After making history as the first Kenyan since 1982 to reach the knock-out stage of the International Boxing Association (IBA) men's World Championship in Dubai in December last year, Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka is eying more accolades.
Okaka, 26, will be looking beyond the Kenya Open Boxing Championships that start today at the Kaloleni Social Hall, Nairobi, where he will defend his light heavyweight title for the second time.
The weigh-in and medical check-up will be done from 8am followed by the technical meeting and the draw that will involve 35 teams from 10.30 am.
Kenya Open will always hold good memories for the Kenya Defence Forces Senior Private since it’s where he made his debut in 2023 to earn his maiden call-up to the national team, Hit Squad.
Kenya’s Robert Okaka (right) attempts to land a punch on Yassir Rigui of Morocco during the Africa Boxing Championships in Kinshasa last month. Okaka guided KDF to win the fourth leg of the National Boxing League in Nanyuki.
Photo credit: Pool
It’s now 32 years since the country last won a boxing gold medal at the Commonwealth Games via Abdurahaman Ramadhani's victory in light flyweight and Omar Kasongo's in heavyweight at the 1994 Victoria, Canada Games.
“The journey to end all that started with my performance in Dubai. This Kenya Open will be my first tournament since Dubai, which I hope builds up my momentum for the Commonwealth Games,” said Okaka.
The 23rd Commonwealth Games are scheduled for July 24 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Kenya, for the first time since the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, United Kingdom, failed to secure medals in boxing at the 2022 "Club" Games in Birmingham, UK.
“Three decades is a long time and I feel this is not only the right time to end the drought of medals but gold medals to be specific. The almighty God who enabled me to reach the quarter-finals will create the way to the podium in Glasgow,” said Okaka.
Okaka, who beat Humphrey “Jakababa” Ochieng of Police to seal his second Kenya Open title last year, will meet the usual challenges. They will be in the form of “Jakababa” Ochieng and Cosby Ouma of the Police.
African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong'o from Kenya Defence Forces and Nairobi’s Amina Martha, who won bantamweight bronze medals at the 2024 Africa Championships and 2023 African Games, are among the top internationals who will fight in Kaloleni.
Africa Zone III champions Friza Anyango (welterweight) and Veronica Mbithe (light flyweight) are also in the mix as they put their titles on the line.
Africa Zone III silver medallists Silas Onyango (minimum), Mwinyi Kombo (featherweight) and Peter “The Beast” Abuti (heavyweight) will also be on the ring.
Africa light middleweight champion Boniface Mugunde won't be defending his title following the death of his father.
Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) secretary general David Munuhe announced that they have been forced to change the venue from Charter Hall in Nairobi’s CBD to Kaloleni Social Hall in Eastlands after the government booked the county facility at the last minute.
