Sparks BC set to dethrone Lukanga in National Novice Boxing final

Kitintale-based Sparks Boxing Club heads into the final of the 2026 national Boxing Novices as a surprise package and clear favourites to dethrone 'dictators' Lukanga.

The 2026 national novice boxing championship climaxes this Saturday, September 29, at TLC Arena in Kamwokya.

When the championship box-off got underway on September 21, few, if any, anticipated Sparks BC to feature in the title race; not even the club itself envisaged such a remarkable run.

But after a week of boxing action, after a week of impressive performances, the club has punched its way into contention and is now threatening to dethrone Lukanga's dominance as the defending champions seek to retain the overall trophy for a record sixth consecutive time.

Nicknamed The Sparks Bombers, the club, coached by a young and promising tactician Skills Herbert Kalungi, entered the championship with a squad of just 10 boxers.

Remarkably, nine have punched their way into Saturday's finals.

It is a sign that proves how good the 2016 national cadets champions have been throughout this national novices.

Sparks BC's stunning surge to the top has eclipsed traditional giants Lukanga, COBAP, UPDF, Police, East Coast and KCCA Boxing Clubs.

Their only casualty has been middleweight Jimmy Katamba, who was controversially disqualified for holding his opponent after leading on the judges' cards through the opening two rounds of his quarterfinal bout on Tuesday evening.

Kalungi is now banking on his remaining nine boxers, particularly those competing in the Junior and Youth categories, to complete what would be a remarkable championship campaign.

His finalists are pinweight Brian Yiga, light bantamweight Quwell Kazibwe, featherweight Roland Mutungi and lightweight Paul Oketch in the Juniors, while the Youth category features bantamweight Malik Kimbowa, featherweight Aziz Ramanthan, lightweight Dalton Muhumuza, light welterweight Patrick Mukasa and welterweight Allan Mutyaba.

"We fielded a young and talented squad of ten commandos. I am happy with the job done. Our target was to win one of the three trophies, but surprisingly, we are coming into Saturday's final in the race for the overall trophy," Kalungi told Vision Sports.

"Our target is to groom this crop and help them develop from the novices to the national intermediates, national open and the UBF Boxing Champions League before they turn professional," he added.

With a blockbuster final now in sight, Lukanga remain top of the overall standings on 38 points, with Sparks close behind on 32 points. UPDF are third on 26, followed by COBAP on 24 and Brawn Boxing Club on 18 to complete the top five.