Kenya Police stifle KDF to clinch Boxing League title

The Kenya Police held off stiff challenge from bitter rivals Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to be crowned the new National Boxing League champions.

The police officers showcased their prowess when they edged the soldiers by a single point in the penultimate leg of the tournament at the ‘Uwanja wa Mbuzi’ Grounds in Kongowea, Mombasa.

They thus built an unassailable points lead that ultimately landed them the coveted title during the final round.

Police and KDF entered the final leg in a neck-to-neck battle, fielding nine and four boxers respectively in the finals of the fifth and last leg.

The Police team finished at the top of the league with 103 points, one ahead the soldiers. Kenya Prison and Coast Combined came third and fourth with 27 and 14 points respectively.

Kenya Police boxers, Shaffi Bakari and Elly Ajowy won on points against Prison’s Harrison Muthuku and Julius Atito in light flyweight and heavyweight respectively.

Other Police boxers who won their finals were Boniface Mugunde in welter weight against Moses Mathenge(KDF), Humphrey Ochieng in middle weight who overcame stiff resistance from Eric Otengo(Prisons) and Benson Gicharu who overcame Isaac Meja (KDF).

Surprise package Brian Agina of Coast defeated Morris Ochieng (Police) in the fly weight final.

The veteran Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) pugilist Corporal Nick Okoth and captain Corporal Nick Abaka led their team by example by defeating Ethan Maina and Tobias Okeyo both of Police on points in a lightweight and lightheavy category respectively.

Fredrick Ramogi of KDF won the Super heavy after David Njuguna of police retired in the first round while his compatriot Victor Odhiambo came on top against Martin Achebi of Nairobi in the lightwelter category.

In the special fights, Everlyne Akinyi and Ruth Odongo both from Kisumu, won on points against Damaris Mtindi (Kongowea) and Lorna Kusa of Kentrack respectively. While Christine Ongare of kentrack silenced Veronica Mbithe of team Dallas.