National Open attracts veteran boxers

By Samson Opus

THE National Open Boxing Championship that gets underway at Lugogo today promises fire as several old guards make a fresh bid to rejoin the national team-the Bombers.

Organisers of the event were taken aback as the veterans, some of them over 40 and who hanged up their gloves several years ago, appeared for the weigh-in at Lugogo yesterday.

The week-long Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) premier competition, will be held at Lugogo.

The old guards are up against several youngsters at the event coming after the National Intermediates and Juniors Championships.

The veterans making a comeback include the UPDF coach Tony Sekabembe.

The heavyweight, who quit the ring four years ago, is optimistic of bouncing back to the national team.

Sekabembe is lined up against another veteran — Charles Komakech representing Police.

“I have been hearing a lot of talk that some of us are a spent force. That is why I have decided to make a comeback,” Komakech said.

“Some of us have rich experience to teach the young ones. The matter will be decided in the ring.”

The old lot were boosted by a decision of the world boxing body AIBA to raise the competition age limit from 30 to 40 years.

Others who hope to punch their way back to prominence include super heavyweight Mike Sekabira of UPDF, lightweight Gerald Aliga, middleweight Badru Nyombi (Scorpions) and welterweight Hamis Ssemakula (East Coast).

After over four years of wrangles in the UBF, the old guards feel that they still have a lot to offer and are determined to prove themselves at Lugogo.

The UBF wrangles suffocated events on the domestic stage and Uganda missed sending teams to the international events including the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in India.

The national open is used to pick boxers for international events.

Boxers are eyeing the Commonwealth Games scheduled for Glasgow, July 23-August 3.

The national championship has drawn 151 boxers.