Featherweight Jonah Kyobe became the first Ugandan boxer to reach the medal bracket at the ongoing Africa Boxing Championships in Maputo, Mozambique.

The 22-year-old Lukanga Boxing Club sensation outclassed Cameroon’s Ignas Tchouta Mbianda in a 4-1 split decision victory inside a fully packed Arena Pavilhao de Academica.

Having stormed the semifinals, the least Kyobe is guaranteed is a bronze medal and $2,500 (sh 9m) in prize money even if he fails to advance to the final.

A silver medal will earn $5,000 (sh18m) while gold medalists will pocket $10,000 (sh36m).

Kyobe who is a butcher at Kalerwe Market, returns into the ring on Thursday for his semifinal decider with 2022 Commonwealth Games quarterfinalist Armando Roberto Sigauque from hosts Mozambique.

“My focus is on the $10,000 that gold medalists are going to receive. With that money on the table, I’m ready to die with anyone,” vowed Kyobe.

“I know my opponent since we were together at this year’s Commonwealth Games. All I can ask from my fans back home is to be behind me,” he said.

Kyobe’s recent success saw him clinch gold at this year’s Mt Kilimanjaro Boxing Championships in Tanzania.

He first broke onto the scene by winning gold at the 2019 National Open Boxing Championships in the youth category.

Three eliminated

While Kyobe managed to sail through to the semis, it wasn’t a rosy night for Uganda as three Bombers were booted from the tournament.

Light flyweight Teddy Nakimuli suffered a first-round stoppage at the hands of Mozambique’s Helen Bagao.

Welterweight Owen Kibira unanimously lost to Egypt’s Elsayed Omar while the team captain, light welterweight Joshua Tukamuhebwa failed to take avenge defeat to Mauritius’ Colin Luis Richarno who defeated him at the quarterfinal stage of the 2019 Africa Games in Morocco.

Richarno, a 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, 2015 Africa Boxing Championships bronze medalist as well as a 2011 Africa Games gold medalist dominated Tukamuhebwa and the defeat came as no surprise.