Professional boxers snub AIBA order

By Silvano Kibuuka

A group of former professional boxers has scoffed at an AIBA directive barring them from contesting in Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation (UABF) elections.

The world governing body, reacting to queries from Ugandan stakeholders, last week clarified that active and retired professionals have no business in amateur boxing.

At a press conference in Kampala, retired boxers Justin Juuko, Sam Rukundo and Godfrey Nyakana stressed that they would contest for UABF’s presidency.

The trio also questioned the authenticity of the AIBA communication to UABF’s constitutional review committee.

“The documents they are producing are either doctored or manipulated and they are feeding AIBA officials with false information,” remarked Juuko, who has vowed to take up the matter in both local and international courts.

The world body addressed the March 2 letter to UABF constitutional review committee head Rogers Ddungu, who is also the Uganda Olympic Committee boss.

“We have given a March 19 deadline for the draft constitution process to be finalized or else we take other measures,” warned Nyakana, who leads a faction, which he said will continue with its activities as a national federation.

The other faction is headed by Dr Ntege Ssengendo.

He said they don’t need any other mediator to show them how to deal with AIBA because they are compliant with all regulations.

Juuko argued that AIBA cannot formulate rules only to suit the Ugandan situation.

He cited the US, where the Nevada Boxing Control Board takes professional and amateur boxing under the same umbrella.

Those against professionals however quote AIBA regulations for coaches at the world body’s competitions.

Rule 11 subsection 12.3(i) for coaches locks out professionals unless they have resigned from the paid ranks for at least six months and are thereafter certified and registered by AIBA.

Critics are also against Rukundo standing for any post following his involvement in the mysterious disappearance of two Olympic bound boxers.

He traveled as coach for Ronald Serugo and Atanus Mugerwa for a competition in Finland last year but the boxers never returned home.