By Julius Senyimba and Joseph Kizza

World kickboxing title fight Oct 19 at Kati Kati
Ronald Mugula v Nagy Andras

Japanese trainers Ice Owa and Hitoshi Kimura have been impressed by Ugandan kickboxer Ronald Mugula’s kick strength.

“He has a good and strong kick. All he needs is to work on his punch and a few drills to become a world champion,” Owa said with confidence during a practice session on Saturday at Mt. Zion Hotel gym near Kisekka Market in Kampala.

“He is a good fighter and I think our work will run smoothly and on time,” Owa added.

Mugula, who is ranked 18th currently, will face Hungarian Andras Nagy on October 19 at Kati Kati Restaurant.

Many Ugandan fans still remember Nagy for his skillful display against another Ugandan Moses Golola at Hotel Africana last year.

“All I want is to fight for Ugandans. Nagy has to lose here so that we get our revenge. The good thing is I am more experienced,” Mugula vowed.

Mugula has 58 fights with 47 wins, four losses and seven draws while Nagy has had 16 fights with three losses, two draws and 11 wins.

Mugula tries out his kicks with his Japanese trainer Ice Owa. Owa says the Ugandan fighter needs to perfect his punch if he is to become a champion. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Who won?

It may be well over nine months since the Golola v Nagy fight, but the question that still lingers on the minds of enthusiastic fans is who the deserved winner of that December night was.

Before the over anticipated fight, the Hungarian had said he had beaten aggressive fighters like Golola before.

Later that night, the fight was thrown into controversy when the judges, the referee and the Emcee had their versions of who the real winner was.

While the referee, who doubled as the president of World Kickboxing Federation announced his fellow Hungarian winner, the Emcee – Roger Mugisha – declared Golola the winner.

The match judges from Sudan and Kenya were also caught in the middle of the mix.

They were swung to and fro in their decision making but at the end of it all controversially declared Golola the winner.

An evening that had started with a lot of speculation ended in an emotionally fuelled mix of results.

But still, most Ugandans were divided over the decision. Some admitted that Nagy overpowered their fellow countryman, and that he was the actual winner.

But others maintained that Golola beat his opponent.

Two days after the scandalous fight, the match judges spoke out, ultimately declaring the Hungarian winner.

Once beaten, twice shy?

Following fans’ frequent conviction that Golola lacked enough kickboxing techniques after the Nagy match, the Ugandan fighter’s deficiencies were again exposed when he faced another Hungarian opposition in April this year.

Mate Zsamboki subdued Golola so much that the Ugandan fighter opted out in the middle of the match, claming a dislocation on his ankle would not allow him fight further.

He conceded defeat, but vowed for a rematch.

Steadfast

But despite the two defeats of his fellow countryman on home ground, Mugula remains unshaken and has promised to revenge with a win over Nagy next month.

To place the icing on the cake, he backs his foreseen victory with superior experience over his European opponent.

But for now, he will have to improve on his punch, as his coach says.