Manirola sets sights on WBC Africa title after double over Chelokhsaev
Manirola cemented his dominance over Chelokhsaev with an emphatic unanimous-decision victory at the iconic Vologda Sports Palace in Vologda, Russia, on September 11, securing his second win over the Russian in a space of six months.
Uganda's Farahat 'The Nightmare' Manirola (left) lands punches against Russia's Georgii Chelokhsaev during their grudge rematch in Vologda, Russia recently
Days after completing a remarkable grudge-rematch double over Russia's Georgii Chelokhsaev, Uganda's lightweight Farahat 'The Nightmare' Manirola has set his sights on the World Boxing Council (WBC) Africa title.
Manirola cemented his dominance over Chelokhsaev with an emphatic unanimous-decision victory at the iconic Vologda Sports Palace in Vologda, Russia, on September 11, securing his second win over the Russian in a space of six months.
Their first meeting was on March 29, 2026, when Manirola thumped Chelokhsaev into a pummel, becoming Uganda's first professional boxer on record to win a fight on former Soviet Union land.
The Ddamulira and Sons Foundation and national boxing team, The Bombers, pugilist has now shifted his focus to challenging for the prestigious WBC Africa crown, while also harbouring ambitions of representing Uganda at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, America.
"This wasn't an ordinary fight but a war of titans. In the end, I have proved to the world that it was not a fluke that I defeated this Russian in his own country," Manirola told Vision Sport upon returning from Russia with his manager, Henry Ddamulira.
With his professional ring record of 14-4-0 with 9 knockouts, Manirola's ultimate ambition remains to win Uganda's first ever Olympic boxing gold.
"My target now is to vie for the WBC Africa title and other major belts before I switch my focus to completing my unfinished business of representing Uganda at the 2028 Olympic Games to win that precious gold," he said.
Manirola's double over Chelokhsaev proves how the 2025 Zone 3 Africa Boxing Championship gold medalist has defied all the odds to punch his way where many of Uganda's boxing greats have failed.
His predecessors, including former International Boxing Federation junior middleweight world champion Kasim 'The Dream' Ouma, Justin 'The Destroyer' Jjuuko, Badru 'Mr Crush' Lusambya, Joey Vegas Lubega, Peter Okello, Muhammed Kabona Ssebyaala, Shadir Musa Bwogi and others, have previously attempted to conquer the Russian stage before falling short with ferocious defeats.
Before Manirola's heroics, only John 'The Beast' Mugabi had on record remained Uganda's only boxer to clinch victory on Russian territory, but as an amateur boxer en route to his 1980 Olympic Games silver medal.