Kenya’s national boxing team captain, Boniface Mogunde, has urged the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) to integrate newly certified IBA 1-Star referees into the team’s training sessions to improve their grasp of the scoring system used in international competitions. Mogunde believes that understanding how judges score bouts is crucial for the success of Kenyan boxers on the global stage.
“Knowing how the judges score each bout can be the difference between winning and losing. Often, we give our best but are left frustrated by the results, which can sometimes come down to our lack of understanding of the technicalities in scoring,” Mogunde explained.
He emphasized that incorporating certified referees would help Kenyan boxers avoid common mistakes and better capitalize on scoring opportunities, especially with key international events approaching. The International Boxing Association (IBA) scoring system evaluates clean punches, ring control, and defense, areas that Mogunde believes the team could excel in with deeper insights from trained referees.
BFK’s communications director, Duncan Kuria, responded positively to Mogunde’s proposal, acknowledging its importance. “We understand the value of having IBA-certified referees as part of the training setup. We will prioritize this to ensure that our boxers are fully prepared for upcoming international competitions,” Kuria stated.
This initiative is seen as a step toward aligning Kenyan boxing with international standards, potentially boosting the performance of the Hit Squad, who have already shown great promise.
