KDF reclaim national boxing league title

The team, led by vice-chairman Colonel Paul Mungori, celebrated the triumph in style, marking their first league victory since 2018.

Adorned in light yellow T-shirts emblazoned with "we are the champions 2024," KDF boxers and officials danced in jubilation, embodying the spirit of victory.

Former international boxing stars including Nick Okoth, Nick Abaka, Tabu Orieyo, Sammy Magima, Simon Mulinge, and Moses "Black Moses" Mathenge, played a pivotal role as coaches, guiding the team to this remarkable achievement.

KDF dominated the competition, amassing 126 points to outclass their closest rivals, Kenya Police and Nairobi County, who tied with 26 points each.

Kenya Prisons followed in third place with 35 points among 23 participating clubs, while Meru finished at the bottom with no points.

The three-day final leg of the league was expertly organized and presided over by Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) officials, including president Anthony “Jamal” Otieno, secretary-general David Munuhe, treasurer Musa Benjamin, and competitions secretary John Waweru.

Key bouts and standout performances

Despite their overall success, KDF’s international featherweight Pauline Chege suffered a shock defeat to Siaya’s Emmaculate Atieno on points.

Siaya’s middleweight Nivael Otieno also impressed but fell short against KDF’s Steve Onyango, despite subjecting the soldier to two standing counts.

KDF’s Alvin Oduor, a product of Mbotela Estate, delivered a stellar performance, stopping Prisons’ Andrew Odhiambo in the second round of the light-middleweight bout.

Meanwhile, Homa Bay’s Junior Ochieng, a teacher at Loita Junior Secondary School in Narok, struggled against Siaya’s relentless Samuel Owuor, who secured a third-round stoppage.

Other standout KDF victories included light-heavyweight Robert Okaka, who stopped Prisons’ Steve Otengo in the first round, cruiserweight Chris Ochanda’s knockout of Homa Bay’s Kassim Abdi in the second round, and heavyweight Hezron Maganga’s first-round stoppage of Vihiga’s Steve Okoyo.

Full results of the fifth leg finals

Flyweight: Mwinyi Omar (KDF) outpointed Moses Kilavuka (Prisons)

Bantamweight: Shaban Mohamed (Mombasa) outpointed Samson Odhiambo (Kisumu)

Featherweight: Mwinyi Kombo (Prisons) won via walkover against Michael Otieno (KDF)

Pauline Chege (KDF) lost to Emmaculate Atieno (Siaya) on points

Lightweight: Nelson Ouma (Siaya) lost to Francis Mwema (KDF) on points

Light-welterweight: Anthony Maina (Prisons) outpointed Gatambo Irungu (KDF)

Welterweight: Samuel Owuor (Siaya) stopped Junior Ochieng (Homa Bay) in the third round

Light-middleweight: Alvin Oduor (KDF) stopped Andrew Odhiambo (Prisons) in the second round

Middleweight: Steve Onyango (KDF) outpointed Nivael Otieno (Siaya)

Light-heavyweight: Robert Okaka (KDF) stopped Steve Otengo (Prisons) in the first round

Cruiserweight: Chris Ochanda (KDF) knocked out Kassim Abdi (Homa Bay) in the second round

Heavyweight: Hezron Maganga (KDF) stopped Steve Okoyo (Vihiga) in the first round

Super-heavyweight: Jasper Shagali (Prisons) stopped John Otieno (Kisumu) in the second round