Yusuf ‘The Rolling Tiger’ Babu launches campaign to nurture boxing talent

Uganda’s heavyweight boxer Yusuf ‘The Rolling Tiger’ Babu has unveiled the Punch Beyond the Ring campaign, an initiative aimed at spotting, nurturing, and developing boxing talent, particularly from slum communities.

The project allows Babu to remain an active fighter while also stepping into the role of promoter, a move he hopes will cement his legacy in Uganda’s boxing circles.

Operating under his newly established Babu Boxing Promotions (BBP), launched in Nansana, Wakiso District, the former national team captain expressed optimism that the program will provide a pathway for young fighters who often struggle to break through.

Babu, the 2017 Bingwa wa Mabingwa middleweight gold medallist, also unveiled a modern boxing ring and new training equipment, which he believes will help turn his vision into reality.

“My dream has always been to give back to boxing, the sport that groomed me. The Punch Beyond the Ring campaign focuses on promoting young talent even as I remain an active professional boxer,” he told Vision Sport.

He noted that inadequate infrastructure continues to hinder the growth of boxing in Uganda.

“Inadequate infrastructure has pushed Ugandan boxing into a corner. That is why Babu Boxing Promotions has invested in modern equipment even before officially starting operations,” he explained.

Part of Babu’s investment comes from the purse he earned in his recent fight in Ghana, where he lost to British heavyweight prospect Leo Atang, who is managed by legendary promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, the same stable that manages former world champion Anthony Joshua.

“I was paid a good purse from my last fight in Ghana. Part of that money has gone into my promotion company, with the rest coming from my partners. This project is bigger than many imagine,” Babu said.

With a professional record of 3-1-0, Babu is expected to return to the ring in April against an opponent yet to be confirmed, balancing his dual role as fighter and promoter while pushing to uplift Uganda’s next generation of boxers.