KDF enter eight boxers in national open finals

Anthony Kariuki (in red) of Mombasa ABC trade punches with Said Bangwan (in blue) of Kongowea ABC in their light weight category semifinal bout during the Boxing Association of Kenya National Boxing Open/Trial championship at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, April 27, 2019. [GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD]

Kenya Defence Forces lined up eight boxers while Kongowea paraded four in the final of the national open boxing championships in Mombasa last night.

Abednego Kyalo of KDF was the first one to glide into the finals on Friday night in the light fly category after beating Mombasa’s Abdalla Athumani on points. Kongowea’s Kombo Mwinyi defeated Prison’s Mohammed Hussein on points to sail into fly weight finals.

In bantam weight, KDF's Isaac Major won on points against his colleague Dennis Mwendwa to set a date in the finals with Kongowea’s 19-year-old Hazard Nazim, who knocked out Prison’s Juma Abdul in the second round.

In light weight, Said Bagwan of Kongowea defeated Mombasa’s Anthony Kariuki on points.

He was to battle Olympian Nick Okoth (KDF), who dismissed Christopher Osicho of Mombasa, last night.

In light welter, referee Chege Njenga of Kiambu had to stop the contest in the third round to save KDF’s Victor Odhiambo from more jabs by Kongowea’s Isaiah Odhiambo.