Soldiers are on the path to reclaim title: Nine KDF boxers make it to league finals

Sportpesa National Boxing League in Nakuru. Isaiah Odhiambo (in Red) of Kongowea battles out with Joseph Shigali of Kenya Police during the Sportpesa National Boxing League at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru on October 19,2017..Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard

The boxing championship enters its second day in Nakuru.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) showed their intent to reclaim the National Boxing League title when nine of their boxers made it to the finals of the championships as it entered the second day at Madison Square Garden in Nakuru yesterday.

Defending champions Kenya Police had seven boxers while Kenyatta National Hospital, Dallas Muthurwa and Githurai 44 managed a boxer each in the grueling competition that is being used by Boxing Association of Kenya to gauge boxers in readiness for next year’s Commonwealth Games in April.

The KDF boxers who romped into the finals were flyweight Simon Mulinge, bantamweight Isaac Meja, lightweight Nick Okoth, lightwelter Victor Odhiambo, welterweight Blackmoses Mathenge, middleweight Edwin Okong’o, Nick Abaka (light heavyweight), heavyweight Fred Onyango and super heavyweight Fred Ramogi.

On their way to the finals, Mulinge stopped Mohamed Ali of Coast 3-0 and Meja defeated Simon Kinuthia of Oscar Kassongo Sports Academy (OKSA) when the referee stopped the contest in the second round.

Okoth (Nick) who is the African lightweight champion needed less than 60 seconds to dismiss Said Bagwani of Coast on RSC in the first round, Odhiambo (Victor) beat Patrick Owino of Kentract, Mathenge won against Vincent Ouma of Kentract, Okong’o dismissed Mustafa Salim of OKSA on RSC first round and Abaka secured unanimous points decision against Peter Abuti of Kenya Prisons.

“This was just a training session for me as I prepare for the Commonwealth Games,” Okoth (Nick) told The Standard Sports.

Onyango (Fred) knocked out Ben Okullo of Kentract in the third round.

On his part, Ramogi cruised into the finals without fight and was set to take on David Njuguna of Kenya Police after he outwitted George Owiti of Prisons 3-0 in  finals.

Besides Njuguna, other policemen who reached the finals were light flyweight Shaffi Bakari, lightweight Ethan Maina, light welterweight Joseph Shigali, welterweight Boniface Mogunde, Humphrey ‘Jakababa’ Ochieng and heavyweight Tobias Okeyo.

Bakari defeated Harrison Mathuku of Kenya Prisons 3-0 and was set to take on Matayo Keya of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Keya had dismissed Nichodemus Kinuthia of G44 Soweto 3-0.

On their part, Maina (Ethan) won on a split points decision against John Mwanzia of G44 Soweto, Shigali beat Martin Achebi of Nairobi, Mogunde secured a 3-0 victory against Benson Akhasamba of Nairobi, Jakababa Ochieng won in first round against Erick Otengo of Prisons and Okeyo stopped Julius Atito of Prisons 3-0.

In other encounters, Charles Macharia of Dallas Muthurwa secured a 3-0 win against Brian Agina of Coast Combined in the flyweight.

In the bantamweight, Joshua Mwangi of G44 Soweto defeated David Mathu.