NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 24 – National boxing team skipper Nick ‘Commander’ Okoth weathered two point deductions and a loose mouth-guard to progress to the quarter finals of the African Olympic Qualifiers in the featherweight division in Dakar, Senegal on Monday.
Okoth outsmarted Egyptian Mostafa Mohamed Komsan on a split decision to progress to the last eight and keep his hopes of a second successive Olympics alive.
“It wouldn’t have been a slit decision were it not for my mouth-guard that kept coming off. I have the experienced, trained very well with coach Benjamin Musa and he kept telling me what I need to do. You saw how hard I pushed hard at the end, some solid punches,” Okoth told the Olympic Channel after clinching victory.
He added; “It was harder than the start. The coaches talked to me and told me that I need to finish this one strong.”
Despite the difficulties he faced trying to adjust his guard all the time, Okoth battered the Egyptian against the ropes in the final round to make it through to the last eight.
He is one of the biggest hopes Kenya has in having a boxer at the Olympics especially after African champion Rayton Okwiri was beaten on Sunday.
-Akinyi through to semis
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Akinyi progressed to the semi-finals of the welterweight division after beating Ghana’s Faruza Osuman in the quarters.
Akinyi made her advantages tell with an excellent last two rounds to wear down Osuman who had dominated the opening round of their encounter.
“For me this is a continuation of a journey that will not end here but in Tokyo. That’s where I want to end the journey. I had put pressure on myself that I had to make up for the team after a tough day out in the rings for our boxers. After my road work this morning I felt good, and it was clear with how I controlled the fight from start to end,” she said after booking her slot in the finals.
While the two enjoyed success, it wasn’t all glory for the Kenyans in Dakar.
Elizabeth Andiego who was seeking a second consecutive appearance at the Olympics disappointingly lost her bout against Mozambique’s Rady Gramane on a very tight split decision in the quarters of the middleweight division.
Andiego seemed to get the better of the first two rounds, but Gramane took the third and it proved enough to get the nod from the judges.
-Maina knocked out
Earlier on, Humphrey Ochieng’s bid was also halted by Mohamed Assaghir of Morocco, who beat him and held on for a 4-1 split decision in the light heavyweight category.
But, the biggest shock of the day came from African Games bronze medalist Boniface Maina who stepped on the canvas for barely a minute before being knocked out by Albert Mengue Ayissi of Cameroon.
Maina was the third best Kenyan in the team of eight men in Dakar, but he couldn’t withstand the heavy punches of the Cameroonian. He first traded a sharp right jab onto the jaw to leave the Kenyan dazed.
After being assessed by the referee and passed fit to continue after just 49 seconds, the Cameroonian rained a combination of left-right blows on the Kenyan to leave him in sixes and sevens, forcing the referee to call off the fight.
(Visited 12 times, 8 visits today)
%thecontent%%avatar%%author%
- %authornetworks%
- %authornetworks%
Comments
%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"%title%
%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"%title%
%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"Hit squad skipper Okoth keeps Olympic dream
rn rn Boxingrn rn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn More Headlines
rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates ‘little bro’ Kobern
rn rn rn rn rn 15 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe and daughter Gigirn
rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Kenyau2019s top star Mutua goes gown to Togolese in Tunisrn
rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury prepares for hero’s returnrn
rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Messi ‘greatest’ ahead of Maradona, says Gattusorn
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Adebayor makes Olimpia debut after Paraguay movern
rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rnMost Popular
rn- SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships
by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League… - Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa?
by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as… - Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence
by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve… - Everton to terminate SportPesa contract
by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side… - Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts
by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…
All Sports
rn trn rn rn rn
rn rn rn rn Liverpool sink West Ham for record-equalling 18th successive win
rn rn rn rn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates ‘little bro’ Kobe
rn rn rn rn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe and daughter Gigi
rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Kenyau2019s top star Mutua goes gown to Togolese in Tunis
rn rn rn Gamern rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Djokovic sizzles into Dubai second round
rn rn rn rn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rnPoll Question
rn rn ntnttnttnttWILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?
- ntt
- NO ntt
- YES ntt
Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn 
rn rn rn rn ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury prepares for hero’s return
rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Messi ‘greatest’ ahead of Maradona, says Gattuso
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Adebayor makes Olimpia debut after Paraguay move
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn Will Asbel Kiprop race at 2020 Safari Rally?
rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn
rn rn rn rn African players in Europe: Auba strikes twice in thriller
rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnSponsored
rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnFeatured
rn rn rn rn rn
rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Liverpool sink West Ham for record-equalling 18th successive winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates ‘little bro’ Kobern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn 
rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Hit squad skipper Okoth keeps Olympic dreamrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe and daughter Gigirn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn 
rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Kenyau2019s top star Mutua goes gown to Togolese in Tunisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn tMost Popular
rn- SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
- Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa? by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as…
- Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
- Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
- Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…
Featured
rn rn trn rnrn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Liverpool sink West Ham for record-equalling 18th successive winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Tearful Michael Jordan commemorates ‘little bro’ Kobern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 25th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Hit squad skipper Okoth keeps Olympic dreamrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Beyonce kicks off LA memorial for Kobe and daughter Gigirn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Kenyau2019s top star Mutua goes gown to Togolese in Tunisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 24th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"Oops...Something broke on our end
"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */
