By 
Happiness, Relief and Disappointment were the feelings sighted on the faces of many as the Uganda Boxing Champions League season 3 climaxed on Boxing day (26th December 2024) at the UMA show grounds – Main Hall.
Crowd at the UMA Show grounds – Main Hall.
Headlined by a Corporate fight the evening saw Ebango hit maker Rickman box the hell out of Grenade Official in a three round bout with a belt there for the taking.
Rickman made an early ring entrance accompanied with some music with extreme support from his fans in the crowd plus fellow music artistes, family and friends in the VIP section.
Minutes later, Grenade too made his ring entrance followed with a number of comical dances with intent of showing his opponent how he was going to wipe him an act that was enjoyed by his fans in the Hall.
However when the action began the difference could be clearly seen from the word GO that one was a step ahead in the game and that was Rickman because of the speed and skill he exhibited.
Rickman stretching out hand to punch Grenade.
One the other side, Grenade threw some punches too but looked so tired after the second round that he couldn’t thus only waiting for the final bell ring which came in time to save him from the determined Rickman.
After the third round, Rickman was announced winner of the bout with a 4-1 split result and belt without surprise and this sent Grenade to an early ring exit from the wrong ring side despite the late entrance.
In another entertaining bout on the Final day, Kibira “Matrix” Owen (Lukanga BC) was nothing short of the happiness feel as he knocked out (KO) Nerrick “Bulabe” Tumusiime (Kololo High BC) in Round Five to round up his unbelievable season.
With two in the season, Serugo Bashir was the first to fall victim of Kibira’s KO, however none has completed a bout against him this season with Mutaasa Ashraf being stopped in Round three in Week 9’s main fight.
Into the bout, Kibira started well in round one throwing couple of rapid punches to Nerrick but all this turned around in the second and third when the Kololo High Boxer came back on top to lead the tie.
However with a balanced fourth round, only a KO was left for Matrix in order to grab a win and he delivered after starting the Fifth round with speed and urgency which was accompanied by Power to throw Nerrick to the ground.
This meant that Kibira managed to complete his revenge in style having lost to Nerrick in the National Open Finals this year after the Lukanga Boxer upgraded his weight category from Welterweight to Light middleweight.
And notably, this was Kibira’s second consecutive belt in the Champions League having secured the Welterweight category belt Last year (season two) over Matovu Ukasha.
For Matovu Ukasha, known as Lee failed to capitalize on the opportunity in front of him when he lost to fellow COBAP boxer Nuhu Batte who attained his first belt on maiden Elite sight.
Nuhu Batte holding onto his belt.
Despite being coached by the same gentleman Lola Kalyango, Batte managed to edge the business end with a 4-3 split result something that meant he had gone through season three unbeaten.
Batte Landing a punch on Ukasha’s head.
Later on in the day, a stage was set for the main event that pulled a huge crowd boxed off with a number of fights which included the Ladies bouts most notably one which had Champions League giants Erina Namutebi and Emily Nakalema.
Erina Namutebi and Emily Nakalema in action.
In this Elite 63kgs contest, Katwe Boxing Club’s Nakalema was disqualified after being warned more than twice against fouls on her opponent Namutebi of UPDF in Round an action that helped her secure her first ever Champions League belt.
Going forward still the Ladies, COBAP’s Brenda Muduwa managed to win her first season’s win against Nabbanja Christine of UPDF with 5-0 unanimous decision in the Elite 52kgs category.
In the boy’s side, It was no t a good day for the gentlemen from Kibuli as both Kimuli Henry and Kemis Ibrahim lost their respective much anticipated bouts despite their input verbally and physically.
The Kibuli darling Kemis from Mutajjazi was beaten by KCCA’s Adriko Jimmy who was filled with Power for a 4-1 split victory in the Light weight Elite 60kgs.
Adriko Jimmy in action with Kemis Ibrahim
Whereas for Kimuli, he fell to Kassim Mulungi who defended his Feather weight 57kgs belt after their bout was stopped by the Referee in Round Two with visible hurt and acceptance by the Kibuli boxer.
Kassim Mulungi punching Henry Kimuli
Hussein Mulo (Namungoona Boxing Club) put up a splendid skilled performance to win against Benon Balyegesa of COBAP 5-0 unanimous in the Bantam weight 54kgs.
Some of the winners include;
Looking back, the day started off with an Annual General Meeting (AGM) where a lot was discussed including the competitions, financial state of the Federation and solutions how they can better what didn’t go right.
Season Four of the Uganda Boxing Champions League will be boxed off in March 2025 after the Intermediate Championships and National Open.
