This archive report was first published on 24 April 2020.
Kenya's boxing family is in mourning following the death of Douglas Maina, a former Commonwealth and Africa Games bantamweight bronze medalist. The news was confirmed by national 400m record-holder Rose Tata Muya on Thursday.
According to Muya, Maina had been unwell and had undergone a check-up at Mathari Hospital last month. His wife had called her on Thursday morning to relay the sad news.
Maina was a product of the late coach Eddie 'Papa' Musi of Kariobangi, famously known as Bangladesh Boxing Club. He went on to contest national league for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and was spotted by the national team, the 'Hit Squad'. Muya, who was also part of Team Kenya for the 1978 All Africa Games in Algiers and the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton Canada, remembered Maina's skills in the ring.
As a boxer, Maina was known for his deadly right punch and won bronze medals in the two championships. After hanging up his gloves, he trained as a referee and presided over international bouts in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and across Africa.
The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) has postponed its Commonwealth and Africa title fights to August due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event was expected to feature pugilists such as Sarah Achieng (lightweight, Commonwealth), Morris Okola (heavy, ABU), and Mwangi Makaveli (light, ABU), who is currently training in Dubai alongside former World Boxing Council women Super Bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika.
As reported by the KPBC President Reuben Ndolo, Zarika will curtain-raise the contest ahead of her third fight title with Yemileth 'Yeimi' Mercado of Mexico later in the year.
