Local boxers’ performed poorly at the international level

By Erick Ochieng’

Kenya posted a dismal performance in international boxing last year as no local fighter won an international bout.

The pugilists, who had an opportunity to represent the country in international events, ended up being humiliated.

Kenya’s most decorated female boxer Conjestina ‘Hands of Stone’ Achieng’, who managed a draw with Maria Lindberg of Germany on May 8, was perhaps the only one who shone in the sport. Both were contesting for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Federation Middleweight title.

Still pending

Achieng’ was not lucky to get a rematch of her fight with the reigning World Women’s International Boxing Federation Super Middleweight champion Natascha Ragosina, which is still pending.

Reigning women’s International Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight champion Fatuma Njeri Zarika did not have any meaningful fight last year. She blames the ‘dry spell’ on her promoter Caleb Kuya, whom she accuses of not honouring the terms of their contract.

"I am tired of training without fights. Every time I am promised one it is never fulfilled," Zarika said.

"Even the fight which was organised in the Czech Republic on December 9, has not yet been approved," she lamented. Zarika lost the fight for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Federation super featherweight title to Marina Krasheninnikova of Russia on points.

Knocked out

Charity Mukami, who tasted her first international bout last month was not lucky either. She lost 92-98,91-99 and 92-98 to Wang Yan Nan of China in Australia in a ten-round contest for the Women’s International Association middleweight title.

US-based Super Featherweight champion Morris Chule also lost his three international fights. National heavyweight sensation Raymond ‘King Kong’ Ochieng’ suffered a knock out in the fifth round in his quest for the WBC Youth World Heavyweight title to Andrzej Wawrzyk of Poland in the latter’s home soil in May.

Like Ochieng’, Samuel ‘Snake’ Kamau was knocked out in the sixth round in the contest for the vacant International Boxing Federation featherweight title and for the vacant Polish International Superfeatheweight title in Poland last June.

Bernabe Concepcion of Philippines also dethroned Collins Sande Otieno of his WBC International Featherweight title in January.

Owing to this failure, Achieng’ has suggested that local boxers should be accompanied by Government delegations while going on duty abroad, without which she says one can not win a fight.

Shaban Ogolla who is the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) Secretary General says plans are underway to send boxers abroad with at least two Government officials, but the mandate is yet to be stipulated in the KPBC Constitution. But other boxers feela decline in sponsorship contributed to the dismal performance last year. eEven then, some promoters are to blame for the reluctance of sponsors to come on board.

Hounour contracts

"Some promoters do not honour contracts and are out to defraud sponsors," conceded Ogolla.

Julius Odhiambo of Team Boxing Promotion predicts that 2010 will be a great year for local boxers as already some big shots are willing to invest in the boxing industry.

The reintroduction of the national Amateur Boxing Association selection is expected to raise the standards.