Lusambya to battle Oyolo
TANZANIAN boxer Hassan “Red Bull†Matumla has in a last minute surprise opted out of his fight with Ugandan Badru Lusambya.
By James Bakama and Samson Opus
Sunday 7pm
B. Lusambya v K. Oyolo
ABU title defence
Fairway Hotel
TANZANIAN boxer Hassan “Red Bull†Matumla has in a last minute surprise opted out of his fight with Ugandan Badru Lusambya.
Emmanuel Mwesigwa, one of the organisers of the Africa Boxing Union super welterweight title defence, revealed yesterday that Matumla had pulled out citing malaria.
The organisers, Big Strikers International, were thrown off balance but hastily secured a substitute in Kenyan Kennedy Oyolo. Lusambya stopped Oyolo in the ninth of their scheduled ten rounder last May.
Oyolo was full of vigour: “The last time Lusambya got me on the wrong foot. But I am much more fit this time. He had better say good bye to the belt.â€
Mwesigwa did not buy Matumla’s story.
“It’s a lie. I am reliably informed by sources in Tanzania that Matumla pulled out because of fear of defeat,†Mwesigwa said.
Developments in the last week to the fight seemed to signal unrest in the Tanzanian’s base.
They demanded air travel at the last minute after originally accepting to reach Kampala by road. The air tickets were availed before the malaria story finally came in.
Sunday 7pm
B. Lusambya v K. Oyolo
ABU title defence
Fairway Hotel
TANZANIAN boxer Hassan “Red Bull†Matumla has in a last minute surprise opted out of his fight with Ugandan Badru Lusambya.
Emmanuel Mwesigwa, one of the organisers of the Africa Boxing Union super welterweight title defence, revealed yesterday that Matumla had pulled out citing malaria.
The organisers, Big Strikers International, were thrown off balance but hastily secured a substitute in Kenyan Kennedy Oyolo. Lusambya stopped Oyolo in the ninth of their scheduled ten rounder last May.
Oyolo was full of vigour: “The last time Lusambya got me on the wrong foot. But I am much more fit this time. He had better say good bye to the belt.â€
Mwesigwa did not buy Matumla’s story.
“It’s a lie. I am reliably informed by sources in Tanzania that Matumla pulled out because of fear of defeat,†Mwesigwa said.
Developments in the last week to the fight seemed to signal unrest in the Tanzanian’s base.
They demanded air travel at the last minute after originally accepting to reach Kampala by road. The air tickets were availed before the malaria story finally came in.