Bubbling with confidence, Namibia’s decorated pro boxer Jeremiah “Low-Key” Nakathila (26-4, 21 KOs) left Windhoek on Sunday, June 1, heading to the United States for his June 7 fight against undefeated American Abdullah Mason (18-0, 16 KO’s) at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
The fight will be a co-feature of an ESPN telecast involving WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis and Dominican contender Edwin De Los Santos in the main fight.
Nakathila was accompanied by his promoter, the celebrated Nestor Tobias, a former boxer who was a street fighter in his youth beating up the big boys.
Born and raised in the Northern Namibian village of Etundja, Nestor won the South African junior middleweight title in 1986 and made it to the quarter-finals of the 1991 African Games in Cairo, Egypt. He founded the Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy in the 2000, and has risen to become one of Africa’s most accomplished promoters, winning the African Promoter of the Year in 2012 in WBO annual convention in New York.
Others in the entourage are coaches Nick Natangwe and SBK.
This is Nakathila’s fifth fight in the USA having made his debut in 2021, losing by a unanimous decision to WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in a WBO interim super-featherweight title fight.
“I’m ready for the challenge ahead, I know the qualities of my younger opponent but I’m used to the big stage,” the 35-year-old Nakathila told boxersworld.co.ke.
The fight will be speed vs power as the American boxer is faster than the experienced Namibian whose main advantage is his raw African power. Bombs will explode on June 7.
“I’ve trained very well for the fight, I assure Namibians and Africa as a whole of nothing but victory in the USA.”
The new head of African boxing Pearl Dlamini from Eswatini
▪ She has promised a raft of measures to bring back sanity in this popular sport in Africa
▪ “Outstanding boxers’ prize money must be paid and boxing. governance structures will be strengthened,” says the new boss of African boxing
Eswatini’s Pearl Dlamini has landed running, becoming the first ever woman to head Africa boxing.
IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts (centre) is a key member of the Normalisation Committee
“The train has now left the station, I’m on the move, and today (May 30) we will have our first meeting to discuss our strategies because there’s a lot to be done,” said Dlamini.
“We welcome divergent views and criticism to help us improve. I’m ready for the battle but work must be done,” said a confident Dlamini who is not new to boxing leadership having been the first ever female president of Eswatini Boxing Association from 2011-2020.
Gabriel Jr the Mozambican Boxing Federation President is a member of the NC
“Outstanding boxers prize money in Maputo 2022 and Kinshasa 2024 must be paid, governance structures will be improved to ensure stability in Africa boxing is restored.”
Dlamini has been appointed the Chairperson of the Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC) Normalisation Committee by IBA’s Board of Directors.
She takes over from Ethiopia’s businessman Eyassu Berhanu who has been relieved of his duties including his entire Board of Directors owing to ineptitude on managing African boxing.
The Ethiopian was elected unopposed as the AFBC President in Addis Ababa in November, 2023, taking over from deposed Cameroonian Bertrand Mendouga who was removed through a vote of no confidence by the Board of Directors in August, 2023, during the Africa Championships in Yaounde. He was accused of high handedness, arrogance and financial impropriety.
This is the composition of the AFBC Normalisation Committee
1. Ms Pearl Dlamini (IBA Director) – Chairperson
2. Mr Abdulmutalim Abakarov (IBA Vice President) – Vice Chairperson
3. Mr Chris Roberts OBE (IBA Secretary General & CEO)
4. Mr Dian Gomes (IBA Director)
5. Mr Gabriel Xavier Da Barca Junior (President of Mozambique Boxing Federation)
6. Mr Moses Muhangi (President of Uganda Boxing Federation)
7. Mr David Pina (ex-Chairman of the AFBC Ethics Committee)
8. Vacant position (awaiting candidate proposal from AFBC President’s office)
It’s another fresh start in continental boxing with high hopes of changing the lethargic and unprofessional manner in which the sport has been managed.
