Chance for boxers to qualify for national league

Kibera Olympic's Erick Chau and Stanley Mathenge of Ruaraka in action. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

For all boxers who aim to qualify for the National Boxing League this year, they must participate and reach the finals of the National Intermediate Championships set for Thika from February 20-22.

This is the forum that assures upcoming boxers of their maturity to face the experienced pugilists in the league championships in the fight for top honours.

And as they get ready for it, 34 boxers who qualified for the National Intermediate Championships after reaching the finals of the National Novices Championships last week are expected to face others who in the past have failed to make it to the league championships.

Although the national boxing federation could not estimate the number of players expected here, communications director Duncan Kuria said the event offers a chance to all those who failed to qualify for the league championships for the past two years.

"For now we cannot be able to estimate these numbers owing to a number of reasons that vary from one county to the other. But be assured a good turnout nevertheless," Kuria said.

Last week, 34 out of 300 young boxers led by Nairobi and Nakuru qualified for the event after reaching the finals of the National Novices Championships.

Nairobi produced 10 and Nakuru nine boxers followed by Kisumu four, Vihiga two while Nyeri, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Migori, Mombasa and Kiambu each produced one boxer.