Lubega defends title in style

By Silvano Kibuuka 

Results

Joseph ‘Vegas’ Lubega (Ug) beats Hany Atiyo Ramadhan (Egy) K.O 

Sande Swico Kizito (Ug) beats Atef Awod Mohamed (Egy) K.O 

Kickboxing (Mauythai) 

Umar Semata (Ug) beats Rhys Karakyriacos (Aus) 149- 139 

Women

Hawa Daku beats Florence Nakawooya K.O 

IT was all joy for Ugandans at Kyadondo Rugby Ground after all the three contestants paid fans with sweet wins in boxing and kickboxing in the Rwenzori Boxing Gala rumbled on. 

The climax of the joy was by Joseph ‘Vegas’ Lubega who successfully and convincingly defended the WBC Intercontinental light heavyweight title beating challenger Hany Atiyo Ramadhan from Egypt with a fourth round knockout in front of the Egyptian community here in Uganda who braved the night to support their fighters. 

Atiyo who had promised to murder Lubega in the ring for the belt instead suffered the humiliation from Lubega who has now beaten him for the second time to dent his record with two losses.Atiyo has 17 fights and two losses. 

Joseph Lubega ducks a punch from Egyptian Hanny Atiyo during their World Boxing Council (WBC) International Light Heavyweight fight.

It was a combination of the left and right strong jabs in the chest and ribs that the shorter Lubega employed to crumble the Egyptian who started with an aggressive mood in the 10 round fight and taking advantage if his upper reach. 

“I barely threw punches in the first round. I wanted to study him first and I capitalized on his weakness. He was a bit exposed in the chest and abdomen,” Lubega said. 

Speedy and punicy Atiyo first kissed the canvas in the second round but responded to the counting by WBC South African referee Thabo Spampool. 

He also had a bruised left eye by the end of the second round. 

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Umar Ssemata lands a kick to Australian Rhys Karakyriakos during the WBC International Light Middleweight title fight.

‘I have done it and I counld not disappoint the Ugandans at home. Many have not seen me fight and it is my pleasure that I defended at home. My target is the actual World title,” added Lubega. 

Sande Swico Kizito was the first to shock the Egyptian community when he knocked out Atef Awod Mohamed in roundthree. 

The kickboxing fight was also a thriller as Umar Semata showed Ugandans what Moses Golola should have done to Andras Naggy in a Mauthay fight. 

He beat Austrian Rhys by points to win the WBC Intercontinental Lightweight title as his Thai Coach stood by the corner and also declared urge for the World title soon. 

Muay thai kick boxer Umar Semata celebrates  after being crowned with the WBC International Light Middleweight title.

Semata less known by Ugandans is based in Thailand and last won a Silver medal for Uganda in the amateur ranks in the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. 

Celistino Mindra supervised the Lubega contest with judges John Chaku (Tz), Lilian Olero (Ken) and Said Tebazaalwa (Ug) while Prof. Shma Pool from Thailand supervised the Semata fight. 

In the ladies, Hawa Daku did not find any resistance against Margaret Nakawooya.