IBA’s Secretary-General and CEO Chris Roberts announced the composition of the Normalisation Committee in a letter dated May 29, 2025, and copied to IBA Board of Directors, IBA staff and National Federations in Africa.
The letter read in part: “As you are aware, there has been significant instability within the AFBC, creating an urgent need for
intervention. In its responsibility to restore lawful governance and stability to the Confederation, the IBA
has established the Normalisation Committee to address and resolve these issues.
“The Committee’s
key mandate is to ensure compliance with both the IBA and AFBC Constitutions, facilitate the
organisation of new, legitimate elections, and to restore effective governance within the AFBC. The Regulations on AFBC Normalisation Committee (NC) for AFBC have been established by the IBA
to guide the work of the Normalisation Committee.
“These regulations are binding on all AFBC officials,
AFBC National Federations, and associated members. It is essential that all parties comply with these
regulations to ensure the smooth and effective restoration of stability and governance. As we further move forward with this work, there will be some opportunity for subject matter expertise.”
The IBA CEO will also create a Subject Matter Expertise (SME) working group of professionals called “Passion for African Boxing” to assist him in the monumental task of improving Africa’s boxing landscape and clear a pile of garbage left behind by the two deposed regimes.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) sent home Eyassu’s team and established the Normalisation Committee following deep divisions that undermined the unity and credibility of African boxing.
“In October 2024, numerous AFBC National Federations raised serious concerns about lack of transparency and governance failures under the current AFBC leadership,” said IBA’s statement explaining why they have created the NC.
The IBA statement went on: “These National Federations formally requested immediate intervention including fresh elections to rectify those concerns.”
In the wake of dissatisfaction expressed by the National Federations, things came to a head when a big rift erupted in AFBC with DR Congo’s combative federation president Ferdinand Luyoyo leading a group that passed a vote of no confidence in Eyassu’s leadership. Luyoyo was declared by his team as the acting AFBC president.
While IBA disowned the Luyoyo team, they extended an olive branch by inviting them to a reconciliation meeting with the IBA-recognised Eyassu group early this year in Dubai in what was seen as a last ditch effort by the international body to unite the two warring factions.
The Dubai meeting, however, ended in disarray with no unity achieved, forcing the IBA to crack the whip by dissolving Eyassu’s executive committee.
In a show of defiance, Eyassu’s team has rejected the formation of the Normalisation Committee describing IBA’s decision as discriminatory on the African body.
“We’re unaware of the IBA removing the entire continental board in other continents but it has happened in Africa,” they said in a letter to the IBA, citing financial favouritism and fostering divisions.
“Should the IBA proceed by imposing an illegitimate NC that strips away our rights we will seek legal redress at the Court of Arbitration for Sports or any other relevant judicial bodies,” they threatened.
In establishing the NC, the IBA Board of Directors invoked Article 14.5 of the Constitution. The deposed AFBC board has however not quoted which clause of the Constitution has been violated by the IBA in creating the NC.
As expected, IBA’s decision to establish the NC has been received with mixed feelings with the Luyoyo team supporting its creation while other critical boxing stakeholders are not convinced the NC will bring any meaningful change to the beleagured African boxing body.
Brickbats aside, the appointment of Pearl Dlamini has been hailed as a step in the right direction by most African boxers and followers of the sport who were fed up with the toxic wrangles in African boxing.
In addition to serving the Eswatini Boxing Association from 2011-2020, Dlamini is currently an IBA board member as well as a board member of Eswatini NOC, the IOC Accredited Sports Administration Lecturer and Accredited Region 5 Women in Sports Leadership Facilitator.
All this shows how strong she is on governance matters.
Careerwise, the elegant Dlamini is fully employed by Eswatini Revenue Service as their Director for Projects Office. She is also a Director for Sunika Solutions, a consultancy firm on Transformation Methodologies and Systems.
