Sserunjogi knockouts Boloshy of Egypt to clinch ABU middleweight title

ABU Middleweight title

J. Sserunjogi (UGA) bt A. Boloshy (EGY)

Undercards.

M. Tamba (CAM) bt A. Njego (UGA)

P. Junjju bt J. Nyanzi

B. Turyatemba bt Mike Lukyamuzi

Minutes after his eighth-round technical knockout of Egyptian Ahmed Boloshy, middleweight John Sserunjogi boldly told the World Boxing Council (WBC) vice president Houcine Houichi; “Now that I have introduced myself to you and the world, get me the WBC title.”

And indeed, he did introduce himself to Houichi who was in attendance.

Alias ‘JST’, Sserunjogi emphatically triumphed to the Africa Boxing Union (ABU) middleweight title dominating Boloshy from the first bell to the eighth round of the would have been a marathon 12 rounds thriller.

John Sserunjogi landing a jab on Ahmed Boloshy before knocking him out in the 8th round to win the Africa Boxing Union middleweight title. Photo by Fred Kisekka

With his lethal left jab accompanied by a combination of his atomic right, Sserunjogi outclassed, outfought, and outpunched a stubborn Boloshy.

He then finished the business in the first minute and 45 seconds of the eighth round forcing Tanzania’s center referee John Chagu to save Boloshy from extra damage.

Many had feared for Sserunjogi basing on the fact that Boloshy ferociously knocked out his friend Abdul Bast Mutyaba in October 2023.

But Sserunjogi rose to the occasion and when it mattered most, silencing all doubters with arguably his best performance since his pro debut in 2013.

Their fight lived to the billing worth a night that climaxed the five-day ABU Convention at Hotel Africana.

“I have dreamt of winning this title. I have prayed for it. And I have worked and trained for it. Finally, it is in my coffers” Sserunjogi told Vision Sports.

“Next is the WBC title. Thank you, my fans, coaches, my management team, and my promoters of Nara pro boxing”

His trainer Latif Walugembe, a former national boxing team ‘The Bombers’ coach who is also the acting Uganda Kickboxing Federation General Secretary joined the jubilations.

“Yes, we have made it. We camped for the last three months and it has paid off. Our game plan was simple, to use our weapon of the jab,” he said.

Ahmed Boloshy on the canvas after his 8th round knockout by John Sserunjogi. Photo by Fred Kisekka

Sserunjogi joins a list of Ugandans like Justin ‘The Destroyer’ Jjuuko, ‘Fabulous’ Joey Vegas Lubega, Badru ‘Mr. Crush’ Lusambya, Abdul Tebazaalwa, Davis Lusimbo, Mike Kizza, Edward ‘Messiah’ Kakembo, Farouk ‘Malingumu’ Daku, and recently Latibu ‘Dancing Master’ Muwonge and Catherine ‘The Silent Beast’ Nanziri who have previously won the ABU titles.

Among the undercard bouts, Great Striker’s Junjju Power unanimously defeated ‘Spider’ Joshua Nyanzi who is fresh from winning the national lightweight title.

Cameroon’s cruiserweight Merlin Tamba brutally knocked out Uganda’s Abdul Njego in the first round as Bantamweight Hassan Musuuza to Rodger Kamulegeya.

Middleweight Kamada Ntege ‘Sure Fire’ unanimously defeated Ibrahim Biso as Bob Turyatemba knocked out Mike Lukyamuzi to win the national super lightweight title.

Besides Houichi and his vice president, South Africa’s Dr. Peter Ngatane, the event was graced by Internal Security Organization (ISO) deputy director Emmanuel Katabazi, UPBC’s president Salim Uhuru, and UBF’s Moses Muhangi, ABU members among others.