Nyakana’s loss fails lucrative showdown
Dec 18, 2003
EUROPEAN boxing promoters wanted to sign a lucrative fight deal with retired middleweight Godfrey Nyakana before his loss to Tanzanian Oswald Maneno recently The New Vision has learnt.
By Phillip Corry
EUROPEAN boxing promoters wanted to sign a lucrative fight deal with retired middleweight Godfrey Nyakana before his loss to Tanzanian Oswald Maneno recently The New Vision has learnt.
“I received calls from people from England from Sky sports who wanted me to sign a contract, but I told them I was using my recent fight as a yardstick to determine my future,†Nyakana said. “The experience that I have and the many people that I know in the boxing world made it possible for me to get such a deal.â€
The 33-year-old councillor was knocked out by veteran Oswald Maneno in a Commonwealth title eliminator, which brought down the curtain on his illustrious career.
“Fighting is not a problem for me, and I really wouldn’t want to go back to this issue,†Nyakana added. “I don’t see myself getting back into the ring. I have other things to do in life.â€
Nyakana ended his career with a record of 30 wins 4 loses 1 draw and 18 within the distance.
Uganda Professional Boxing Commission(UPBC) had initially wanted Nyakana to fight for the vacant Africa Boxing Union(ABU) middleweight crown but the Ugandan fighter preferred to come for a Commonwealth eliminator.
Boxing authorities and fans had mixed reactions on his retirement. “He should have used this opportunity for bigger things,†Celestino Mindra,
UPBC president said. “I still believe he has a good chance as a boxer. His return was expected to land him several sponsors.â€
The former New York based fighter made his return to the ring this year against Cameroonian Diedone Kotonang demolishing the West African opponent inside five rounds in July
In his 13-year professional career he has fought great fighters like Mexican Shibata Flores and Americans Willy Wise and Verno Phillips. In 1998, he was supposed to have fought French man Laurent Boudouani for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight title.
In 1990, he won Uganda a gold medal in the Commonwealth games held in Auckland, New Zealand together with Justin Juuko and Bronze medallist Charles Matta.
Ends
EUROPEAN boxing promoters wanted to sign a lucrative fight deal with retired middleweight Godfrey Nyakana before his loss to Tanzanian Oswald Maneno recently The New Vision has learnt.
“I received calls from people from England from Sky sports who wanted me to sign a contract, but I told them I was using my recent fight as a yardstick to determine my future,†Nyakana said. “The experience that I have and the many people that I know in the boxing world made it possible for me to get such a deal.â€
The 33-year-old councillor was knocked out by veteran Oswald Maneno in a Commonwealth title eliminator, which brought down the curtain on his illustrious career.
“Fighting is not a problem for me, and I really wouldn’t want to go back to this issue,†Nyakana added. “I don’t see myself getting back into the ring. I have other things to do in life.â€
Nyakana ended his career with a record of 30 wins 4 loses 1 draw and 18 within the distance.
Uganda Professional Boxing Commission(UPBC) had initially wanted Nyakana to fight for the vacant Africa Boxing Union(ABU) middleweight crown but the Ugandan fighter preferred to come for a Commonwealth eliminator.
Boxing authorities and fans had mixed reactions on his retirement. “He should have used this opportunity for bigger things,†Celestino Mindra,
UPBC president said. “I still believe he has a good chance as a boxer. His return was expected to land him several sponsors.â€
The former New York based fighter made his return to the ring this year against Cameroonian Diedone Kotonang demolishing the West African opponent inside five rounds in July
In his 13-year professional career he has fought great fighters like Mexican Shibata Flores and Americans Willy Wise and Verno Phillips. In 1998, he was supposed to have fought French man Laurent Boudouani for the World Boxing Association (WBA) light middleweight title.
In 1990, he won Uganda a gold medal in the Commonwealth games held in Auckland, New Zealand together with Justin Juuko and Bronze medallist Charles Matta.
Ends