The deposed AFBC President Eyassu Berhanu (fourth left) in a show of solidarity with his team in Guinea.
IBA KNOCKS OUT AFBC PRESIDENT EYASSU AND HIS ENTIRE BOARD
▪️ Normalisation Committee appointed to take charge of boxing in Africa
▪️ Defiant Eyassu and his BoD reject Normalisation Committee, and threatened to seek legal redress at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
The hammer has finally landed on the Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC) President Eyassu Berhanu and his Board of Directors.
International Boxing Association (IBA) today (May 26) said in a statement on their website they have launched a Normalisation Committee to manage and streamline the operations of the beleaguered African body which the statement said had lost direction by engaging in unnecessary power struggle at the expense of development.
The creation of the Normalisation Committee in essence means that the underperfoming AFBC President Eyassu Berhanu and his loyal Board of Directors have been relieved of their responsibilities.
“The IBA Board of Directors has invoked Article 14.5 of the IBA Constitution to establish a Normalisation Committee tasked with the immediate intervention to stabilize AFBC,” said the statement, clarifying the committee is composed of two IBA Directors, one IBA Vice-President, four key African boxing stakeholders and supported by IBA Secretary General and CEO. The Normalisation Committee will temporarily oversee all AFBC operations.
The statement noted with concern the big division of AFBC with two leaders, the IBA-recognised Eyassu Berhanu and the other faction headed by General Ilunga Luyoyo.
IBA’s spirited efforts to reconcile the two warring factions have been unsuccessful, noted the statement and therefore they eventually decided to create the Normalisation Committee.
Elaborating further on the role of the Normalisation Committee, the statement said:”Its primary mandate includes addressing governance issues, managing AFBC’s daily affairs and organising legimate congress to elect and form a new leadership aligned with the core values of IBA.
“All decisions taken by the NC will be binding for AFBC, its governing bodies and affiliated National Federations.
In a rejoinder, Eyassu and his seven-member Board of Directors have rejected the formation of the Normalisation Committee, and threatened to seek legal redress at the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In a lengthy letter to IBA President Umar Kremlev, dated May 24, they unanimously objected to the creation of the Normalisation Committee but did not state under what clause of the Constitution they were opposing the NC.
The letter is signed by President Eyassu Berhanu, Vice President Alpha Amadou Balde and Board of Directors Siyabulela Mukwalo, Irene Ntelemo, Awil Gele Ahmed, Webster Lukhele, Azania Omo Agege, Abdou Issoufou and Lukello Willilo who was previously in Luyoyo’s faction but has now joined Eyassu’s KO’d team.
They said that dissolving AFBC Board via the Normalisation Committee is viewed as a broader pattern of governance issues within IBA urging the international body to respect the autonomy of AFBC.
“Under IBA we have witnessed a drift away from the focus on amateur boxing development accompanied by unilateral decisions without proper consultation,” said the letter accusing the IBA of financial favouritism and discriminative treatment of AFBC compared to other Confederations.
The IBA had yet to respond to the letter by Eyassu’s team by the time we were publishing.
Commenting on Willilo’s unexpected defection to Berhanu’s team, the Secretary General of Senegal Boxing Federation and board member in Luyoyo’s team, Anta Gueye, said: Boxing is full of mercenaries who sell themselves out. It’s a real shame. Some of them have no dignity. Even if the field were full and numbered 12, everything falls apart. Most of them are in boxing just to make some money but don’t have the sport at heart other exhibiting their cheapness and are not different from prostitutes.”
This the first time the AFBC executive has been dissolved since the formation of the African boxing body in 1960.
IBA’s decision is viewed by boxing analysts as a stabbing shock in the back to Berhanu whose image is now in tatters, and it’s definite he has now been consigned to the dustbin of history in African boxing. His attempt to go to court, ring insiders argue, is a face-saving measure and that his fate with his henchmen has been sealed.
