Nairobi County emerged overall winners in the second edition of Harold Obunga Memorial Cup Boxing tournament, which was organised by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission patron Reuben Ndolo.
The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission Chairman Reuben Ndolo on arrival at JKIA on arrival from campaign trail in Europe for the Commonwealth Presidency at JIKA on Thursday, October 03rd, 2014. Photo/Jonah Onyango
Nairobi dominated their opponents, Prisons Kenya, during the one-day event at Kaloleni Social Hall on Saturday. Ndolo, who is gunning for the Commonwealth Boxing Commission Presidency, said he will do everything to revive the sport in the country and offer boxers a platform to develop their careers.
“I want to announce that I will be vying for the Commonwealth Boxing Commission Presidency on December 12 in London at the Commonwealth House. It is a big seat and the benefits would be enormous for our country should I get it,” he said.
“We will be able to sanction and bring big bouts here in Kenya and our boxers will greatly benefit from it. They will become active and build their own careers and uplift the standard of the sport. It will be possible to bring here in Kenya top boxers like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Last time we brought in Roy Jones and the country benefited in equipment and exposure, that will be done again should I win this post.”
Already Ndolo has got endorsements from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland for the Commonwealth Boxing Commission presidency.
“I recently toured Europe and they agreed to support me and also want to turn around boxing in Africa to be professional. I want to fight to improve the sponsorship deals for our boxers through selling of TV rights.
“Whoever wins the Presidency will talk directly with HBO, Sky, and Box TV for pay-per-view entertainment to come to Africa for negotiations and discuss how to promote boxing in Africa,” said Ndolo.
“I will also tour Uganda and Zambia to sell my policies. The target is also to get West Indies and Canada in our camp.”
Also present were KPBC Chairman Hillary Alila and Secretary General Frankline Imbezi.
“We want the Government to come on board too and help us develop professional boxing,” said Ndolo.
In Saturday’s bouts, Denzel Onyango won the lightweight men’s title by 3-0 against Prison’s Washington Odola. Washington Wandera of Nairobi County defeated Nicholas Wandera (Prisons) 2-1 in the special bantam-weight contest.
In another one-sided encounter, Mohammed Hussein literally rained blows on his opponent, Kelvin Muchira to win 3-0 in the light flyweight.
“We thank the family of Obunga for lifting boxing in the area through this tournament. Obunga represented the country well in major championships and left the rest for us to do. As the boxing family, we are ready and willing to help the family when there is need,” said Ndolo.
He added: “The Government is not taking sports seriously and I am urging the relevant officials to act faster for the development of sport in the country. If the sports policy goes through, the cost of sport will come down and everybody will get a chance to be involved fully.”
In other matches,Thomas Mwangi (Nairobi County) defeated Prisons’ Calvin Okello 2-0 on points in the bantam weight. Joseph Maina laboured to defeat John Nyoro on 2-1 in the junior’s boys under-44 kg category.
Joseph Kanyoro beat Kasele Kisenge in the 11 years, 38kgs category.
Nairobi County’s Fredrick Omondi stopped Prisons’ Francis Riziki in the special light welter by unanimous decision.
Fredrick Onyango lost out to Evans Odesa. In the welter weight category, Chrispin Murimi beat Anthony Ngugi by 3-0 points as George Bwire of Nairobi County out-punched Oliver Wawire (Prisons) 2-0 in the middle weight. Joseph Odhiambo was not up to the task, losing out to Cornelius Lukoye in 3-0 points in the light heavy weight category.
By REBECCA GICHANA, The Standard
