Andiego to lead Kenya's Hit Squad to World Boxing Cup in China

Elizabeth Andiego will lead Kenya’s team of boxers as they take part in the second World Boxing Cup scheduled for Guiyang, China from Monday, 15 to Sunday, 21 June.

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Andiego, who this year turned professional but is still eligible to represent Kenya at the amateurs, is part of a 17-member squad, who will battle it out with the world’s elite female and male boxers for the next six days.

Serving as skipper, Andiego will be deputized by Africa light-middleweight champion Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde, who is unbeaten locally for eight years.

Also in the team is 2024 African Games middleweight champion Edwin Okong’o, who will be joined in the men’s team by two-time Africa bronze medallist Robert “Man Ngori” Okaka.

Under the tutelage of head coach Musa Benjamin, Hit Squad, who are expected to land in China on Sunday, have opted for the Cup as preparation for the team’s ambitions at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, while taking advantage of a fairly open window.

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“There’s nothing happening in Africa, so we decided to expose our boxers ahead of the Commonwealth Games and the Africa Championships,” Musa told Boxers World Kenya.

“We need constant competition in Africa from junior, youth and elite level. We’re now in June and no single international tournament has been staged in Africa apart from boardroom politics which is not helpful to the boxers.”

Apart from the aforementioned experienced names, Musa has also named a number of young upcomers, led by the duo of Ben Juma and Dennis Muthama, who will fight in the lightweight and bantamweight categories.

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The duo have been sensational in the local league this year, with Juma, who got into the Kenya Open finals, winning the national lightweight title in the season opener in Nakuru, after upsetting KDF’s Samuel Njau.

Muthama, on the other hand, claimed the Kenya Open in April, and outpointed long-serving international Shaffi Bakari in the first-leg of the national league in Nakuru.

Also in the team are seasoned names including: Africa Games bronze medalist Amina Martha, Peter Abuti, Veronica Mbithe, Pauline Chege, and Clinton Macharia.

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FULL TEAM

Women Boxers

1.Jane Wangare

2.Lancer Akinyi

3.Veronica Mbithe

4.Amina Martha

5.Pauline Chege

6.Friza Asiko

7.Elizabeth Andiego

Men Boxers

1.Silas Onyango

2.Dennis Muthama

3.Benedict Juma

4.Aloice Ochieng

5.Boniface Mogunde

6.Edwin Okong'o

7.Robert Okaka

8.Humphrey Ochieng

9.Peter Abuti

10.Clinton Macharia.