Africa-Press – Kenya. Hit Squad captain Nick “Commander” Okoth has finally explained why he broke down after crashing out to Mongolian Tsendbaater Erdenebat in a round of 32 bout at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 24.
Okoth asked local boxing enthusiasts to stop pouring scorn on him for shedding tears after his hunt for a gold medal was brought to an abrupt halt on his first day in the ring. He was actually the first Kenyan to take to the battlefield.
“How would you feel if you are denied what you are sure belongs to you? Would you be happy?” posed a charged Okoth.
“I was quite certain I had actually won the bout and from his body language, my opponent too knew he had lost it. In fact, he even congratulated me at the conclusion of the bout.
“I was taken aback when the judges declared him the winner because as the results were being announced, I could feel the referee preparing to hoist my hand as the winner,” said Okoth.
Concerning the debate revolving around his technique, Okoth trashed widespread talks that he employed more brawn than brain against the Mongolian, a fact that might have informed his debacle.
“Such comments can only come from people who are either malicious or have very little idea of what boxing entails,” said Okoth.
“Did they expect me to outshine my opponent by approaching him softly? In any case, my opponent was comparatively more physical.
“I did everything I was advised to do by the technical bench. We had prepared well enough for the event but poor judgement cost us dearly. The judges ought to be fair and their decisions shouldn’t be laced with malice,” said Okoth.
“We were let down with exposure. In Tokyo, I realised that our competitors greeted each other and interacted in a manner that suggested they had actually met each other before— obviously in tournaments.
“This means they were familiar with one another and knew what to expect and how to tackle their opponents.
“On the other hand, we didn’t know what was in store for us as we stepped into the ring because it was the first time we were encountering our opponents in the battlefield,” he said.
Okoth says he intends to wrap up his stellar career with a gold medal at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after his bid for a gold in Tokyo was torn into shreds. The games are expected to take place between July 28 and August 8 next year.
“We’ve been training to maintain our form after arriving from Tokyo and I have my eyes now focused on the Commonwealth Games.”
Okoth ruled out any possibility he would pursue a professional career upon retirement.
“I certainly wouldn’t make such a mistake in my career. Professional boxing is not fulfilling as many might have been misled to think,” he said.
Okoth prevailed upon the government to rally behind the pugilists more often and pump in more funds if the country expects better results in the near future.
“As much as the government has shown great commitment in assisting boxers, there are a few individuals who are out there to kill the sport by frustrating our efforts.
