Kaloleni Social Hall to host Kenya Open boxing tourney

Patrick Maina of Nakuru(in red) recieve a punch from David Njuguna of police (in blue) during the 5th Leg National Boxing League at Nakuru Amateur boxing hall PHOTO BONIFACE THUKU

The Kenya Open Boxing Championships has been shifted from Madison Square Garden in Nakuru to Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi from November 27-29.

Boxing Association of Kenya Vice President Albert Matito said the federation was unable to secure Nairobi City Stadium as had been earlier planned.

The federation had planned to host the three-day tournament in an open-air arena to attract large crowds and boost the federation’s initiative of attracting young talents back to the sport.

Matito assured boxers who are unable to secure clubs that they still have a chance of taking part in the tournament as individuals so long as they have passed through the Intermediate Boxing Championships.

“The tournament is open to all players whether one has a club or not. This will go a long way in encouraging the young talents to face-off with experienced pugilists,” he told FeverPitch.

Matito said the Intermediate Boxing Championships is a pre-qualification to the tournament.

Players who win their respective bouts in the finals of all weight categories will be declared the national champions and will be given first priority during national teams selections for next year’s international assignments.

All teams in the National Boxing League are expected to provide the bulk of players during the tournament.

The newly crowned champions Kenya Defence Forces, former champions Kenya Police, Kenya Prisons, Nyanza Combined, Nakuru ABC, Kenyatta National Hospital, Administration Police, Nairobi Metropolitan, Nairobi County, Central Combined, Nanyuki and Coast, will  be in action.

Matito said the tournament is part of a wider scheme of the federation to tap and develop talent, as players from the lower ranks will face off with experienced counterparts.