TOKYO 2020: Ajowi, Akinyi up next in Olympic boxing

Kenya’s heavyweight boxer Elly Ajowi will be in action on Tuesday in a round of 16 bout against Cuban Julio Cesar La Cruz.

The 2021 Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championship gold medalist got a bye in the round of 32 and this is the first time that he will be taking to the ring in Tokyo. Ajowi qualified for the Olympics based on his high ranking in the African continent.

31-year old La Cruz has appeared at two Olympics previously. He was in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. In Rio, he won a gold medal in the men’s light heavyweight category an indication that the Hit Squad member will be facing an established pugilist on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Akinyi who also got a bye in the round of 32 will equally be in action on Tuesday in the welterweight category. She will fight Mozambican Helena Panguana.

Kenya’s hopes of securing any medals in boxing lie in the shoulders of the two pugilists. This is after captain Nick Okoth and Christine Ongare were bundled out in the round of 32.

Nick Okoth went down 2-3 to Mongolian Tsendbaater Erdenebat via a split decision. Ongare on the other hand was knocked out in the same round by Irish Magno of Philippines. He went 5-0 via a unanimous judges’ decision.