Boxers

CHARLES OJUANG, JOHN OSONG ONLY WINNERS FOR POLICE AGAINST VISITING CANADA

Charles "Ironman" Waithaka (left) survived a first round knockdown to outpoint Canada's Laurie Grosse in this middleweight bout in March, 1989 at the City in an international friendly match against Canada.

🥊 NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: CHARLES OJUANG, JOHN OSONG ONLY WINNERS FOR POLICE AGAINST VISITING CANADA
▪️ The Canadians drew 5-5 with Kenya’s national team in the first match

Muthurwa Dallas-bred Charles Ojuang and John Osong saved Kenya Police from total humiliation at the City Hall in an international friendly match against Canada’s national team in March, 1989.

Canada hammered the cops 9-2 bouts after drawing 5-5 against Kenya’s national team in the first match.

Ojuang outpointed Bill Irwin at lightweight while Osong was on song in his impressive light-welterweight points victory over March Blanchette with Peter Bulinga losing to Mark Leduc in another light-welterweight bout.

They’re not athletes as the photo suggests. The two are Police and Canada boxers in a friendly match in March, 1989, at City Hall. On the left is Peter Bulinga of Police who lost to Mark Leduc

Ojuang was to meet Bill Irwin again the following year in the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games losing to the Canadian on points.

The young Canadian boxers, more tactical than the Kenyans, started the rout in the opening light-flyweight bout in which John “Poison” Kamau lost to Barry Wood, bantamweight Benjamin Ngaruiya was beaten by Geronimo Bie, featherweight Irungu Waititu lost to Wesley Sunshine, welterweight Ali Athumani was beaten by Greg Johnson, light-middleweight Francis Kamande went down to Curtis Hatch, middleweight Steven “Vedo” Okumu lost to Lourie Gross and light-heavy Brent Koso stopped Johnny “Muzito” Otieno in the first round.

Nick Odore in blue attire was the most impressive Kenyan against the Canadians.

In the 5-5 draw, Kenya’s national team winners were light-flyweight Adam Maina, lightweight Patrick “Mont” Waweru beat Bill Irwin, light-welter Nick “Computer Odore outpointed Mark Luduc, light-middleweight Mohamed Orungi beat Curtis Hatch with middleweight Charles “Ironman” Waithaka surviving a first round knockdown to beat Lauris Grosse on points.

The five Kenyan losers were bantamweight Steve “Dempsey” Mwema, Godfrey “Ringbarrier” Maina, featherweight David “Destroyer” Gakuha, light-welterweight Dan Omuhaka and welterweight Ken “Bramble” Munikah.

Peter Mwarangu was the head coach assisted by Charles Anjimbi, trainers Patrick “Mad Okoth and Charles Longisa.

Head coach Peter Mwarangu (right) and Charles Anjimbi in Kenya’s 5-5 draw against Canada

The Canadians were on an Africa tour that took them to Nigeria and Morocco preparing for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. They came without a flyweight and a super-heavyweight but had two boxers each in bantamweight and light-welterweight.