Lukanga takes break from boxing

By Samson Opus

LOCAL amateur boxing guru Samuel ‘Don King’ Lukanga has decided to take a break from the sweet science sport.

Lukanga said he had decided to temporarily put a ‘full stop’ to all competitions in order to concentrate on grooming a new crop of boxers.

The man, who has been behind the invincible Lukanga Boxing Club said on Monday that he is taking a two-year break to lay a strong foundation.

He denied reports of a rift between him and the new Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) executive led by Kenneth Gimugu. 

“This is just a temporary measure. When I come back, I want to sweep from novices, intermediates and the National Open,” vowed Lukanga.

Lukanga Boxing Club that dominated the local scene is out of the on-going National Intermediates Championships at Lugogo. The club also skipped the novices last November.

According to insiders, Lukanga was incensed after most of the clubs that he had been bank-rolling let him down in the UBF elections last September.

He was fully behind the candidacy of Kyandondo South MP Issa Kikungwe, but despite having a vote count of over 20 clubs personally, Lukanga was shocked as Gimugu beat Kikungwe 31-24.

The renowned Kampala traditional healer admitted the bitter election pill. “These are the boys I have been maintaining for so many years but they were just misled,” he said. 

Lukanga’s compound in Najjanankubi, previously a beehive of activity as boxers of all ages train, is now deserted after he froze his support.