The 2025 National Boxing League is set for a dramatic conclusion in Kisumu this week, as the nation's top pugilists gather for the fifth and final leg from Thursday, November 20, to Saturday, November 22, at the historic Ofafa Memorial Hall. The three-day event carries significant weight, serving as the ultimate battleground for the league championship and the final selection trial for the national team, the 'Hit Squad', ahead of the Elite World Men Boxing Championships in Dubai from December 2-13.

The spotlight will be intensely focused on two explosive rivalries that have defined the season, featuring boxers from the league's perennial top contenders: the defending champions, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and the record champions, Kenya Police. These personal duels are expected to be the highlight of the tournament, determining both individual national titles and bragging rights.

In the bantamweight (54kg) division, a fierce contest is anticipated between national champion Hassan Shaffi Bakari of Kenya Police and KDF's Dennis Muthama. Their rivalry has been a seesaw affair throughout the league's previous legs. Muthama defeated Bakari in the second and third legs in Mombasa and Nakuru, respectively. However, Bakari, who also represented Kenya at the Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships, roared back to win their encounter in the penultimate leg in Nanyuki just a fortnight ago. “He cannot beat me again after I defeated him today. I had prepared well and was ready for the duel and ready to repeat the same in Kisumu,” Bakari stated confidently to Standard Sports after his Nanyuki victory. The winner of this high-stakes bout in Kisumu will likely be crowned the 2025 national bantamweight champion.

A similarly intense feud will unfold in the light heavyweight (81kg) category between Humphrey 'Jakababa' Ochieng' of the Police and KDF's Robert Okaka. Okaka has had the upper hand in their recent meetings, securing victories in the last two legs, including the Nanyuki event and the Africa Zone Three Championships. Ochieng', however, attributes his recent loss to an injury and has vowed a different outcome in Kisumu. “It will not be easy in Kisumu the way Okaka might think. Last time when he beat me, I had an injury but I have since recovered and ready for this one,” Ochieng' told reporters on Sunday, November 16.

Team Title and World Championship Slots on the Line

Beyond the individual matchups, the overall team title remains fiercely contested. While Kenya Police holds the lead in the overall standings with 60 points, KDF's victory in the Nanyuki leg closed the gap, bringing their total to 47 points and setting the stage for a tense finale. The KDF team, known as 'Defaba', ended a decade of Police dominance to win the 2024 title and are determined to defend it.

The significance of the Kisumu leg extends beyond local honours. The Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) will use the tournament to select a full contingent of 13 boxers to represent Kenya in Dubai. BFK Secretary General David Munuhe confirmed the schedule was strategically planned to allow the league to conclude in time for the national team's preparations. “Our concentration is fixed on our participation in the global championships in a few weeks, which prompted us to come up with new dates so that we could complete the league championships in good time,” Munuhe stated on Wednesday, November 12.

This final leg marks the culmination of a season that has traversed the country, with previous legs held in Busia, Nakuru, Nanyuki, and Mombasa, as outlined in the BFK's 2025 calendar released on January 10, 2025. The federation, whose entire executive led by President Anthony “Jamal” Otieno was re-elected unopposed in March 2025, aims to use such events to develop talent and elevate Kenyan boxing on the international stage. The city of Kisumu itself has been actively promoting sports, with Governor Anyang' Nyong'o's administration recently launching new boxing facilities to nurture local talent.