Ugandan boxers Erina Namutebi, Innocent Amoko, and Owen Kibira could not go past the quarter-final stage of the ongoing African Games in Ghana after defeats on Tuesday at the Bokum boxing arena.
Amoko, in his second international fight, entered the battle against Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka as an underdog but put up a very courageous performance that lured the crowds. The UPDF boxer won the first round on split descision before losing the second flat. The third was tight, but the final results were 4-1 in favour of the experienced 28 year old Algerian who won on split point decision. The audience was not satisfied with the results, but their booing could change nothing.
A hard-hitting moko was the first opponent to go all three rounds against Jugurtha, who had stopped the previous opponents.
“He could not stop me despite being the underdog. He survived. Many lesssons picked on my first international assignment and will come back stronger,” noted Amoko.
Erina Namutebi was second best to Cynthia Ogunsemilore. The 2024 Olympics bound Nigerian won by unanimous decision after a dominant display. Namutebi, bronze medalist from last year’s African championship, changed weight from light middle to light weight after losing weight on arrival in Ghana.
The last Ugandan fighter on the day was Owen Kibira, who also lost 5-2 against Romdhani Zakaria in welter weight after fight review. Kibira, who was facing a more average opponent on the day compared, started slow against an aggressive and more competitive opponent, thereby losing both the opening rounds with no contestation. He, however, turned a lion with a spirited performance in the third round. The Tunisian was more tactical in this final round with increased mobility, intentional fouls that invited the referee often, thereby foiling Kibira’s tempo and aggression.
Uganda returns to action this Wednesday with semi-finalists Innocent Tumusiime and Kasim Murungi seeking tickets to the final.
Captain Muzamir Semuddu is the other Ugandan boxer in the semi-finals.
