Coach and founder of Kasarani Boxing Club Ian “Major” Otieno (right) with Chris Juma in a past fight. photo by John Nene
One of Kenya’s top international boxers Shaffi Bakari – a silver medallist at the 2019 African Games – has enjoyed an unbeaten run for quite some time but on Thursday (April 4) he was silenced by a 16-year-old form two student at Mwiki Secondary, Chris Juma, in the Kenya Open Championships quarter-finals at Uhuru Park, Nairobi.
Juma, a product of coach Ian “Major” Otieno who’s the owner of Kasarani Boxing Club, outpointed Bakari in a well contested featherweight duel, and now the junior, novices and intermediate champion meets Amos Amenya in the semi-finals on Friday (April 5). Nairobi’s Amenya beat Vihiga’s Peter Andai.
An elated coach Otieno said of his boxer Chris Juma: “He’s a boy of resilience, courage, calm and very focused.”
When did Juma get involved with boxing?, I ask coach Otieno.
“His boxing journey started last year in one of my clubs based near his home in Mwiki. He came with his brother Ben and I noticed that they had the passion for boxing. As an experienced grassroots coach I decided to hold their hands to show them the way, they come from a very humble background. His brother is the current Kasarani Boxing Club captain.
“On noticing the potential of Chris, I started giving him tough games though still young, even some Nairobi coaches were against it they told me he’s still green in boxing. I hope he’ll go all the way.”
If Juma gets the better of Amenya, he’s likely to meet Africa silver medallist Sam Njau in the finals. Njau cruised to the semis with a first round KO win over Nairobi’s Rehan Nuer and meets Mwinyi Kombo of Prisons whom he’s favoured to defeat in his silent comeback trail after taking a break to recharge his batteries.
Gifted Ruaraka Boxing Club’s minimumweight sensation Morris Kimaini maintained his unbeaten run since winning the novice’s title.
He meets the more experienced KDF international Abednego Kyalo in the semis.
Rising Ruaraka’s welterweight giant Lenox Francis takes on Prisons’ Lennox Kusimba. Francis defeated Kibera’s Samuel Ndiema 3-0 and Kusimba got a walkover against Kajiado’s Boniface Simiyu. In other welterweight quarters, Joseph Shigali of Police outpointed Kisumu’s Nelly Omwaka and KDF’s Chrispine Murimi defeated Kongowea’s Hamza Said. Shigali trades leather with Murimi in the semis. Cracking duels in the welterweight division.