Kenyan referee Julius Odhiambo counts out Tanzania's Mussa Shuza who was KO'd in the second round by Uganda's welterweight Henry Kasujja in the 12 Sports Rounds Promotions card on May 24 at Nairobi's Charter Hall
TANZANIA’S MUSSA SHUZA TURNED INTO MINCED MEAT BY UGANDA’S HENRY KASUJJA
▪️As expected all the five Tanzanian boxers were beaten, a familiar script now as it’s known they are used by promoters to build records of their opponents provided they have the money ▪️ A spoonful of fans turned up in the first Nairobi pro boxing show by Ugandan promoter Steve Sembuya
Uganda’s welterweight Henry “Stopper” Kasujja knocked out Tanzania’s Mussa Shuza in the second round of a non-title super- welterweight fight scheduled for eight rounds at Nairobi’s Charter Hall on Saturday, May 24.
Kasujja dominated the first round carrying the fight to the visibly shaken Shuza, hitting him with targeted punches to the body and moving upstairs. It was just a matter of time the Tanzania would definitely visit the canvas. All indications were there.
The end came in the second round. Shuza as usual was backpedalling to avoid Kasujja’s heavier blows. This time Kasujja timed his move, making sure he was within range and unleashed a powerful left hook to the chin that sent the Tanzanian crashing to the canvas for a count of 10 by Kenyan referee Julius Odhiambo.
A groggy and beaten Shuza remained comfortably on the canvas for about a minute before he was assisted back to his corner by his seconders. To him the KO was no big deal. He had made his money, probably paid more than his superior Ugandan opponent. That’s what astute promoters do in building the record of their boxers who reap the rewards later.
“He was heavier than me by 10kgs, at first he was 71kg, too strong but it’s boxing. I’m going back to Tanga to train for my next fight,” said Shuza who has lost more fights than he has won. His record dropped to 5-8-0 with two KOs.
Kasujja, now 12-1-1 with five KOs denied he was heavier than Shuza.
“We were weighed at the same time, he should have refused fighting me, he was just scared of me right from the weigh-in, I’m happy I’ve improved my record.”
Yes Kasujja has improved his record through the nondescript Tanzanian opponent. It’s a familiar script as most Tanzanian boxers are normally used by promoters to improve the records of their boxers. Very few of them win their fights outside Tanzania.
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For instance at Charter Hall, all the five Tanzanian boxers in action were beaten proving easy meat for the Ugandans but they returned home happy their pockets bulging with Kenyan money which is like gold in Tanzania. The exchange rates vary, Ksh 1000 goes for Tsh 20,866.40.
Charter Hall was virtually empty with just a paltry attendance but for shrewd Ugandan businessman, Steve Sembuya, he was not bothered much about the attendance.
“My primary objective was to improve the records of my boxers not the the attendance,” said Sembuya from the United States where he’s based.
The first Tanzanian casualty to the Ugandan boxers was super-bantamweight Ali Donyo who was TKO’d in the second round by Sadat Segawa.
Then came light-middleweight Abdallah Yoba against the polished pro boxing debutant Owen “Metrix” Kibira. He pushed the Ugandan to the sixth round before he was KO’d.
_Abdul Njego aka Breaker-Abdul Njego aka Breaker of Uganda TKO’d Tanzania’s Ali Hamisi Mzee in the second round.
The next Tanzania victim was light-heavyweight Ali Hamisi Mzee. He could not withstand the relentless flurry of Abdul Njego and it came as no surprise when he was TKO’d in the second round for the Ugandan to improve his record to 8-3-0 with 6 KOs.
Super-welterweight Isheka Norbert was the fourth Tanzanian casualty, KO’d in the sixth round by James Sebulamu followed by Shuza.
Earlier, promoter Sembuya’s son Jayden King TKO’d Kenya’s Kadmat Oduor Adie in the first round in a special contest.
Jayden told boxersworld.co.ke he is planning to join his dad in the US next year. “I want to become a world champion, I’ll improve my boxing in America,” said Jayden.
