Boxer Sula Segawa eyes Rio Olympics

Lightweight Sula Segawa underlined his determination to gun for a place in the Rio Olympics Games registering a spectacular win as the National Open Championship got underway at Lugogo.

The Kampala Boxing Club (KBC) prodigy made his intentions known after rocking Amuran Kasule of Special Forces Command into submission.

Segawa, making a return after a three-year spell in the professional ranks went on the offensive at the song. He was all over his opponent with solid body punches-forcing UPDF coach Oscar Binka to throw in the towel to save his boxer from further punishment after two minutes of action.

"He was good but he wasn't good enough because I have trained harder. I wanted to make it very clear that my target is to qualify for the Olympics Games," said Sugawa.

On the lightweight cast that has drawn strong contenders including defending champion Hassan Abdu Asudi, Segawa said; "I know it is going to be a very good competition because everybody is good. But I have to be harder than them. That's what I need to beat them"

Segwa's returned to the amateur ranks after world body AIBA opened the door to former boxers with a brief stint in the paid ranks.

The decision makes this year's National Open that has drawn over 237 boxers from 37 clubs to be one of the most stiffly contested over the years.

Former Olympian Atanus Mugerwa (Lukanga) is the other boxers making a comeback in bantamweight. Spectacularly missing in action is Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Fazil Juma Kaggwa.

As the old guard strives to regain their domain, a new crop of boxers like flyweight sensation Joshua Tusingwire (Lukanga) beat Bashir Mubiru of Kololo High). In another light weight bout, Christpher Mubiru (Police) stopped veteran Gerald Aliga of Gulu Taks in round three.