KDF hoping to close gap as they eye National Boxing League title

KDF's Anthony Mutua and Francis Kimanzi (left) of Dallas fight for the Kenya Open Boxing Championship title at Green Park, Nairobi. April 3, 2024. [File, Standard]

Defending champions Kenya Defence Forces are keen to close the gap between them and former champions Kenya Police in the fight to retain the National Boxing League title.

Kenya Police are leading the table standings with 42 points after the second leg of the league championships, which was hosted in Mombasa last weekend.

KDF are in second spot in the log with 21 points.

The soldiers missed the first leg of the league championships in Busia owing to work-related matters, but vowed to take part in the rest of the events starting with the one that was hosted in Mombasa last weekend, which they won.

"Starting with the second leg of the league championships set for Mombasa, we'll take part in the rest of the league assignments and catch up with the rest of the teams on our way to retain the title," KDF team manager Ben Maingi told Standard Sports after missing the Busia championships.

In Mombasa, KDF amassed 21 points to finish at the top ahead of the policemen with three points to enhance their chances of catching up in the remaining three legs of the league championships.

The third leg will be hosted in Molo on September 18-20.

Maingi was happy to have emerged victorious in Mombasa at Alliance Francois Arena and said 'Aluta Continua'.

And the soldiers must work around the clock to bridge the gap of 21 points between them and the policemen, which is a tall order.

In the current league standings, Nairobi County is tied with KDF ahead of Nakuru County, who has same number of points as their Kisumu counterparts on 12 points and are followed by Nakuru ABC tying with Kibra at eight points ahead of Busia with six points among the top ten teams