Boxing commission, stakeholders to uplift standards

Ramah Jumah (right) blocks a knock from Fredrick Ochieng during the Coast Region Boxing Association Tournament at Big tree hotel in Mombasa on June 22, 2014. The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) is ready to work with the Kenya Boxing Association and other stakeholders to uplift the standards of the game locally. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  RICHARD MWANGI

What you need to know:

  • Much has changed in the local scene after the International Boxing Association (AIBA) dropped the amateur status and introduced a semi-professional (AIBA-WSB) and fully professional (APB) events in their calendar of events
  • The vice-chairman of Kenya Boxer’s Welfare Association, Abdul Isendeko, promised to raise Achieng’s issue during their monthly meeting set for Nyayo Stadium on Saturday

The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) is ready to work with the Kenya Boxing Association and other stakeholders to uplift the standards of the game locally.

Speaking on Wednesday, KPBC secretary-general Franklin ‘Kuka’ Imbezi said the body will work with everybody in the industry for the betterment of the game locally.

Imbezi  was addressing a forum that brought together boxers, coaches, promoters and stakeholders who are using the game to reach out to young people.

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Much has changed in the local scene after the International Boxing Association (AIBA) dropped the amateur status and introduced a semi-professional (AIBA-WSB) and fully professional (APB) events in their calendar of events.

BENEFICIARIES
The self-supporting boxing associations will be the main beneficiaries of the union between KPBC and KBA. In the past, KPBC executive has shown capability in getting sponsorships for the affiliates of KBA who are not in the uniformed forces like Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Police and Kenya Prisons.

Other stakeholders likely to benefit in the current arrangement are retired boxers, among them former women’s World International Boxing Federation middle-weight champion, Cojestina Achieng, who has relocated from Nairobi to upcountry due to her poor health condition.

The vice-chairman of Kenya Boxer’s Welfare Association, Abdul Isendeko, promised to raise Achieng’s issue during their monthly meeting set for Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.

Isendeko said: “Even though Achieng was not our member, I will raise her issue during the meeting and it is upon the members to decide whether they were going to help her or not”.

One of the promoters, Njunga Hohu, told executive members of KPBC  to be selling TV rights to media houses interested in covering their events and share the proceeds with respective promoters.

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