Local boxers posted mixed fortunes as the 2017 African Confederation Championships continued in Congo, Brazzaville.
On Tuesday, Kenya’s light-flyweight prodigy Shaffi Bakari defied all odds to vanquish Uganda’s Kizza Joshua 5-0 to advance to the next stage. Shafie, who turns 24 on July 5, is one of Kenya’s most promising boxers from ‘Chafua Chafua’ Police stable.
Shaffie gained national recognition when he replaced long-standing International and Olympian Peter Mungai from the light-flyweight division, forcing the latter to move a berth up. In another session 5 preliminary on Tuesday, John Kyalo stopped Koukou Anouar of Sudan to also sail through to the next level. Middleweight Kyalo needed 0:58 seconds in the second round to finish off his opponent. In the Monday session 4 preliminaries, soldier Black-Moses Mathenge beat Bellassek Abdelkabir of Morocco in light-welter while Kenya’s Elly Ajowi beat Aboubacar Yoada of Ivory Coast in light heavy.
However, Fredrick Ramogi of Kenya lost to Kalonji Carlos of DRC in the super heavy while Simon Mulinge succumbed to Dalvin Nguimbi of Congo in fly-weight .
In the Lightweight category Nick Okoth defeated Mandula Mtshita of DRC 5-0. In the Ladies. Elizabeth Akinyi lost to Essiane Clotilde of Cameroon.
Brazzaville, Congo which hosted the All-African Games in 2015 has welcomed a record 145 men and 41 women boxers for the continental extravaganza. The event started on June18 and will end on June 25. This year’s
event doubles up as a direct qualification route for the men’s 2017 AIBA World Championships, with quota places awarded to the four top athletes in each of the ten weight categories. The championships also provide the focal point for AIBA’s ground-breaking year of Africa legacy project.