Impressive Abaka fells Estonian for team’s second win

PHOTO | FILE Patrick Maina of Nakuru (right) trades punches with Kenya Defence Forces’ Nick Abaka during the second Inter-Provincial National Boxing League on June 29 in Nakuru. Abaka won his World Championship bout in Kazakhstan on Thursday 17, October.

What you need to know:

  • Hungarian Harcsa up next for victorious Kenyan in round two
  • KDF soldier’s victory comes just a day after Prisons’ Okwiri had beaten an Aussie fighter

The ‘Hit Squad’ continued to leave footprints on the boxing map Thursday when Nick Abaka gave Kenya her second victory at the ongoing World Boxing Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Abaka, who missed the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games on technical grounds, overpowered Estonian Arror Kaupi in an explosive middleweight bout.

The 29-year-old Kenya Defence Forces boxer’s victory came just hours after Prisons’ Rayton Okwiri registered the first win for Kenya in 25 years on Wednesday when he beat Australian Daniel Lewis. The event has attracted a total of 45 boxers from 100 nations.

Abaka fired at the Estonian from all angles and it did not take long before Kaupi found out that the Kenyan’s vicious punches were unbearable. Abaka failed to enter the ring in Beijing after it was discovered he had suffered a jaw injury.

QUARTER-FINAL PLACE AT STAKE

Abaka will now meet Zoltan Harcsa of Hungary on Saturday in a bout whose winner will sail to the quarter-finals.

“The pain of missing out in Beijing still haunts me. I also want to atone for missing the 2012 Olympics,” Abaka said from Almaty via phone. “I want to make sure I return home with a medal.”

Coach Albert Matito could not hide his joy. “Abaka is poised to enter the medal bracket if he maintains the spirit,” he told the Daily Nation.

“I have watched Abaka fight for some years now but today he put up one of his best shows. He fought gallantly like a true soldier defending his country,” said Matitio.

CORNERED OPPONENT

“His vast experience helped him as he cornered his opponent who backpedalled most of the time before he was saved by the referee.”

Abaka had before his fight told Amateur Boxing Association chairman John Kameta that he would win the bout.

“He sent me a text about an hour before he climbed the ring and assured me that he would give the country its second World Championship victory and he did. I’m so proud of him,” said Kameta.

“Boxing in Kenya is slowly returning back to where it used to be and I am hoping for more glory.”