This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
On November 12, 2017, the Boxing Association of Kenya held its 5th and final leg league in Mombasa at Uwanja wa Mbuzi in Kongowea. The event saw Kenya Police crowned this year's champions after beating KDF by one point, collecting a maximum of 103 points.
Among the notable boxers who were knocked out of the fourth leg of the National Boxing League at Nanyuki Social Hall was experienced Ethan Maina of Kenya Police. Maina was dismissed by Benson Kamau of Nairobi on abandonment rule in the welterweight finals.
Other big names that lost include national heavyweight champion Elly Ajowi, who was beaten by Joshua Wasike of Kibra on split points decision in an evenly contested semi-final match on Friday. Joseph Shigali, an experienced policeman, also fell to John Juma of Kibra in the light welterweight finals when the match was abandoned.
However, the defending champions had some reason to celebrate when Martin Oduor, a police boxer, defeated Duncan Kamau of Thika in the welterweight finals. Martin Maina, another policeman, also won his light welterweight final match against Edwin Muthuri of Kenya Defence Forces on unanimous points decision.
George Cosby, a national middleweight ace, displayed skills gained from African Games in Morocco and dispatched Moses Juma of Kibra as the referee stopped the contest in the second round.
The National Boxing League is being used by national selectors to pick a provisional squad that will take part in the African Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal, in January.
