OKAKA’S PICNIC, POLICE CHAMPS AS BOXING CANCER PERSISTS

OKAKA’S PICNIC, POLICE CHAMPS AS BOXING CANCER PERSISTS

Dominant Robert Okaka went on a picnic chalking up his second consecutive victory over Humphrey Ochieng as Police “Chafua Chafua” won the Kenya Open Championships amid the ugly head of boxing cancer at Nairobi’s Charter Hall on Saturday, April 19.

Soldier Okaka nicknamed One-Man-Army was on top of his game against cop Ochieng aka Jakababa who was on the receiving end for the better part of the fight for a 2-1 victory.

It was encouraging to see Okaka boxing instead of fighting as he normally does, even punching the body severally and then going upstairs, and at times adding spice with the famous Mohammed Ali shuffle.

Two consecutive heavy right shots exploded on Jakababa’s face in the first round for a count of eight. From then on, Okaka remained in the driver’s seat punishing Jakaba proper. The Police boxer landed a few telling feeble shots that hardly shook Okaka.

“I was well prepared it’s only that it was not a good day in the office,” said a subdued Jakababa.

Okaka was in cloud nine following his second victory in a row over Jakababa.

“I was ready for war, I really enjoyed the game using my jab whenever I saw him coming punching him at will,” Okaka told boxersworld.co.ke

“I’ve changed my game because I want to make boxing more entertaining not just pounding an opponent, that was my aim in the ring to score points and not just aiming for a KO. I’m happy I’ve now silenced Jakababa.”

Police emerged overall winners with 24 points closely followed by KDF 23, Prisons 11, Nairobi and Siaya jointly fourth with 9, Kibra 6, Kisumu 4, Kongowea and Nakuru 2 each.

Police won the men’s title on 21pts, KDF 16, Prisons 11, Nairobi 7, Siaya and Kibra 3 each, Kisumu, Kongowea and Nakuru 2 each.

In women’s category, KDF topped with 7 points, Siaya 6, Police and Kibra 3 each, Kisumu, Nairobi and Meru 2 each.

Biased officiating – the cancer of boxing – reared its ugly head once again in men’s flyweight, lightweight and middleweight divisions.

At flyweight Diouff Muimi of Police beat Nairobi’s Emmanuel Chondo, lightweight Police’s Ethan Maina outpointed KDF’s former weightlifter Washington Wandera while Siaya’s middleweight Nivel Otieno beat KDF’s Steve Onyango.

In all fairness, the losers deserved to win but it seems dubious officiating has now become the cancer of boxing as witnessed even in IBA World Championships and AFBC Africa Men’s and Women’s tournament. Despite efforts to cure this disease it seems, there’s still no medicine to get rid of this boxing cancer.