Kenya’s campaign at the Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships got off to a disappointing start on Sunday evening, as five of its fighters fell in their opening bouts at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
Among those who suffered early exits were bantamweights Shaffi Bakari (54kg) and Emmanuel Chondo, welterweights Washington Wandera and Joseph Shigali (63.5–67kg), and lightweight Ethan Maina (60kg).
Defending bantamweight champion Bakari was handed a 4–1 defeat by Rwanda’s Aime Ivanzenza, who was making his first appearance in the regional competition. Chondo went down by the same scoreline to Belfore Kanongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the welterweight category, Wandera was outpointed by Ezra Paul of Tanzania — a bronze medallist at the Africa Games — while Shigali succumbed to Edward Mugwaya of Uganda, both losing 4–1.
The night didn’t get any better for Kenya in the lightweight division, where Maina was beaten on a unanimous points decision by Uganda’s Adrike Jimmy. Early in the fight, referee Boniface Chacha of Tanzania gave Maina a four-out-of-ten mandatory count, though the Kenyan managed to continue before eventually losing on points.
Kenya’s lone bright moment came from flyweight Abednego Kyalo, who earned the team’s first win with a 4–1 victory over Tanzania’s Athumani Juma.
