A on points.

Lightweight (60kg) – Cliff Juma of Nairobi A beat James Ng’ang’a of Nairobi B on points.

Light welterweight(63.5kg) – Meshack Abednego of Nairobi B beat Mark Ochieng of Mombasa on points.

Immaculate Orwenjo saw off Sylvia Abwamu of Nairobi on points.

Welterweight (67kg)- Fred Omondi of KDF beat Bwire Mwita of Mombasa on points.

Juliet Akinyi of Siaya beat Friza Anyango of KDF on points.

Light middleweight (71kg) – Eldrick Masika of Mombasa lost to Michael Oduor of Nairobi on Referee Stop Contest third round.

Middleweight (75kg) – Nick Okwaro of Mombasa beat David Odhiambo of Kajiado on points.

Light heavyweight (80kg)- Emmanuel Malava of Vihiga lost to Israel Katembo of Nairobi B on points.

Heavyweight (86kg) – Kennedy Otieno of Nairobi A beat Ibrahim Shikanga of Nairobi B on points.

Super heavyweight(Over 91kg) – Felix Omondi of Kisumu beat  Anthony Wabani of Kajiado  on points.