NAKAWA COMBINED OVERCOME NAIROBI COUNTY
Uganda’s Nakawa Combined defeated Nairobi County 10-5 bouts in an international friendly match at Katale Primary School play ground on Sunday, February 2.
The hotly contested 15-bout encounter – fought under improvised floodlight – rekindled the fierce rivalry of yesteryears between Kenyan and Ugandan boxers.
Nakawa made their intentions known by winning the first three bouts through light-flyweight Kato Kazimbwe, flyweight Matovu Livingstone and bantamweight Kyammbade Faizo.
Nairobi fought back gamely to chalk up their first victory through international Faith Nafuna who defeated Impindi Zanah at bantamweight.
In one of the main bouts of the night, African Games featherweight bronze medallist Kassim Nakawa scored a questionable 4-1 victory over the more impressive Nairobi County’s Chris Juma who had the better of the exchanges using his height advantage effectively against the southpaw Murungi whose win saw Nakawa leading 4-1 bouts before Nairobi’s lightweight Robert Gachui gave the visitors their second win by beating Elphazi Mbazira.
Inspired by Gachui’s 4-1 points win over Mbazira, light-welterweight Joseph Andusi outpointef Ochan Raymond and then female featherweight Emmaculate Atieno brought Nairobi back on level terms 4-4 bouts following her points win over Impindi Leilah.
Nakawa however regained the lead through welterweight Jaffar Onen and went on to dominate Nairobi County in the remaining bouts.
Any hopes Nairobi had on one of their star boxers, middleweight Lenox Francis fizzled out when Nakawa’s Ojok Alfred’s heavy body punches had the Nairobian painfully on his knee. The referee wisely waved off the fight in the first round. Lenox appeared unfit for the Kampala match.
Full results starting with Nakawa boxers:
Light-flyweight: Kato Kazibwe outpointed Silas Onyango
Flyweight: Matovu Livingstone outpointed Emmanuel Chondo
Bantamweight: Kyammbade Faizo stopped Paul Omondi in round three
Female bantamweight: Impindi Zanah lost on points to Faith Nafuna
Featherweight: Kassim Murungi outpointed Chris Juma
Lightweight: Elphazi Mbazira lost on points to Robert Gachui
Light-welterweight: Ochan Raymond lost on points to Joseph Andusi
Featherweight: Impindi Leilah lost on points to Emmaculate Atieno
Welterweight: Jaffar Onen outpointed Musa Juma
Mukwaya Edward outpointed Joshua Cliff
Light-middleweight: Mawanda Depark lost on points to Michael Oduor
Female light-welterweight: Emily Nakalema stopped Sylvia Obwamu in round three
Middleweight: Ojok Alfred stopped Lenox Francis in the first round
Light-heavyweight: Baker Malindi stopped Joseph Odhiambo in the second round
Ebongo Emmanuel beat Glenstone Agade on referee stopped contest medical in the second round
