Kenya Police unleash terror on opponents in Kisumu

Kraish Hudhaifa (red) from Kilifi and Syras Wandera from Busia take on each other on the first day of National Boxing competition at Ofafa Hall in Kisumu on November 21,2019.(Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

Martin Oduor of Kenya Police strolled in the semifinals after he dismissed Joshua Mwangi of Githurai 44 to make a formidable start as the final leg of the National Boxing League boxed off at Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu last evening.

Oduor won the bout on unanimous points’ decision in the bantamweight clash for the defending champions popularly referred to as ‘Chafua Chafua’ to romp into the semifinals to be played at the same venue this afternoon.

The policeman was too good for his opponent in all the three-round rounds of the bout as more policemen were lined up for more different bouts by our press time.

Kenya Police Head Coach Peter Bulinga was full of praise for Oduor(Martin) for the good show in the match.

“He(Oduor) has been doing fine this year and I’m not surprised with his dominant win today(yesterday). I’m confident, even in the next two matches. He’ll win,” Bulinga told Standard Sports.

Also to cruise into the semifinals of the same weight(bantam) was Mohammed Ali of Mombasa who also won his match against Victor Juma of Trans Nzoia County on split points decision.

In another bantamweight clash, Peter Mureithi of Dallas Muthurwa earned a walkover of his opponent David Thoya of Kwale who failed to show up.

Former champions Kenya Defence Forces’ Dennis Mwendwa lost his bantamweight clash against rookie Gilbert Maina of KIbra in a split points’ decision.

Syras Wandera of Busia also cruised into the semifinals from an unanimous points’ decision after overwhelming Kraish Hudhaifa of Kilifi in a match of the same weight.

Hosts Bernard Oduor of Kisumu dismissed Mwangi of Thika on unanimous points’ decision to stroll into the semifinals of the one-sided encounter.

Oduor was accurate on target from the first to the final bell with good uppercuts, thus forcing his opponent to become a punching bag in all the three rounds of the match.

He said he was focused to wrestle his next two matches have had adequate training in the league by also enhancing his chance of making it to the provisional squad for the African Olympic qualifiers.

“We have worked as team with my coach and I’m glad we were able to win today (yesterday). I want to thank my home supporters for coming out in large numbers,” Oduor told Standard Sports in a post-match interview.

Kisumu County Head Coach Jaoko Otieno had mixed reactions after winning and losing match each.

“The bantamweight bout was a good one but I’m disappointed we lost in the lightweight albeit from a good show but we’ll rectify so that we don’t repeat same mistakes in our next matches,” said Otieno.

UTILITIES.

“Oduor (Martin) has been doing well in all his league matches this season and I’m not surprised with his dominant win today (yesterday). I’m confident he’ll do the same in the semifinals and finals,” said Kenya Police Head Coach Peter Bulinga.