David Ssemujju eyes historic WBO title defence in Tokyo
Ssemujju faces Japan’s Urashima Masayuki in a highly anticipated 10-round bout at the iconic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, a venue often dubbed the heartbeat of Japanese boxing.
Ssemujju during a weighing session in 2023 in Kampala. Photo by Fred Kisekka
Tuesday, March 24
WBO Asia Welterweight Title
D. Ssemujju (UGA) v U. Masayuki (JAP).=
Uganda’s David “The Animal” Ssemujju is on the brink of history as he prepares to become the first non-Asian professional boxer to successfully defend the WBO Asia Pacific welterweight title twice.
Ssemujju faces Japan’s Urashima Masayuki in a highly anticipated 10-round bout at the iconic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, a venue often dubbed the heartbeat of Japanese boxing.
The 2019 Africa Games middleweight silver medallist and former KCCA Boxing Club standout has already defended the title once against another Japanese opponent, Kosei Nagami, and enters the contest brimming with confidence.
Ssemujju believes his growing fan base in Japan will play a key role as he looks to retain his title.
“Japan is now my second home, and Masayuki will be surprised I have more fans here than him,” Ssemujju told Vision Sport. “I have done my preparations with my management team at Chunichi Boxing Gym, and we are good to go.”
Adding his trademark bravado, he said: “One thing I can assure my fans is that I’m ready to defend my title at all costs. This is going to be a war, and trust me, Masayuki is going to kiss the canvas whether he likes it or not.”
Ssemujju’s confidence is backed by his familiarity with Japan. His only Olympic appearance came at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and he has fought all six of his professional bouts in the same city since relocating in 2023, building both his career and reputation on the Asian boxing scene. Of those six fights, he has lost once to Uzbekistan’s Kamronbek Eshmatov, while winning the other five, three by knockout.
Now based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Ssemujju (10-9-1), a former Uganda national team pugilist, has fully embraced life in Japan. In 2025, he married his long-time Japanese partner, further cementing his ties to the country he now calls home.
Victory over Masayuki would not only reinforce his dominance in the division but also make him the first African boxer to defend the WBO Asia Pacific welterweight crown twice, a milestone for Ugandan boxing on the global stage.