🇰🇪 THE HOMA BAY VIP STAND PACKED IN DAY ONE OF BFK NATIONAL LEAGUE

🇰🇪 The final leg of the Kenya National Boxing League in Homabay, Dec 19-21

HOMA BAY VIP STAND PACKED IN DAY ONE OF BFK NATIONAL LEAGUE

Hundreds of fans today packed the Raila Odinga Stadium VIP stand in Homa Bay roaring and cheering their favourite boxers during the opening day of the BFK-sponsored Kenya National Boxing League 5th and final leg whose finals on Saturday will be streamed live via the Boxing Federation of Kenya Youtube Channel.

It will be the first time-ever the Kenyan boxing league will be transmitted live since its inception in 1981.

Prisons’ featherweight Mwinyi Kombo, Vihiga’s welterweight Peter Baraka, Homa Bay’s Junior Ochieng aka Junruly, Lenox Kusimba and Kenya Defence Forces’ lightweight Francis Mwema were some of the most impressive winners.

The 36-year-old Mwema outpointed Prisons’ Francis Riziki in the lightweight class. He displayed fine tactical boxing, smartly ducking Riziki’s punches and countering with neat short hooks and overhand rights against his southpaw opponent.

In an interview after his victory, Mwema said he has been inactive in boxing due to intensive in-house courses. His efforts were not in vain..Last year he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

“I’m happy I’ve been promoted, now I can concentrate on boxing,” said Mwema who has fought twice in the league this year losing the last game and winning today against Riziki. He joined KDF in 2010.

Kombo and Baraka scored the shortest victories of the day, each one of them knocking out their opponents within 30 seconds of the first round.

The Coast Region-based Kombo, who is the national featherweight champion, KO’d Kisumu’s Erick Odoyo with a digging body punch that sent him crashing to the canvas to be counted out by the referee.

His eagerly awaited rematch with Nairobi’s talented schoolboy Chris Juma will not happen following the withdrawal of Nairobi County from the Homabay competition due to financial constraints.

“I was ready for Chris to silence him again, he can’t defeat me with his weak punches” said the hard-hitting Kombo.

Baraka had no time to waste with Siaya’s Samuel Owuor whom he knocked out in the first round of their welterweight bout to romp through to the finals.

Homeboy Junior Ochieng aka Junruly, representing Homa Bay County, was given a standing ovation by his fans with a polished points win over Kisumu’s Triver Nelly. He was in the driver’s seat throughout the three rounds carrying the fight to.his opponent and there was no doubt on who would win this welterweight fight.

Flanked by his excited coach, Jackol Omune, the 25-year-old Ochieng said he was very happy for his deserved victory.

“My goal is to represent the national team and inspire more boxers in Homa Bay to take up the sport,” said Ochieng, a teacher at Loita Junior Secondary School in Narok. He started boxing in 2018.

Kusimba, 29, a fitness training coach, was also impressive in his points win over KDF’s Warren Onyango at welterweight . He said he’s still harbouring his cherished ambition of representing the national team.