Boxers leaving nothing to chance ahead of Nakuru leg
Sports
By
Ben Ahenda
| May 07, 2026
With the first leg of the National Boxing League set to box off in Nakuru next week, boxers have talked of their different ambitions in the fight for top honours.
The event will be held at Nyayo Gardens on May 14-16.
Whereas a number of youngsters who were recently promoted to the top-flight boxing are keen to upstage veterans, they said they are taking a step at a time.
However, some of the experienced boxers are equally ready not to disappoint in the league championships, knowing very well it could contribute to their selection into different national teams set to take part in different international assignments this year.
Flyweight James Tachia of Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club (ABC), who will be taking part in the league for the first time, said his primary objective is to gain experience in that category.
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"As a beginner in top-flight boxing, I'm here to box against different players in flyweight and see if I could be the flyweight champion in the first leg of the league championships," he told Standard Sports.
"After the Nakuru leg, then I'll take a step at a time in the remaining legs of the league championships."
Africa Boxing Championships light-middleweight champion Boniface Mogunde is back after a long layoff following the death of his father.
"I have put that behind me, and we are back to serious business as I concentrate on how to take up our spaces," Mogunde said after a training session at Mathare Police Depot in Nairobi yesterday.
Mogunde is a member of record Kenyan champions Kenya Police Boxing Club.
National bantamweight champion Dennis Muthama is keen to retain the title this season for the second consecutive year after upstaging former champion Hassan Shaffi Bakari.
"Although this is a tough outing, what matters is the preparedness and fitness levels of each player in the whole journey," Muthama, who boxes for Kenya Open champions Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
"This is a very competitive weight, and therefore, there's no room to underrate any opponent. My target is to give my best in the ring and win matches."
In a past interview, Bakari Shaffi indicated he's not losing the grip on the bantamweight, and therefore this indicates his intentions to make a formidable comeback soon.
"Losing at times shapes one's mind on the need to approach each game differently while employing new tactics. Losing doesn't mean I'm weak, but I'll soon make a formidable comeback," Bakari had warned.
And the 22-year-old Peter Mwanzia of Ongata Rongai Boxing Club believes he wants to become the next champion in the featherweight (57kg) category.
"For you to be the best, you must beat the best. And that's exactly what I'm going to do," said Mwanzia.
According to Mwanzia, the best featherweight boxer is Chris Juma of Kasarani Youth Boxing Club, who's the Kenya Open featherweight champion.
Juma defeated Mwinyi Kombo of Mombasa in the featherweight finals in the Kenya Open Boxing Championships held at Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi in March.
"These are the two boxers I must beat in order to become the next (featherweight) champion," said Mwanzia.