NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 23 – Rayton Okwiri’s hopes of returning to the Olympic Games were shattered on Sunday evening after bowing out to Ugandan David Ssemujji on a split decision in the middleweight division at the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

Okwiri, a Kenyan Olympian in Rio 2016 had briefly given up his professional career to have another shot at medaling at the Olympics, but all those dreams were brought tumbling down like a pack of cards by the Ugandan Africa Games silver medalist.

“I was really fit enough for this fight. I heard the guy is from pro and has come back. So I did what I had to do and won. I am called The Animal and I don’t mind so whoever comes my way I just smash him down. This fight shows you where I am going because after the Olympics I want to turn pro,” the Ugandan said after the bout.

The meeting between the two East Africans was billed to be the bout of the tournament, with Ssemuji exempted from the preliminary round and handed a bye while Okwiri came in with such healthy pedigree.

In the second, just as it seemed Okwiri was getting on top, Ssemujji fired back with a big uppercut. But after two rounds, it was the Kenyan who was in front of the scorecards – three judges gave him the first round while four the second.

However, the Ugandan big hitter responded in the final round in a bid to turn the bout into his side. Okwiri tried to respond, launching a relentless body assault in the final minute.

However, the judges went on to give Ssemuji the points, the number one seed going through to the next round on a split decision.

Kenya’s main hopes will now rest on skipper Nick Okoth who progressed to the quarter finals of the featherweight category after out-punching Wilson Semedo of Cape Verde earlier on Sunday.

On Monday, Humphrey Ochieng will step on the canvas in the light-heavyweight category against Moroccan Mohamed Assghir while Africa Games bronze medallist Boniface Mogunde will trade punches with Algerian Chemseddine Kramou in the preliminary round of the welterweight division.

In the women’s side, Elizabeth Akinyi will battle it out with Faruza Osuman of Ghana in the welterweight quarterfinals.

(Visited 15 times, 2 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Okwiriu2019s Olympic dream shattered in Dakar

rn rn Boxingrn rn rn Sunday, 23rd 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 Arsenal outgun Everton in five-goal thriller, climb to ninthrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Three things from England v Ireland Six Nations matchrn

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn 6 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Jota at the double as Wolves ease past lowly Norwichrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 6 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Fernandes on the spot as Manchester Utd climb to fifthrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Djokovic urges Davis and ATP Cups to merge or diern

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Hearn wants Joshua-Fury all-British showdown this yearrn

rn rn Boxingrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most 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…

rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Arsenal outgun Everton in five-goal thriller, climb to ninth

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Three things from England v Ireland Six Nations match

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Jota at the double as Wolves ease past lowly Norwich

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Fernandes on the spot as Manchester Utd climb to fifth

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 23rd 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 urges Davis and ATP Cups to merge or die

rn rn rn Gamern rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Hearn wants Joshua-Fury all-British showdown this year

rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Coronavirus spread hits Italy as four Serie A games postponed

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Heat crush Cavaliers, honour Wade

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Rockets cruise past Jazz, Kings keep winning ways over Clippers

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Okoth into quarters in Olympic Qualifier

rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Saturday, 22nd 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 rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal outgun Everton in five-goal thriller, climb to ninthrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Three things from England v Ireland Six Nations matchrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Jota at the double as Wolves ease past lowly Norwichrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Okwiriu2019s Olympic dream shattered in Dakarrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Fernandes on the spot as Manchester Utd climb to fifthrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd 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 t

Most 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…

rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Arsenal outgun Everton in five-goal thriller, climb to ninthrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Three things from England v Ireland Six Nations matchrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Jota at the double as Wolves ease past lowly Norwichrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Okwiriu2019s Olympic dream shattered in Dakarrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn Fernandes on the spot as Manchester Utd climb to fifthrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 23rd 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"}}; /* ]]> */