Three Kenyan boxers – light flyweight Shaffi Bakari, lightweight Nick Okoth and middleweight John Kyolo – have reached the medal brackets in the ongoing African Confederation Boxing Championship in Congo Brazzaville.
The trio will compete in Saturday’s semi-finals. Bakari faces Matias Hamunyela (Namibia), Okoth will square it out with Mohamed Hamout (Mauritius) while Kyola will fight it out against Bakr Abdih of Egypt.
Each of them is guaranteed a medal once they step on the boxing ring, regardless of the outcome.
Bakari qualified for the semis after beating France Moussiessie of Congo Brazzaville 5:00 on unanimous points decision in the quarterfinals.
The other the quarterfinalists winners were Okoth, who beat Emmanuel Ngome of Zambia on unanimous point decision 5:0 and Kyalo, who defeated Glory Carlos of Democratic Republic of Congo on split point decision 3:1.
The Kenyan pugilists, who lost in the quarterfinals were: heavyweight Tobias Okeyo, who lost on points 5:0 to Tsoye Christian (Cameroon), welterweight Black-Moses Mathenge lost to Walid Mohame (Egypt (5:0) as bantamweight Martin Odour lost to Jordy Vadamootoo of Mauritius 5:0.
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In the light welterweight contest, the referee stopped contest to save Kenya’s Victor Odhiambo from receiving further punishment from Mulumba Mbaya of Democratic Republic of Congo in the third round, with just six seconds remaining for the bell to ring to end the contest.
Light heavyweight Elly Ajowi proved to be no match to Mbachi Kaonga of Zambia, who dominated all the three rounds to win on unanimous point decision 5:0.
The AFBC is being used as a continental qualifier for the International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Championship set for Hamburg, Germany from August 25 to September 3.
Stay tuned for information on the AFBC finals as the tourney winds down!
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