Bakari sails into semis in Kisumu

Kenyan boxer Shaffie Bakari in a past training session in Birmingham, UK. [File]

As expected, Africa Zone Three bantamweight gold medallist Shaffi Bakari qualified for the semifinals in the final leg of the National Boxing League at Kosawo Social Hall in Kisumu on Thursday.

Bakari who boxes for league champions Kenya Police defeated James Mungai of Dallas to reach the last four to enhance his chances of retaining the national title.

His victory came at a time when he had been reaching the finals of that weight category and winning them in all the legs of the league championships.

"We are taking a match at a time until we get to the required destination. These matches are all tough and possibilities of undermining your opponent are nil," Bakari said.

Bakari hopes to make it to the finals to increase his chances of being selected into one of the squads that will take part in the World Olympic Qualifiers in Italy in February next year.

"Hopefully, winning at this time makes it easier for coaches to select me into one of the squads for the global Qualifiers," he added.

Also to win his match in the same weight (bantam) category was Steve Ndung'u of Kenya defence Forces.

Ndung'u overcame Boaz Ambuka of Vihiga to make it to the semifinals in another evenly contested quarterfinals match.

Homeboy Erick Odongo did not disappoint before home fans after he dispatched Gilbert Maina of Kibra on unanimous points decision.