Golola claims title amid controversy

By Silvano Kibuuka      

Kickboxing Intercontinental title fight

Moses Golola 146   Poczo Zoltan 144

National Title (Women)

Patricia Apolot bt Jackie Nassimbwa (points)

Undercard fights

Sharif Bukenya ‘Gen’ bt Paineto Mwesigwa (K.O 4th round)

Ismail Mutebi bt Budigo Mohammed (points)

Umar Muswiba bt Yuda Makubuya (points)

Locus Serugunda bt Emma Kamadu (points)

CELEBRATED kick boxer Moses Golola exhibited a lukewarm show for his fans and the entire crowd in a controversial win to claim the vacant Intercontinental Low Kick Middleweight title on Monday morning.

Golola did little to escape the assault from Romanian Poczo Zoltan through the five rounds in the low kick contest and resorted to holding on to his opponent for safety.

Zoltan was floored while trading kicks with Golola in the fourth round before motor mouthed fighter himself was floored soon after another exchange.

This was at Natete Shopping Center where the much hyped fight was watched by thousands of fans who filled the venue.

The fight was almost a replica of the 2011 fracas when Golola fought the late Andras Nagy where the results were reversed before the World Kickboxing Federation president made a late correction but Golola emerged winner.

This time center referee, Charles Blick Mugoya first raised the arm of Zoltan as the winner after ring announcer Meddie Nsereko apparently mixed up the results.

The three judges scored 49-50, 50-45 and 47-49 in favour of Zoltan but bizarrely, Golola was declared the winner by 2-1 for having the most judges scoring in his favour.

The announcer then declared Golola who was in the red corner the winner to leave Zoltan and his team in utter disbelief.

Match supervisor, Graham Rossman said the referee’s decision was final, in a bid to diffuse tensions among the disapproving crowd.

“I thank my fans for the support. I told you I shall win the title and you have all witnessed,” said Golola after getting the belt.

“I know I have been cheated but it is okay,” a disappointed Zoltan commented after the fight.

A Uganda Kickboxing Federation official who preferred anonymity added a new twist to matters when he said the fight ended in a draw despite what was read from the judges’ scorecards.

“The fight ended in a draw but Zoltan was penalized two points for foul play. He used his knee which is against the rules” he said.

“Golola shall never improve in the sport apart from advocacy if he wins in controversial decisions like this. He cannot go out and win,” commented some fans.

But under card fights were a thriller where Sharif Bukenya (aka General) stopped Paineto Mwesigwa in the 4th round. Jackie Nassimbwa put up a spirited resistance against experienced Patricia Apolot but it wasn’t enough to deny Apolot who won the national championship.