Future world champion Jayden King TKO’d Kenya’s Kadmat Oduor in a special contest. Jayden joins his dad, promoter Steve Sembuya in the USA next year.
In a scheduled six-round middleweight bout, Sweden’s Adam Belaria TKO’d Uganda’s Fredrick Okon in the first round.
Sembuya’s second show in Nairobi will be a Kenya vs Uganda match. This one will be cracker given the boxing rivalry between the two countries.
ENTRY OF UGANDAN PROMOTER ELEVATES NAIROBI AS A MAJOR REGIONAL BOXING HUB
Nairobi’s growing reputation as a hub for regional and international boxing will further be elevated tonight with Ugandan promoter, Steve Sembuya, staging his first card on Kenyan soil at the Charter Hall from 6pm.
The seven-bout card is a testament of the confidence neighbouring promoters have on the Kenyan capital city as a suitable venue for business growth embracing regional cooperation to speed up the development of pro boxing in the region.
While promoter, Steve Sembuya of 12 Sports Rounds Promotions, has given the Kenyan boxers a wide birth in his first promotion, Kenyan boxing fans are broad-minded and not just confined to watching their own boxers in action but will definitely enjoy watching the Ugandan and Tanzanian boxers fiercely trade leather.
Encouragingly, promoter Sembuya has promised to stage a Kenya vs Uganda showdown in his second promotion to rekindle the age-old rivalry between the two East African countries which have dominated boxing from 1950s.
Nairobi has over the years proved a suitable venue for major boxing tournaments because of its proximity and connectivity in Africa not to mention pocket-friendly accommodation.
Nairobi is also considered the heart of East Africa, strategically positioned in the southern-central part of Kenya, near the Equator. This location makes it a major hub for trade, tourism, and transportation in the region.
One of the most prestigious boxing events hosted in Kenya’s capital city is the Golden Cup in 1980 at the KICC.
Over 30 countries converged for a two-week boxing bonanza that whetted the appetite of boxing enthusiasts in the region.
Funded by the United States for countries which boycotted the Moscow Olympics, the tremendous success of the Golden Cup catapulted Nairobi to the zenith of one of the world’s most suitable venues for international boxing competitions.
Dubbed the Mecca of Boxing in Kenya, Nairobi has produced some of the most prominent boxers in Kenya such as John Olulu, Steve Thega, Alex Omwomo, Mwangi Mugo, world champion Steve “Destimo” Muchoki, first black African Olympic gold medallist Robert Wangila, Los Angeles Olympics bronze medallist Ibrahim “Surf” Bilali, Mike “Stone” Irungu, 1973 African Games gold medallist George Oduori, three-time King’s Cup welterweight champion Kamau “Pipino” Wanyoike, ring technician Napunyi Oduori, Ali “Ojukwu” Athumani, Kenneth “Valdez” Ochieng, Chris “Bingwa” Sande, Steve “Dempsey” Mwema George “Foreman” Onyango, Joseph “Nyundo” Akhasamba, David “Harish” Ouma, Abdulrahman Athumani, Suleiman Bilali, Nick Okoth, Edwin Okong’o, Boniface Mogunde, Liz Andiego, Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe, Amina Martha, Christine Ongare to mention but a few.
We laud the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC), under indefatigable chairman Reuben Ndolo, for their professional approach in welcoming the Ugandan promoter. This paves way for more neighbouring promoters to relocate to Nairobi to further enhance its image as the regional boxing hub. Karibu Ssebo Steve Sembuya.
Mauritius and Uganda become the latest African countries to join this vehicle which will transport some boxers to the Olympic Games_
Mauritius has officially joined World Boxing, becoming part of the 17 new national federations whose membership was approved this Thursday by the organization’s executive committee. With these new inductions, World Boxing now has 106 members worldwide.
A total of 11 African countries have now joined World Boxing.
