Okoth, Ajowi to fight for bronze in Russia

Olympics-bound Nick Okoth and Elly Ajowi were on Friday, 14 May, eliminated from the semifinals of their respective weight categories at the ongoing Konstantin Korotkov Memorial Boxers’ Cup that started on May 10 in the city of Khabarovsk, Russia at Lenina Regional Sports Complex Stadium.

Up against home player Ovik Oganisyan on Friday in the semi, the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) boxer lost the five rounds 30-27, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 to lose a chance for the final and drop down to the third-place playoff.

Okoth had led in all five rounds of his quarter-final bout against Ukrainian Kishko Sergey, to qualify for the semi. He played for a close 29:28 win in the first round and a dominant identical 30:27 win in the subsequent rounds to reach the last four.

On his part, two-time Olympian, Ajowi, lost on a unanimous points’ decision of 30-27 on all five rounds to Mamadiyar Saydrahimov of Uzbekistan in what was his first fight of the tournament as he had been given a bye to the semis.

The duo will now fight for bronze, on Saturday 15, with Okoth facing Japan’s Tomo Tsuboi while Ajowi takes on Younes Baalla.

Christine Ongare and Elizabeth Akinyi, who were the other Kenyan representatives at the tourney were eliminated in the first round of their respective categories. Ongare who was up against Estonian Diana Gorishnaya, lost on a unanimous points’ decision in the opening match while Akinyi was beaten by Maria Moronto of the Dominican Republic.