World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers

Results

J. Tukamuhebwa (UGA) bt E. Garcia (GAUT)

Thursday, Fixture.

J. Tukamuhebwa (UGA) v R. Eusebiu (ROM)

National boxing team captain, Joshua Tukamuhebwa overpowered Guatemala’s Edgar Garcia to keep Uganda’s hopes alive at the ongoing World Olympic boxing qualifiers in Italy.

Coming into this bout, Uganda’s light welterweight assassin managed to put behind him all the frustration his troops had endured en route to Busto- Arsizio, Italy to win this much-needed fight by RSC (Referee stopped the contest) in the third round.

Tukamuhebwa’s solid performance from the first bell had forced Garcia into three knockdowns and was in full control of this bout before the referee intervened and saved the Guatemalan.

“Our ambitions can only be limited by our doubters. I know what we came for. We have started and we are here to stay. Come on guys. We are on to the next stage,” vowed Tukamuhebwa after cruising to the round of 16.

“I’m grateful for this win because it is what the entire team here was waiting for. We shall continue to believe in ourselves. These whites are also beatable. They are not robots.”

His win over Garcia adds to his unbelievable tally of knockouts.

The hard puncher and knockout wizard like many of his Ugandan fans call him has now stopped 16 of his last 25 opponents either by knockout, technical knockout, or by RSC.

His victory came after the bombers had started their Olympic campaign in Italy on a low note. Out of the four boxers Uganda had sent into this qualifier, two had lost.

Flyweight Shafic Mawanda lost his bout via a walkover after arriving late at the arena as middleweight Yusuf Nkobeza unanimously lost to Romanian Paul Andrei Aradoaei.

The bombers are now left with two boxers with the other being welterweight Emily Nakalema who takes on Cape Verde’s Moreira Ivanusa this Friday at the second preliminary round.

Tukamuhebwa seeks revenge

Having booked his berth to the round of 16, Tukamuhebwa returns this Thursday against a tricky Romanian in Robert Jitaru Eusebiu.

It is up to him to revenge for his teammate Nkobeza who was eliminated by another Romanian Paul Andrei Aradoaei.

“I’m not only aiming to advance to the next round but also to put these Romanians into order. I have already studied his style and am ready for him,” Tukamuhebwa said.

That aside, Tukamuhebwa has to take into account Eusebiu’s vast ring experience and the fact that he (Eusebiu) outclassed Namibia’s Shailemo Elifas whom he eliminated by unanimous decision in the first round.

This means Eusebiu has already tasted the wrath of Africans and looks to know how to handle them.