Okwiri on top in road to Tokyo 2020

Kenya’s middleweight boxer Rayton Okwiri, hit hard and precise as he began his Tokyo 2020 ticket chase with an easy win after outclassing Libya’s Emhemed Salem Elmagasbi, to record a clear points win.

Elmagasbi certainly gave it a good go, especially in the first round, as he caught Okwiri with a good left-right combination, but by midway through the second round, tables turned on the Libyan.

“I was able to dominate all three rounds and win on unanimous decision but that’s nothing close to my best,” said the elated boxer.

Okwiri next faces the number one seed, Kavuma David Ssemujju, of Uganda, on Sunday, and he is optimistic of even a better show.

“I felt a bit heavy, sort of a burning sensation on my chest, could be the change of climate. But we are going to work on that with my coaches for the next one.” He added

Two more Kenyans are on card today to begin their chase where Lightweight category fighter Joseph Shigali will take on Omar Abdul Wahib from Ghana While Featherweight Beatrice Akoth will fight it out with Ali Rama Said Ahmed from Somalia.

There are 33 places at the Tokyo Olympics available in Dakar – 22 for men and 11 for women.

Any boxer who reaches the final is guaranteed an Olympic place.

In addition, in six male weight categories (flyweight to light-heavyweight) as well as one female division (flyweight) there will be a third qualification spot available. This will be decided by a box-off between the two losing semi-finalists.

There will be one more chance to qualify for Tokyo 2020 at the final world qualifying event in Paris in May

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olympics Tokyo 2020 Rayton Okwiri

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