Lusambya 3kg lighter
Dec 20, 2005
AFRICA Boxing Union (ABU) super welterweight champion Badru Lusambya is struggling to add three kilograms to his weight as he prepares to take on middleweight (72kg) Tanzanian Francis Cheka in a Commonwealth tune up fight on Friday.
By Swalley Kenyi
AFRICA Boxing Union (ABU) super welterweight champion Badru Lusambya is struggling to add three kilograms to his weight as he prepares to take on middleweight (72kg) Tanzanian Francis Cheka in a Commonwealth tune up fight on Friday.
The boxer (69kg) stepped up his diet last week and has added two kilograms, leaving him with a kilogram to make up ahead of the fight at Nakivubo stadium.
Big Strikers promoter Emmanuel Mwesigwa however said that he was already within the fight weight allowed for the heavier weight.
“It has been easy because we knew that Lusambya had to add weight to match Cheka so it was not difficult. We simply relaxed, as what he needed was to eat enough food to add the weight,†Mwesigwa said.
He said the boxer had no option but to add weight because opponents in his category had all refused to face him, yet he wanted a Commonwealth title fight.
His earlier fight with Mexican Omar Vazquez flopped two weeks ago.
Cheka and boxers Simba Watundulu and Rana Miyeyeso will arrive by road today. They are expected to address a press conference in Kampala.
Lusambya’s shift of weight to match his opponent happens often in international boxing.
The most memorable was when former world champion John ‘Beast’ Mugabi, then a super welterweight, added weight to take on WBC middleweight champion Marvin Hagler in 1986.
Cheka boasts of 10 wins, six of which are by knockout, with three losses and a draw, and returns to Uganda with fond memories. Another Tanzanian Oswald Maneno defeated Godfrey Nyakana at the same venue the last time round.
Watundulu will take on Festus Omondi while Miyeyeso will battle Dodo Obong.
AFRICA Boxing Union (ABU) super welterweight champion Badru Lusambya is struggling to add three kilograms to his weight as he prepares to take on middleweight (72kg) Tanzanian Francis Cheka in a Commonwealth tune up fight on Friday.
The boxer (69kg) stepped up his diet last week and has added two kilograms, leaving him with a kilogram to make up ahead of the fight at Nakivubo stadium.
Big Strikers promoter Emmanuel Mwesigwa however said that he was already within the fight weight allowed for the heavier weight.
“It has been easy because we knew that Lusambya had to add weight to match Cheka so it was not difficult. We simply relaxed, as what he needed was to eat enough food to add the weight,†Mwesigwa said.
He said the boxer had no option but to add weight because opponents in his category had all refused to face him, yet he wanted a Commonwealth title fight.
His earlier fight with Mexican Omar Vazquez flopped two weeks ago.
Cheka and boxers Simba Watundulu and Rana Miyeyeso will arrive by road today. They are expected to address a press conference in Kampala.
Lusambya’s shift of weight to match his opponent happens often in international boxing.
The most memorable was when former world champion John ‘Beast’ Mugabi, then a super welterweight, added weight to take on WBC middleweight champion Marvin Hagler in 1986.
Cheka boasts of 10 wins, six of which are by knockout, with three losses and a draw, and returns to Uganda with fond memories. Another Tanzanian Oswald Maneno defeated Godfrey Nyakana at the same venue the last time round.
Watundulu will take on Festus Omondi while Miyeyeso will battle Dodo Obong.