NENEZ BOXING ARCHIVE: Zambia defeat Kenya twice in Lusaka and Chingola in this 1970 tour by the East African boxers.

Kenya’s national boxing team toured Zambia in 1970, losing two international matches in Lusaka and Chingola.

Light-flyweight George Findo, flyweight Peter Munyogi, bantamweight Philip Mainge and light-welterweight Ali Abdi were the new caps in the Kenya team.

Light-welterweight John Olulu and flyweight Isaac Maina were dropped before departure due to indiscipline. Munyogi, named the Best Boxer, in the national intermediate championships, replaced Isaac Maina.

Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club boxers, Findo and Mainge, impressed the selectors and given a chance to prove themselves in Zambia.

Others who made the trip were regular internationals, flyweight Peter Manene, bantamweight John Nderu, featherweight Sammy Mbogwa, lightweight Steven Baraza, Sammy Kipkemoi, light-middleweight  David Attan and middleweight Steve Thega who moved down from light-heavyweight to replace Stephen “Kimbo” Matiani. Among the officials accompanying the team  included coach Hassan Amiri and team manager Richard Pamba, the publicity officer of the Amateur Boxing Association of Kenya (ABA).

In the first match in Lusaka,  Zambia beat Kenya 8-5 bouts. John Nderu was Kenya’s most impressive winner outpointing their main hope in the Commonwealth Games Kenny Mwanza. The other Kenyan winners were flyweight Peter Munyogi, lightweight Stephen Baraza, welterweight Alex Omwomo and middleweight Steve Thega who defeated Zambia’s renowned Billy Sooze while Munyogi beat Maxwell Nsosoka, Baraza defeated Leo Mwanza and Omwomo beat Hugo Chansa at welterweight.

Kenya’s eight losers were George Findo, Peter Manene, Philip Mainge, Sammy Mbogwa, Karilus Owino, Sammy Kipkemoi, Ali Abdi and David Attan.

Boxing in the light-middleweight for the first time, Attan battled Zambia’s captain and silver medallist at the 1968 Africa Championships Julius Luipa. What was expected to be a fiercely contested bout between these two great African boxers at the time turned out to be an anti-climax with Attan retiring in the third round after injuring both thumbs in the first and the last round. Luipa therefore won the fight.

Zambia’s eight winners were light-flyweight Blackson Magyopa who outpointed George Findo, flyweight David Natta stopped Peter Manene in the first round, bantamweight Arnott Katakala outpointed Philip Mainge, featherweight Godfrey Mwamba beat Sammy Mbogwa, Charles Kampamba defeated Karilus Owino, lightweight Paul Mulenga beat Sammy Kipkemoi, light-welterweight Yotham Kunda beat Ali Abdi and light-middleweight Julius Luipa defeated David Attan who retired in round three.

The first match was held on a Saturday. So, the Kenyans took a break on Sunday and traveled by road to Chingola on Monday for their second match on the same day. It seems the eight-hour journey took its toll on the Kenyan boxers who were hammered 8-2 bouts.

Kenya’s two winners were Peter Manene and  Stephen Baraza who beat Godfrey Mwamba and Manene overcame Eddie Mulama. Baraza was the only unbeaten Kenya boxer in the tour.

Zambia won with an aggregate score of 16-7 bouts (39-30 points).

Chingola full results:

Light-flyweight: Blackson Magyopa beat George Findo

Flyweight: Maxwell Nsosoka stopped Peter Munyogi and Peter Manene outpointed Eddie Mulama

Bantamweight: F.Samba beat Philip Mainge with John Nderu losing to Arnott Katakala

Featherweight: M.Chikumbi beat Karilus Owino

Lightweight: Godfrey Mwamba lost to Stephen Baraza

Light-welterweight: Q.Kunda outpointed Ali Abdi

Welterweight: Hugo Chansa beat Alex Omwomo RSC

Light-middleweight: Julius Luipa beat Steve Thega