Boxing fraternity mourns former national and Nakuru ABC head coach Peter Morris

Former National and Nakuru ABC head coach Peter Morris is dead [Courtesy]

When Nakuru was known to be the heartbeat of the boxing nation, at a time that was relentlessly producing top talents, it was the work of veteran coach Peter Morris.

This was in the seventies up to the nineties, which happened for over 30 years when most national boxing players originated from Nakuru City.

Unfortunately, the man who was doing all that work in Peter Morris is dead.

Morris died on Sunday at 1 pm following a long illness that has made him for over a decade.

His wife Dorcas Kadenyu confirmed his death saying the coach had died at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital where he had been admitted for the past two months.

"He has suffered a lot but Almighty God is never wrong when he takes you away. Rest In Peace Papa," Kadenyu told Standard Sports.

Morris who served as Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club head coach from 1975-1990s later joined Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) in the same capacity as an employee of the once giant government parastatal.

He first joined Nakuru ABC as a boxer in 1962 and played for the club for a number of years before he graduated to become a coach in the late 1970s.

Some of his products were former national welterweight champion Isaiah Ikhoni who went on to win a number of medals at the Africa Boxing Championships, All Africa Games and Commonwealth Games.

Others are former International Boxing Association referee-cum-judge Joseph Mwangi Muthoga, 1995 All Africa Games light heavyweight gold medallist Peter 'Dynamite' Odhiambo, professional DK Kamau (now living in the US) and the current Nakuru ABC Coach Carlos Muthee Mwangi, among others.

Nakuru ABC coach Muthee Mwangi said he met Morris in 1977 as his coach at the club.

"He was a dedicated tactician who served us with great distinction. He churned out great talents aa our coach by then," said Mwangi.

At some point, Morris also served on the national team - The Hit Squad - where he coached the likes of the 1978 World Boxing Championships gold medallist Steve Muchoki.

Morris has been in and out of hospital a number of times and his death has shocked the boxing fraternity whose prowess changed a number of people's lives in the neighbourhood.

Boxing Federation of Kenya President Anthony 'Jamal' Ombok and the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission chairman Reuben Ndolo were the first high-ranking boxing officials to have sent their condolences to the family of the late Morris.

Ndolo sent his condolences while urging the government to recognize some of these coaches who brought fame for the country at different international championships.

"Boxers should as well be recognized the way other players from different disciplines are honoured," said Ndolo.

Ombok described Morris as an astute coach who served the country diligently.

Morris leaves behind four children - two boys and two girls.