▪️ Boxer from various clubs among them Kibra Youth, Jericho and Mathare North converge at Kaloleni open air ground for the annual Obunga Memorial tournament
▪️ An attempt to sabotage the Obunga Memorial event by anti-BFK forces was nipped in the bud by a senior national federation official
▪️ A capsule summary on Obunga’s highlights during his heydays in the ring
▪️ We rewind to that tension-charged heavyweight battle between Obunga and David Anyim in the 1988 Olympic Games trials in “NaxVegas”. At stake was also the Kaloleni bragging rights heavyweight king
▪️The hotly contested trials were loaded with talent. Some of the big names in action included Maurice “Kawata”Maina, Steve “Dempsey” Mwema, John “Duran” Wanjau, David “DK” Kamau, Jericho-bred Robert “Aruba” Wangila, Chris “Bingwa” Sande, Mohamed “Body” Orungi, Mike “Spinks” Mutua, Martin “Nyoka” Ojuang, Silvanus Sullu Okello, Joseph “Nyundo” Alhasamba and James “Demosh” Omondi
22/12/2025
The final heavyweight bout was one of the key fights of the night during the 1988 Olympic boxing trials at Nakuru’s Madison Square Garden.
In the ring were two equally matched boxers from the famous Kaloleni Estate in Nairobi or Ololo if you like.
Harold “Schetza” Obunga was facing David “Santos” Anyim for a ticket to the Seoul Olympics.
Nakuru’s boxing-mad fans were eagerly waiting for this bout with the experts analysing the likely winner. I was there too. I hardly missed boxing contests at the Madison Square Garden to report for the KANU-owned newspaper Kenya Times which had selected me to cover the Seoul Olympics. I was supercharged for the trials compiling stats ahead of my Olympic Games debut.
The muscular Obunga was in top shape, so was Anyim. Who will blink first?
Madison Square Garden was packed. At the club’s pub, patrons clinked glasses, laughter filled the air with their faces illuminated by the frothy liquids of Ruaraka as they shouted from the usually elevated stools at the counter. The pub was doing roaring business.
For more details on the story visit boxersworld.co.ke, East Africa’s first ever boxing website
📸 Harold “Schetza” Obunga (top left) strolling at Ruaraka’s Camp David training camp and some of the youthful Nairobi boxers who took part in the Obunga Memorial Tournament on December 20, 2025, at Kaloleni open ground.
