Lukanga maintain Open lead

Jan 18, 2001

LUKANGA club maintained their slim lead at the National Open Boxing Championship as big names remained in contention at Lugogo yesterday.

By Samson Opus and Lillian Ikulumet LUKANGA club maintained their slim lead at the National Open Boxing Championship as big names remained in contention at Lugogo yesterday. The defending champions, who captured the lead on Wednesday, completed the quarter-final programme with 12 points, just one ahead of challengers Najja and Basajabalaba. Kampala Boxing Club (KBC) had 10 points, while KCC were at eight as the event entered the penultimate stage. Welterweight Hassan Saku led Lukanga into the semis with only the second knockout of the day and third of the tournament against Katwe's Joseph Kiyira in the second round. The other KO of the day went to Andrew Sempewo, whose lucky punch to the jaw settled an otherwise balanced bout against Scorpions' Sadat Tebazalwa, brother of Olympic campaigner Abdu. Najja's strong showing was highlighted by Michael Obin (brother of another Olympian Jackson Asiku), who recorded an impressive victory over Godfrey Teba of BHS, taking all four rounds. Basajabalaba won just one of four bouts - Damiano Kalanzi beat Edward Makanga of Horizon on points - yesterday but a strong finish on Wednesday allowed them to remain in the the hunt for honours. Middleweight counter-puncher Badru Nyombi (Scorpions) was a class-act as he defeated John Walusimbi (Kololo High) in one of the best bouts of the day. He punished his opponent, allowing him to attack and giving him a beating on the counter. The lighter weights were more competitive as fighters sought to take positions in the national team - Bombers - that were vacated by Olympic fighters who turned pro. Ends.

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