Established in 2023 amid a governance crisis in the International Boxing Association (IBA), World Boxing positions itself as an alternative entity to defend boxing’s presence at the Olympics. In February 2024 it obtained provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee (CIO), which had previously withdrawn its recognition from the IBA due to serious gaps in governance and financial management. The boxing tournament of the Paris Games 2024 was thus organized directly by the CIO. World Boxing will take over the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Mauritius’ adherence to this structure is a significant advancement for the development of the discipline at the national level and guarantees better integration into the Olympic movement. Other new members include several major Olympic boxing nations: Colombia, Austria, Lebanon, Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Macao, Chile, Venezuela, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Ireland.
In a statement, World Boxing highlights that its expansion now allows it to count “the ten most medal-winning nations in Olympic history (excluding Russia and the USSR) as well as ten of the top eleven nations of Paris 2024.”
The first world championships organized by World Boxing will take place next September in Liverpool. Mauritius could take its first steps under this new international banner.
MERCHANTS OF IMPUNITY ALLOW GUINEA’S KO’d BOXER TO FIGHT ON
▪️ If IBA rules on KO were adhered to the Guinean boxer should now be resting.
Guinea’s Mamadou Diallo is still at it in the circus that is the Africa Youth Boxing Championships in Conakry, Guinea.
He was KO’d in his first fight by Tunisia’s Hamza Khazri in the middleweight division but the IBA rule on KO has been ignored by the merchants of impunity.
On Saturday, May 24, the KO’d Diallo is back in the ring against Micock Jade of the Seychelles.
Interestingly, there’s been no official statement from the organisers on why Diallo is still fighting on instead of taking a break as required following a KO.
Uganda's crowd puller Owen Kibira (left) makes his pro debut against Tanzania's Abdullah Yoba in a six-round super welterweight bout on May 24 at Charter Hall, Nairobi
UGANDAN BOXER KIBIRA EXCITED TO MAKE PRO DEBUT IN KENYA’S MECCA OF BOXING
Ugandan boxing sensation and crowd puller Owen “Metrix” Kibira is so excited to make his pro debut in Nairobi, the Mecca of boxing in Kenya.
He’s one of the Ugandan boxers expected to thrill Kenyan fans and set ablaze the Charter Hall in the May 24 seven-bout card being promoted Steve Sembuya of 12 Sports Rounds Promotions.
Kibira (right) in a previous fight with Mutasa Ashraf.
“I’m so excited to fight in Nairobi, it’s a good beautiful city I like it here,” said Kibira during the weigh-in on Friday, May 24 at the Hill Park Hotel in Nairobi.
Kibira makes his pro debut against Tanzania’s Abdallah Yoba in a six-round super welterweight bout that will no doubt be among the highlights.
The 24-year-old promising Ugandan joins the bare-chested game following an impressive performance in the Champions League and for the national team popularly known as the Bombers.
“I’m happy to make my professional debut because it’s a big step in my career,” Kibira told boxersworld.co.ke
“I hope to display a good fight against my opponent from Tanzania ,” said Kibira who is aiming for an inside-the-distance win against Yoba.
“My aim is to knock him out but first I will entertain Nairobi fans with original Uganda boxing,” said a confident Kibira who hails from Wakiso District in Uganda.
Kibira ventured into boxing in 2017 at the Kyengera Boxing Club under coach Hajji Juma Nsubuga.
He made his international debut at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
At the 2022 Africa Championships in Maputo and the 2024 Africa Games in Accra, Ghana, he bowed out in the quarter-finals and won silver in the Kilimanjaro Championships in Tanzania.
Kibira was on fire in the Uganda Champions League, becoming a two-weight division champion in the welterweight and light-middleweight.
Why has has he decided to turn professional?
“I decided to turn pro to become a world champion and earn money in boxing.”
