Championship on the Line in Lakeside City

KISUMU – The 2025 National Boxing League reached a dramatic and tense conclusion this weekend, with the final leg held from Thursday, 20 November, to Saturday, 22 November, at the historic Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu. While record champions Kenya Police entered the final leg as firm favourites to dethrone the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the opening matches saw a wave of surprising results from up-and-coming boxers, signalling a potential shift in the national pecking order. However, as of Saturday evening, 22 November 2025 (EAT), the final official results of the key bouts and the overall league champion remained unconfirmed. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.

The Stakes: National Title and World Championship Berths

This final leg was the culmination of a five-part series that took place across Busia, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nanyuki. The stakes in Kisumu were twofold: to crown the 2025 national league champion and to finalize the selection of the 'Hit Squad', the national team set to represent Kenya at the prestigious Elite World Men's Boxing Championships in Dubai from 2-13 December 2025. According to the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) Secretary General, David Munuhe, the schedule was strategically set to conclude the league in time for the national team's preparations for the global tournament. The BFK plans to send a full contingent of 13 boxers to Dubai, offering significant international exposure.

Police vs. KDF: A Rivalry for the Ages

The season-long narrative has been dominated by the fierce rivalry between the two disciplined forces. Kenya Police, known as the 'Chafua Chafua', entered the Kisumu leg leading the standings with 60 points. The defending champions, KDF's 'Defaba', were in second place with 47 points after winning the penultimate leg in Nanyuki to narrow the gap. The Police team's substantial lead was partly due to KDF missing the first leg of the league in Busia earlier in the year. This point differential placed immense pressure on the soldiers, who needed a near-perfect performance in Kisumu to retain their title.

Young Guns and Shock Results

The initial days of the tournament provided significant drama, validating the input from the user about rising stars. In the opening matches, several young boxers delivered stunning upsets against their more experienced counterparts. Nakuru welterweight duo Ayub Waweru of Nakuru County and Junior Ochieng' of Nakuru Amateur Boxing Club made headlines. Waweru impressively defeated Fred Omondi of KDF via a referee-stopped-contest (RSC) in the second round. Ochieng' also secured a semi-final berth by stopping Kisumu's Rodney Nyangena. In another notable upset, experienced KDF minimumweight Abednego Kyalo was beaten by Daniel Mwangi of Laikipia. These results highlighted the growing talent pool from county teams, challenging the long-held dominance of KDF and Police.

High-Profile Bouts Awaited

The finals on Saturday were expected to feature explosive individual rivalries that have defined the 2025 season. The most anticipated was the bantamweight (54kg) clash between national champion Hassan Shaffi Bakari of Kenya Police and KDF's Dennis Muthama. Their head-to-head record has been a seesaw, with Muthama winning in the second and third legs, while Bakari claimed victory in the fourth leg in Nanyuki. Bakari expressed confidence ahead of the Kisumu final, stating to Standard Sports after his Nanyuki win, “He cannot beat me again after I defeated him today.” Another key battle was expected in the light heavyweight (81kg) division between Humphrey 'Jakababa' Ochieng of the Police and KDF's Robert Okaka, with Okaka having had the upper hand in their recent encounters.

Future of Kenyan Boxing

Regardless of the final outcome, the 2025 league has been a crucial platform for talent development. The performance of boxers from counties like Nakuru, Laikipia, and Kibra underscores the success of grassroots initiatives. The Boxing Federation of Kenya, whose entire executive led by President Anthony “Jamal” Otieno was re-elected unopposed in March 2025, has a renewed mandate to develop the sport. The performance of the selected 'Hit Squad' in Dubai will be the next major test for Kenyan boxing on the international stage, building towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.