National superheavyweight champion Fred Ramogi will have to put on hold his ambitions of competing in the Olympics after he lost his bout in the African Olympic qualifiers in Senegal.
He lost to Ahmed Bourous of Morocco on unanimous points’ decision in a one-sided match inside the Dakar Arena, on Tuesday night.
It ended the painful struggle of the Kenyan champion also came short in the 2016 Olympics qualifiers.
Bourous was to face Maxime Njieyo Yegnong of Cameroon in a semifinal match last night after he (Yegnong) defeated Yousry Rezk Mostafa of Egypt 3-2 in the quarterfinals.
Prior to Ramogi’s selection to the final squad that flew to Dakar, he had not featured in the final leg of the National Boxing League in Kisumu last November due to illness.
So far, only four Kenyan boxers have made it to the last four from the 13 pugilists, who travelled to the West African country.
They lucky four are 2015 African Boxing Championships lightweight gold medallist Nick Okoth, Olympian and national heavyweight champion Elly Ajowi, Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare and national welterweight champion, Elizabeth Akinyi.
Last evening, Okoth was set to face Isaac Masembe of Uganda in the first semifinal, while Samuel Takyi of Ghana had a date with Everisto Mulenga of Zambia in the second semi.
“They denied us victory in the middleweight bout where our comrade Rayton Okwiri beat their man. But I’m ready.” said Okoth. [Ben Ahenda]
Ajowi was to take on Baalla Youness of Morocco in the first heavyweight semifinal match while Abdelahalid Benchabla of Algeria was to face Ali Karar Ali Moussa Youssef of Egypt in the second match.
Akinyi was to meet Bel Ahbiib Oumayma of Morocco in the first welterweight semifinal match last evening as Uganda’s Emily Tina Nakalema had a date with Helena Acinda Panguana of Mozambique.
In the first flyweight semifinal clash, Ongare was to meet Rahab Cheddah of Morocco while the second one pitted Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria who had a date with Uganda’s Catherine Nanziri
