Benson Gicharu sniffs glory in the ring

Kenya is assured of a medal in boxing after Benson Gicharu pounded his way into the semi-finals of the bantamweight at the Secc Hall.

Gicharu, a silver medallist from the 2010 Delhi but in flyweight, went on offensive from the first bell against Cayman’s Tafari Ebanks.

Unlike the previous bouts, Gicharu kept Ebanks closer for straight scoring as he avoided the corners and ropes to chalk a unanimous decision victory of 29-28, 29-28. Gicharu, who has earlier beaten Imran Khan (Guyana) and Ojo Sikiru (Nigeria), celebrated his victory with a swift summersault once again donning Victor Wanyama’s Celtic FC jersey.

Gicharu will now meet Qais Ashfaq from England in the semi-finals tomorrow. Ashfaq also claimed a unanimous points decision victory against Scot Joe Ham.

“Gicharu was simply awesome and what pleased most is that he listens and follows instructions,” said a delighted coach Albert Matito. “He didn’t keep the distance this time around and never wasted punches.”

AVOIDED ROPES

Matito said Gicharu also avoided the ropes and being boxed into a corner which almost cost him the previous bouts. “I have told him not to go for a fight but boxing against the Briton. We have watched him before and we shall exploit his weakness,” said Matito.

Two other Kenyan boxers were expected in the ring last evening. Charles Odhiambo Okoth was due to slug David Light from New Zealand for a place in heavyweight semi-final while Nick Abaka was to face Antony Fowler from England in middleweight quarter-final. It was however a dark Tuesday evening for Kenya’s boxing team, the hit squad when three of its medal hopeful were hounded out.

Nick Okoth, who was eying an outright passage to the medal bracket, fell short when he lost to Joe Fitzpatrick from Northern Ireland in the quarterfinals of their lightweight contest.