Boxer Ajowi soldiers on into African Games semis

Kenya's Elly Ochola (blue) gets punched by Scotland's Scott Forrest (red) during the men’s heavy (91Kg) category preliminary boxing match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue in Gold Coast on April 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO

Three Kenyan pugilists booked semifinal tickets after winning their respective quarterfinal bouts at Amani Indoor Sports Centre in Rabat, Morocco.

The trio is Boniface Mogunde welterweight (69kg), Elly Ajowi heavyweight (91kg) and Fredrick Ramogi superheavyweight (over 91kg).

Mogunde defeated Goma Naftali Afonso of Angola in unanimous points-decision in quarters. He had earlier dispatched Ethiopian Keralah Mestin Biru 3-0 in a pre-quarterfinal match at the same venue.

Mogunde will face Nigerian Osoba Abdul Afeez Ayoola in the first semifinal match tomorrow while the other semi will pit Clair Merve of Mauritius against Kapenga Nsaka Idriss of Democratic Republic of Congo.

The undisputed national Superheavyweight champion Fredrick Ramogi takes on Tshikera Jeamie Kibembi tomorrow in the first semifinal match after knocking out Mohammed Firise of Morocco in the first round.

If Ramogi defeats Kibembi, he’s likely to meet the winner of the second semifinal match between Egyptian Havez Yousry and Nigerian Adebayo Solomon Imoleayo.

Olympian heavyweight Elly Ajowi, who booked a semifinal ticket after defeating Nigerian Franklin Arinze Chukwidi 3-1 in an evenly contested quarterfinal bout, takes on Moroccan Baalla Youness in a semifinal clash tomorrow.

Youness had earlier knocked out Ueitele Olva of Namibia in the first round of their quarterfinal clash to book a date with Ajowi, who was also in The Hit Squad of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The other heavyweight semifinal clash will see Egyptian Moussa Youssef come up against Algerian Benchabla Abdelhadif.

Youssef dismissed Semedo Gelson of Cape Verde 3-2, while Abdelhadif was victorious against Junior Lorumba Okiala of Namibia, whom he defeated 5-0.

[Ben Ahenda]

Boxing Federation of Kenya Technical Director Albert Matito said chances were high more boxers could follow the footsteps of the trio in reaching the medal bracket.

“These boxers are improving from one match to other and with every match won by any of the boxer who is still in the tournament is keeping the fire burning among those who have not taken the ring in their respective fights,” Matito told Standard Sports.

Yesterday, four Kenyan fighters were scheduled to take on their different opponents in their respective weights in quarterfinal matches.

African lightweight champion Nick Okoth who has since shifted to featherweight (57kg) was to face Moroccan Harmet Mohammed.

National flyweight (52kg) champion Shaffi Hassan Bakari was to meet Businge Champion of Uganda while middleweight George Cosby was to face off against Pakela Arena of Lesotho.

National flyweight champion Christine Ongare, the only female boxer still in the tournament was to face Nigerian Oriyomi Arisat Morenikeji in the fourth quarterfinal clash.

Earlier, National female welterweight (69kg) champion Lorna Kusa was knocked out of the tournament by Nigerian Shogbamu Bolanle Temitope in another quarterfinal bout to join the list of four Kenyan players who have been eliminated from the big games.

Those who have bowed out of the continental games under the tutelage of Undugu Club Head Coach Musa Benjamin with the assistance David Munuhe are female boxers lightweight Evelyn Akinyi (60kg) and middleweight Elizabeth Andiego (75kg) and lightweight Ethan Maina (60kg) and light heavyweight Edwin Okong’o (81kg). [Ben Ahenda]