“My aim in pro boxing is to become one of the greatest pound for pound boxers,” said the quietly spoken but ruthless Kibira whose fifth round KO win over rival Nerrick Tumusiime in Season Three final of the Uganda Champions League remains one of his most memorable victories.
He staggered Tumusiime with a stunning left hook to the jaw and followed it up with a right to the head that floored Tumusiime at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo.
Ugandan US-based promoter Steve Sembuya is laughing from ear to ear after outwitting his detractors in Uganda to relocate to Kenya.
Uganda’s Henry Kasujja in black short and his Tanzanian opponent Mussa Shuza during the weigh-in at Hill Park Hotel.
And tomorrow, May 24, Sembuya will stage his first ever pro card on Kenyan soil to announce his big arrival and has promised to light up the capital city Nairobi.
“I’m so excited and very happy finally I’ll stage my fights without interference from idlers in Kampala,” said Sembuya, adding:”Kenya is now my home, I appeal to other promoters in Uganda to join me in Kenya, the welcome has been fantastic.”
Sembuya shifted to Nairobi following what he described as oppressive laws introduced to frustrate promoters.
Kasujja (left) and Shuza
The new National Sports Act gave Uganda Boxing Federation the powers to manage pro boxing also.
“We can’t operate under an amateur body, it doesn’t make sense at all, we have been pushed out of business by our own government,” said Sembuya.
“Instead of assisting us get sponsors, and improve on the low standards in amateur boxing, they’re focusing on us, we’re in business.”
Sembuya’s seven-bout card will take place at Nairobi’s Charter Hall from 6pm. Charges are Sh500, Sh1,500 and Sh3000.
Uganda’s Owen Kibira (left) will make his international debut against Tanzania’s Abdallah Yoba.
The main fight is between 32-year-old Henry Kasujja, a former butcher, who meets Tanzania’s Mussa Shuza (5-7-0, 2 KOs) in a 10-round non-title welterweight encounter.
Kasujja (11-1-1, 4 KOs), son of a former IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream” Ouma, was originally scheduled to meet Malawi’s Charles Misanjo who withdrew and replaced by the Tanzanian who looked scared even before stepping into the ring.
Kasujja said he will slaughter Shuza predicting he will not go past the second round.
“Let him be prepared for heavy punishment and pain allover his body,” said Kasujja.
During the weigh-in on Friday, May 23, at the Hill Park Hotel, Shuza remained non-committal on his prospects.
“I’m here to fight, and will give my best,” said the subdued 35-year-old Tanzanian boxer from Tanga.
“I’ve been preparing well as a pro boxer, I’m okay.”
GUINEA’S KO’d BOXER MAMADOU DIALLO IN ACTION AGAIN TODAY
Despite being KO’d by Tunisia’s Hamza Khazri, Guinea’s middleweight Mamadou Diallo is back in action again today in the ongoing circus that is the Africa Youth Boxing Championships in Conakry, Guinea.
Merchants of impunity allowed the Guinean boxer to continue appearing in the tournament which is a gross violation of IBA’s rule on KO.
Diallo should not be allowed into the ring for his fight against South Africa’s Sangoni Mighty.
IBA rules clearly state once a boxer is KO’d he or she must rest for a specific period as recommended by the doctor.
Now suppose he’s KO’d again what happens next? The organisers are dangerously exposing the young boxer.
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s three female boxers who had no opponents after the draw are in the ring today against hand-picked unregistered boxers from a local club in Guinea.
Lightweight Molka Khelifi meets Fatoumata Camara, welterweight Haddaji Alma battles Rainatou Diallo and flyweight Khorchfi Chema fights Mariama Keita.
Taking into account the three Guinean boxers were not in the entry check list, it’s baffling whether they’re involved in friendly bouts or the actual competition itself.
IBA is already aware about the anomalies in the Guinea event. Whether they will use the big stick remains to be seen.
Uganda’s sole representative in Guinea, bantamweight Mwenda Joshua is also in action today against Libya’s Kesher Mohamed.
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