• BOXING

• Frank Rotich 4 days ago

Kenya’s Hit Squad maintain unbeaten run at African Boxing Championships

Kenya’s Hit Squad have made an impressive start to the African Boxing Championships at Kasarani Indoor Arena, winning all five of their opening bouts as they target a strong finish on home soil.

The championships, running from October 15 to 28, have attracted more than 150 boxers from 15 countries, setting the stage for a competitive battle for continental honours.

Captain Boniface Mogunde led Kenya’s charge in the second session, defeating Uganda’s Matovu Ukasha in the light-middleweight division with a disciplined performance.

Edwin Okong’o followed with an emphatic display in the middleweight category, securing a unanimous 5-0 victory over Nigeria’s Emmanuel Chukwuka to strengthen Kenya’s position in the competition.

Steve Odhiambo then delivered the most dramatic finish of the session, overcoming Angola’s Ramiro Dos Santos 3-2 on a split decision in the light-heavyweight division.

Odhiambo’s hard-fought victory sparked celebrations among the home supporters and completed a clean sweep for Kenya in the session, taking the team’s winning streak to five bouts.

Boxing Federation of Kenya Communications Director Duncan “Sugar Ray” Kuria says the championships offer local fighters a valuable opportunity to demonstrate their abilities against some of Africa’s finest boxers.

Kuria says the team is targeting a podium finish as the competition gathers momentum.

Elsewhere, Uganda’s Aziz Abdul Ringo booked a place in the semifinals after overcoming Nigeria’s Keneth Anigboro 4-1, underlining the growing intensity of the continental contest.

Attention now shifts to the third session, scheduled for Monday, October 19, from 1pm, with 15 bouts lined up and four Kenyan boxers expected to compete.

Kelvin Maina will face Uganda’s Kakane Bruno in the 47-50kg category, while Emmanuel Odhiambo takes on Sudan’s Zienalabden Ismael Jbrel in the 50-55kg division.

Benedict Tuma will meet Angola’s Daniel Makaya Gomes in the 55-60kg category, before Aloice Vincent rounds off Kenya’s scheduled appearances against Egypt’s Abeed Abdelfatah in the 60-65kg division.