Clash of egos as Golola, Tugume rematch nears

Tugume (L) turned up with loads of medals and belts as Golola (with microphone) taunted him at yesterday’s press conference. PHOTO BY ELVIS SENONO

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Kickboxing. A press conference organised ahead of the duo’s fight delayed by an hour as the two camps bickered over who should take their seats first

Kampala.

The feeling in kick-boxer Titus Tugume’s camp is that their fighter is superior to Moses Golola despite him being knocked out inside 15 seconds of their fight back in September 2013.

On the other side, Golola’s team also feel they are a step ahead of Team Tugume as the two fighters prepare for a rematch due Sunday at Lugogo. Yesterday, the clash of egos between the two camps came to the fore during a press conference in Gaba, Tugume’s area of residence. The bone of contention this time centered around who should arrive first for the press conference with Tugume’s camp insisting their fighter be allowed to time to make a procession to the venue as his opponent waited.

“If Golola has been allowed to greet his fans why then should our fighter not be allowed to greet his fans,” one unidentified member of Tugume’s team yelled at the fight promoter Suudi Lukwago.

It took the intervention of kickboxing federation president, Hassan Ssekirime, to calm down the two parties for the press conference initially scheduled at midday to finally take off an hour later.

“I will show the world on Sunday that I am the better fighter,” Tugume said, drawing a big applause from the crowd at the function organized to announce betting firm Betway as the fight co-sponsors.
Golola, known for his humorous personality and flamboyant showmanship, did not disappoint as he seized the opportunity to taunt his rival about the pair’s initial fight. “I hope he lasts longer this time,” Golola joked of the seven-round rematch that will be fought under the low-kick style. Tickets for the fight are at Shs20,000 and Shs50,000.