Boxer Serugo storms quarterfinals in Cameroon

Flyweight Ronald Serugo raised the prospects of Ugandan boxers earning slots in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games higher after storming the quarterfinals of the on-going Africa Olympic qualifiers in Younde, Cameroon on Monday.

He becomes the third Ugandan pugilist to reach the last eight stage in the 10 day event that has drawn a record number of 272 boxers from 39 countries

The Sweden-based Ugandan boxer proved that he has the might to vie for a place in Rio after outclassing Alaa Abdelrehim Ahmed Abdel Rahman of Egypt.

The win puts Serugo in the quarterfinals alongside bantamweight Atanus Mugerwa and light heavyweight Kenneth Katende.

Serugo was among the two Ugandan boxers who were due to vie for the semi-final slots late on Monday.

Serugo was slated to take Nikamou Mayelet of Gaban who beat Christo Bwalya of Zambia in the other second round bout. Steel punching Katende was due to square off against Umar Sadiq of Nigeria.

On Wednesday, universal fighter Mugerwa takes on Grassa Justin of Central African Republic in the other bout.

Only boxers who reach the finals are guaranteed of places in the Rio 2016 Games.

Loses in the semi-finals will have to square off to determine a third placed winner for a slot is Rio in each weight category.

Altogether, the Cameroon qualifiers has 36 places- 30 slots for men and the remaining for women - on offer for the Rio 2016 Olympics.