Nordic boxers rule the ring
Dec 27, 2007
2007 will be remembered for the re-emergence of Ugandan professionals based in the Nordic countries and who are set to hog the limelight in 2008.
By Phillip Corry
2007 will be remembered for the re-emergence of Ugandan professionals based in the Nordic countries and who are set to hog the limelight in 2008.
Former world junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream†Ouma has been overshadowed, and the Swedish-based Sam “Rocky†Rukundo, who in the year claimed the World Universal Boxing Organisation and African Boxing Union lightweight titles, has emerged as the boxer to watch in 2008.
Ouma was the most feared Ugandan fighter having two opponents Ishe “Sugar Shay†Smith and Sergio Mora chicken out of fights.
The Florida-based prize fighter was frustrated by the lack of fights, and he then lost against Mexican Saul Roman in his only fight in the year. Ouma will stage a rematch in January, seeking to avenge his defeat.
Ocean Pacific Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Peter “Ishimaru†Okhello was out of action this season, but boxing sources say 2008 will be a busy one for him.
Middleweight Robert “The Doctor†Kamya lost two out of three fights in the year. Two devastating knockouts against Giovanni Lorenzo and Ronald Hearns ere flanked by unanimous win against Jeremy Yelton.
Commonwealth featherweight champion Jackson “Action†Asiku cut his ties with London-based “boxing agent†Danny Lutaaya, moving back to Perth, Australia to sign a two-year dear with popular boxing promoter Craig Christian, who guaranteed him five fights in the New Year including a world title shot.
Swedish trio lightweight Peter “Boyz Boyz†Semo, featherweight Abdul “The Cobra†Tebazalwa and welterweight Hassan “The Hitman†Saku, captured glory in the ring by winning the vacant World Universal Boxing Organisation’s in their respective weight categories while Saku, captured the African crown.
On the local scene African light middleweight champion Badru “Mr Crush†Lusambya, severed his contract with Big Strikers International, who built his career from a world number 37 to number 13 in the World Boxing Council ratings.
Lusambya, rejected BSI’s new offer opting for bigger prospects in the New Year.
Former Commonwealth featherweight champion Justin “The Destroyer†Juuko was banned indefinitely by Uganda Professional Boxing Commission for breaching the rules of boxing by failing to pay boxing purses for under-card fighters.
On a happy note, the sport welcomed a new promotional company, Probox Scandinavia, who organized their first world title fights, the first of its kind in Uganda.
The new promotional company is set to organize several world title fights in the New Year and also market several Ugandan fighters in Sweden and other parts of Europe.
2007 will be remembered for the re-emergence of Ugandan professionals based in the Nordic countries and who are set to hog the limelight in 2008.
Former world junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream†Ouma has been overshadowed, and the Swedish-based Sam “Rocky†Rukundo, who in the year claimed the World Universal Boxing Organisation and African Boxing Union lightweight titles, has emerged as the boxer to watch in 2008.
Ouma was the most feared Ugandan fighter having two opponents Ishe “Sugar Shay†Smith and Sergio Mora chicken out of fights.
The Florida-based prize fighter was frustrated by the lack of fights, and he then lost against Mexican Saul Roman in his only fight in the year. Ouma will stage a rematch in January, seeking to avenge his defeat.
Ocean Pacific Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Peter “Ishimaru†Okhello was out of action this season, but boxing sources say 2008 will be a busy one for him.
Middleweight Robert “The Doctor†Kamya lost two out of three fights in the year. Two devastating knockouts against Giovanni Lorenzo and Ronald Hearns ere flanked by unanimous win against Jeremy Yelton.
Commonwealth featherweight champion Jackson “Action†Asiku cut his ties with London-based “boxing agent†Danny Lutaaya, moving back to Perth, Australia to sign a two-year dear with popular boxing promoter Craig Christian, who guaranteed him five fights in the New Year including a world title shot.
Swedish trio lightweight Peter “Boyz Boyz†Semo, featherweight Abdul “The Cobra†Tebazalwa and welterweight Hassan “The Hitman†Saku, captured glory in the ring by winning the vacant World Universal Boxing Organisation’s in their respective weight categories while Saku, captured the African crown.
On the local scene African light middleweight champion Badru “Mr Crush†Lusambya, severed his contract with Big Strikers International, who built his career from a world number 37 to number 13 in the World Boxing Council ratings.
Lusambya, rejected BSI’s new offer opting for bigger prospects in the New Year.
Former Commonwealth featherweight champion Justin “The Destroyer†Juuko was banned indefinitely by Uganda Professional Boxing Commission for breaching the rules of boxing by failing to pay boxing purses for under-card fighters.
On a happy note, the sport welcomed a new promotional company, Probox Scandinavia, who organized their first world title fights, the first of its kind in Uganda.
The new promotional company is set to organize several world title fights in the New Year and also market several Ugandan fighters in Sweden and other parts of Europe.