Boniface Mogunde wins Kenya's first African boxing title in seven years
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 27.10.24. | 20:27
It was Kenya's first since Nick Okoth claimed gold in the Africa Championships in Congo Brazzaville
Kenya secured its first Africa Elite Boxing Championships gold medal in seven years on Saturday through team captain Boniface Mogunde.
Up against a confident Nestor Nduwarugira, light-middleweight Mogunde deployed almost similar tactics he used in his semi final triumph over Abidine Amroug of Morocco to win on points.
The Kenyan, who was a bronze medalist in Maputo in 2022, frustrated the Burundian with his ‘hit-and-walk’ approach, making it difficult for the shorter opponent to find range and counter.
The result was as he had hoped for at the end, and ended Kenya’s gold-drought that dated back to 2017, when the now retired Nick Okoth claimed gold in the Africa Championships in Congo Brazzaville.
“It's a big day for me and my country,” Mogunde, who secured another significant victory over Nduwarugira after defeating him in the Zone Three championships two years ago, said post-fight.
“It was a relatively easy bout for me because the Burundian laid out his intention to knock me out quite early, but I decided to be pragmatic and score when it mattered.”
Asked about what the win meant for him, he said: “This is a big achievement for me and my craft as it shows that I am improving, and also that my work and dedication to the sport is paying off. All that is left is to remain consistent and even do better in bigger championships.”
In Hit Squad’s other semifinals, it was yet another painful moment for light-heavyweight Elizabeth Andiego as she missed out on her first continental gold with a points defeat to Morocco’s Hasna Larti, while debutant Clinton Macharia also suffered the same feat against another Moroccan - Bouhdid Younes.
