Africa Zone Three Bantamweight Gold Medallist Shaffi Bakari faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of a 16-year-old Form Two student in a quarter-final clash on Thursday.
Africa Zone Three bantamweight gold medallist Shaffi Bakari faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of a relatively unknown contender, 16-year-old Chris Juma, a form two student at Mwiki Secondary School in Kenya Open Boxing Championship on Thursday.
The quarter-finals clash, held at Uhuru Park in Nairobi saw Juma, under the tutelage of coach Ian "Major" Otieno from Kasarani Boxing Club, outpoint Bakari in a fiercely contested featherweight bout, marking one of the most significant upsets in recent boxing history.
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Coach Otieno, visibly elated by Juma's performance, expressed his admiration for the young boxer, emphasizing his resilience, courage, and unwavering focus.
"He's a boy of resilience, courage, calm, and very focused," remarked Otieno as per Nenez Media.
Juma's journey into the world of boxing began just last year, under the guidance of Coach Otieno at a club near his residence in Mwiki.
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Recognizing the passion and potential in Juma and his brother Ben, despite their humble background, coach Otieno took them under his wing, nurturing their talent and providing them with opportunities to hone their skills.
Despite facing skepticism from some Nairobi coaches due to Juma's young age and relative inexperience, Coach Otieno remained steadfast in his belief in the young boxer's abilities.
"His brother is the current Kasarani Boxing Club captain," noted Otieno.
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Following his remarkable victory over Bakari, Juma now gears up to face Amos Amenya in the semi-finals, scheduled for Friday.
Amenya secured his spot in the semi-finals after defeating Peter Andai from Vihiga.
Looking ahead, Juma's path to potential victory in the championship remains challenging, with the possibility of facing formidable opponents such as Africa silver medallist Sam Njau in the finals.
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Njau advanced to the semi-finals with a commanding first-round knockout victory over Rehan Nuer from Nairobi.
Meanwhile, other notable contenders in the championship include Morris Kimaini from Ruaraka Boxing Club, who has maintained an undefeated record since winning the novices title.
Kimaini is set to face off against KDF international Abednego Kyalo in the semi-finals.
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In the welterweight division, rising star Lenox Francis from Ruaraka will take on Prisons' Lennox Kusimba, promising an exciting clash between two formidable opponents.
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