History beckons for Asiku in WBC bout
JACKSON Asiku was slightly overweight yesterday, but not even the extra work needed to trim to 57kgs could deter his quest for glory in today’s world title fight.
By James Bakama
Today: IBO f/weight title
J. Asiku v H. Ruiz
JACKSON Asiku was slightly overweight yesterday, but not even the extra work needed to trim to 57kgs could deter his quest for glory in today’s world title fight.
While his opponent Heriberto Ruiz tipped the scales at exactly 57kgs, Asiku was three grams over at the official weigh-in at Leagues Club in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta.
“Three grams aren’t a problem. What matters most is that I am at my best both physically and mentally. Tell Ugandans that they’ll have their fifth world champion tomorrow by the names of Jackson Asiku,†said the Australia based fighter.
He is out to become the latest in a string of Ugandans to win recognised world championships. Ayub Kalule, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, John Mugabi and Kassim Ouma have been the country’s past champions.
Ouma was the most recent of the quartet, winning a title at 154 pounds in 2004 and defending once before losing it nine months later.
Team Asiku’s was in the last week boosted with the arrival of seasoned American trainer Adam Flores. Flores handles WBC super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez.
After studying Heriberto’s tapes he noted. “The Mexican is tough. He can mix it up both as a fighter and boxer. But we’ve taken all that into account, and I can assure you, Asiku has a good arsenal.â€
It’s the first world title try for Asiku, who turned pro in 2000 after representing Uganda in the Summer Olympics in Sydney. He has since fought 21 of his 28 bouts in Australia, including nine times since last losing there.
Ranked in super featherweight, Asiku returns to the 126-pound class where he scored his most significant victory – a 9th-round TKO over former IBO champion Gairy St. Clair last April at Challenge Stadium in Perth.
The win was revenge for an eight-round decision loss to St. Clair in Sydney in 2003.
Ruiz, who turned 32 last month, scored a third-round TKO over Cristobal Teran in August to improve to 42-8-2 in a career that he began as a teenager in 1994.
Today: IBO f/weight title
J. Asiku v H. Ruiz
JACKSON Asiku was slightly overweight yesterday, but not even the extra work needed to trim to 57kgs could deter his quest for glory in today’s world title fight.
While his opponent Heriberto Ruiz tipped the scales at exactly 57kgs, Asiku was three grams over at the official weigh-in at Leagues Club in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta.
“Three grams aren’t a problem. What matters most is that I am at my best both physically and mentally. Tell Ugandans that they’ll have their fifth world champion tomorrow by the names of Jackson Asiku,†said the Australia based fighter.
He is out to become the latest in a string of Ugandans to win recognised world championships. Ayub Kalule, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, John Mugabi and Kassim Ouma have been the country’s past champions.
Ouma was the most recent of the quartet, winning a title at 154 pounds in 2004 and defending once before losing it nine months later.
Team Asiku’s was in the last week boosted with the arrival of seasoned American trainer Adam Flores. Flores handles WBC super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez.
After studying Heriberto’s tapes he noted. “The Mexican is tough. He can mix it up both as a fighter and boxer. But we’ve taken all that into account, and I can assure you, Asiku has a good arsenal.â€
It’s the first world title try for Asiku, who turned pro in 2000 after representing Uganda in the Summer Olympics in Sydney. He has since fought 21 of his 28 bouts in Australia, including nine times since last losing there.
Ranked in super featherweight, Asiku returns to the 126-pound class where he scored his most significant victory – a 9th-round TKO over former IBO champion Gairy St. Clair last April at Challenge Stadium in Perth.
The win was revenge for an eight-round decision loss to St. Clair in Sydney in 2003.
Ruiz, who turned 32 last month, scored a third-round TKO over Cristobal Teran in August to improve to 42-8-2 in a career that he began as a teenager in 1994.