Bombers begin training for Aiba World Boxing Championships
African gold medalist Muzamir Kakande pulling off his trademark King Kong stunt. PHOTO BY ABDUL-NASSER SSEMUGABI
Kampala.
The Bombers, Uganda’s national boxing team, entered training for the Aiba World Boxing Championships which begin August 25 in Hamburg, Germany.
Welterweight Muzamir Kakande (above) and super heavy David Ayiti attended the first session on Tuesday morning at Fit 4 Life gym at Lugogo. Bantamweight Geoffrey Kaketo joined them later.
Coach Patrick Lihanda was joined by Oscar Binka of UPDF and the three boxers, coincidentally come from the same club.
The three boxers qualified for the world event by reaching the semi-finals of the African Confederation Boxing Championship in Brazzaville, Congo in June. Six of their opponents had failed the test.
The trio progressed to the finals where Kakande won a gold medal by defeating Mauritian Merven Clair while Ayiti and Kaketo settled for silver after losing to Cameroonian Arsene Fokou Fosso and Mauritian Jean Jordy Vadamootoo respectively.
That performance in Africa’s most prestigious amateur boxing tournament lifted Uganda to fifth place in Africa behind Cameroon (first), Algeria (second) Morocco (third) and Namibia (fourth).
Kakande had resumed his personal training at Kalinabiri Boxing Club in Bwaise, a week after his return from Brazzaville. Thanks to that personal initiative, the Uspa boxer of June said he feels improvement in movement. “I’m faster now,” he said.
