Boxing: Mike Ssekabembe returns to the ring at 43 years

Mar 08, 2023

The championship that boxed off on March 3 climaxes on March 9 at MTN Arena Lugogo.

Mike Ssekabembe (left) and his son Jonathan Wasswa Ssegane (right) after qualifying for National Open final. Photo by Fred Kisekka

Fred Kisekka
Sports reporter @New Vision

The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth bronze medalist Mike Ssekabembe together with his son Jonathan Wasswa Ssegane will headline this year’s National Open Boxing Championship finals.

The championship that boxed off on March 3 climaxes on March 9 at MTN Arena Lugogo.

Over 400 boxers have taken part in this Championship with only the two finalists destined for promotion to this year’s Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) Champions League.

Ssekabembe, 43, a former national boxing team captain, retired from open boxing commonly known as amateur in 2017 for greener pastures.

His U-turn to amateur setup has set the tone not only for UBF, the organizers of the championship but also for his boyhood club UPDF Boxing Club.

Ssekabembe (left) his coach Ssekabira (centre) and his son Jonathan Ssegane (right) posing for a photo

Ssekabembe (left) his coach Ssekabira (centre) and his son Jonathan Ssegane (right) posing for a photo

With Ssekebembe on the wheel, UPDF will be vying for the National Open Championship for the first time since 2016.

They are coming into this year’s finals topping the elite category with 22 points with East Coast Boxing Club, Lukanga Boxing Club, KCCA, and COBAP chasing them.

Ssekabembe won Uganda a bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the heavyweight category before adding another bronze at the 2015 Morocco Africa Boxing Championship.

Ssekabembe, son vying for gold

While Ssekabembe will be seeking gold against Sabath Zimaka of UPDF's sister club Army Boxing Club, his son 17-year-old Jonathan Wasswa Ssegane will similarly be looking to win in the finals.

Ssegane will be locking horns with COBAP’s hard puncher Nuhu Batte alias ‘Muzaata’ a name the later adopted in honor of the late vocal Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata Batte.

Ssegane and Batte will be competing in the youth welterweight category.

“I’m back and stronger than ever before. I have come for gold and nothing else. My experience and exposure are an advantage over my opponent. You must count on me,” Ssekabembe told Vision Sports.

His son Ssegane stated, “My father is my role model. I have grown up Idolizing him. This is my chance to prove to him that I mean business. Trust me I’m coming for gold,”

Tony Ssekabira and Moses Mugaga, the UPDF boxing coaches, believe putting Ssekabembe’s age aside, he is still miles better than the current boxers in the super heavyweight category.

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