Asiku is all set for fistic fireworks
Sep 12, 2010
PRIZE fighting, more so world title contests, are usually a weekend affair. But Ugandan boxer Jackson “Action†Asiku will in a shift from this tradition defend his WBO featherweight title on a Wednesday.
By James Bakama
I SAY SO
PRIZE fighting, more so world title contests, are usually a weekend affair. But Ugandan boxer Jackson “Action†Asiku will in a shift from this tradition defend his WBO featherweight title on a Wednesday.
Australia-based Asiku takes on Mexican Johnny Gonzalez at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in two days time. Gonzalez is a former WBO champion, and if it is indeed true, that statistics don’t lie, then Asiku is in for a tough fight.
Gonzalez boasts of a massive 45 wins, 39 of them via knock-outs. He has lost seven times. Asiku 26(14)-3-0 in comparison stands like a novice. But well, what’s important here is the fact that Asiku is the champion.
Most boxers would be shaken by such opposition. That’s exactly why many champions opt for much inferior opponents in their first title defence. Being a world champion is every athlete’s dream. So, why not hold on for as long as you can by opting for weak fighters.
Asiku is however not in that league . “If you want to be remembered as the greatest, you have to beat the best. Besides, I love the big stage,†Asiku recently said before travelling to Nevada.
You only have to witness the way Asiku annihilates his opponents to realize that he is a gladiator destined for greater heights.
Asiku is also well aware of the grand benefits that will accrue from a win in Las Vegas, America’s city that never goes to sleep. His world title victory in Australia last year was not extensively captured.
But a win in what is considered as the boxing capital of the world, will instantly catapult him into global stardom.
In Mexico, this will be a special fight. It not only falls on the country’s Independence Day, but Gonzalez is also a big Mexican star.
You best feel the magnitude of the fight when by the level of attention it is getting.
It will be aired live to the entire Mexico and Latin America via Televisa, as well as on both cable and satellite Pay Per View in the United States.
Asiku is a man who loves this kind of spotlight. But when the first gong sounds on Wednesday night, he will be eyeing an even bigger stage.
His dream is becoming the world’s undisputed featherweight champion. The man he badly wants to fight is Yuriokis Gamboa. The Cuban at the weekend beat Orlando Salido to unify the IBF and WBA featherweight titles.
“That’s the fight that will define my boxing career,†Asiku told me in an interview earlier. Such a victory would make him the first Ugandan to win more than one world title belt.
I am one of those who believe that the Uganda prize fighter can punch his way to such heights.
I SAY SO
PRIZE fighting, more so world title contests, are usually a weekend affair. But Ugandan boxer Jackson “Action†Asiku will in a shift from this tradition defend his WBO featherweight title on a Wednesday.
Australia-based Asiku takes on Mexican Johnny Gonzalez at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in two days time. Gonzalez is a former WBO champion, and if it is indeed true, that statistics don’t lie, then Asiku is in for a tough fight.
Gonzalez boasts of a massive 45 wins, 39 of them via knock-outs. He has lost seven times. Asiku 26(14)-3-0 in comparison stands like a novice. But well, what’s important here is the fact that Asiku is the champion.
Most boxers would be shaken by such opposition. That’s exactly why many champions opt for much inferior opponents in their first title defence. Being a world champion is every athlete’s dream. So, why not hold on for as long as you can by opting for weak fighters.
Asiku is however not in that league . “If you want to be remembered as the greatest, you have to beat the best. Besides, I love the big stage,†Asiku recently said before travelling to Nevada.
You only have to witness the way Asiku annihilates his opponents to realize that he is a gladiator destined for greater heights.
Asiku is also well aware of the grand benefits that will accrue from a win in Las Vegas, America’s city that never goes to sleep. His world title victory in Australia last year was not extensively captured.
But a win in what is considered as the boxing capital of the world, will instantly catapult him into global stardom.
In Mexico, this will be a special fight. It not only falls on the country’s Independence Day, but Gonzalez is also a big Mexican star.
You best feel the magnitude of the fight when by the level of attention it is getting.
It will be aired live to the entire Mexico and Latin America via Televisa, as well as on both cable and satellite Pay Per View in the United States.
Asiku is a man who loves this kind of spotlight. But when the first gong sounds on Wednesday night, he will be eyeing an even bigger stage.
His dream is becoming the world’s undisputed featherweight champion. The man he badly wants to fight is Yuriokis Gamboa. The Cuban at the weekend beat Orlando Salido to unify the IBF and WBA featherweight titles.
“That’s the fight that will define my boxing career,†Asiku told me in an interview earlier. Such a victory would make him the first Ugandan to win more than one world title belt.
I am one of those who believe that the Uganda prize fighter can punch his way to such heights.