Ramogi smiles to the finals of boxing league in Mombasa

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

As the final leg of the National Boxing League boxes-off in Mombasa this afternoon, one player who will be smiling all the way to the finals is national super heavyweight champion Fred Ramogi of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Ramogi is the kind of pugilist whose fierce jabs have bruised opponents, leading many to dread facing him at any given time.

And to sum it up, KDF boxers have exuded confidence of snatching the title from defending champions Kenya Police. This after coming from behind to dethrone the policemen during the fourth leg of the league in Nakuru two weeks ago. They bagged a massive 25 points, which catapulted them to the top of the log with 82 points.

“The title is ours to lose and we’ll use the same squad that demolished our opponents in Nakuru to do the same work in Mombasa,” KDF Head Coach Sammy Magima told Standard Sports.

Although Magima is aware of the task ahead of him as only three points separate them and the policemen on the race for the title, he believes they have the depth to dismantle their arch-rivals.

“We have a set of enough players in the ten weight categories who are able to conquer any of our opponents at any given time,” said KDF team manager Ben Maingi.

However, Kenya Police head coach George Onyango who is popularly referred as ‘Chafua Chafua’ believes that the three points deficit is not a tall order for his charges to overcome.

“We have done it in the past and it will not be different this time round but we are not going to underrate our opponents,” said Onyango.

A total of 16 teams are expected to parade their players in the weighing-in and medical checkups at Kongowea Uwanja Wa Mbuzi Stadium this morning.

The teams are KDF, Police, Kenya Prisons, Dallas Muthurwa, Kenyatta National Hospital, Coast Combined, Githurai 44-Soweto, Kentract, Nairobi County, OKSA, Kongowea, Kisumu, Thika, Kibra, Ndenderu and Nakuru ABC.

This is the last time Boxing Association of Kenya is allowing teams to field at least a boxer in any league assignment following a raft of resolutions that were passed during an executive meeting in Nakuru.

Athletics
Kenyan stars ready for World Cross showdown in Belgrade
By Ben Ahenda 9 hrs ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Tanak urges Kenyan children to take up motorsports as a career
Rugby
SCHOOLS: From the classroom to the field, Kisumu Girls ready to lift national rugby trophy
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Neuville clinches Kasarani stage as Hyundai makes intention known