Juuko gives Mayweather slight edge over Manny

Mayweather (R) has received the backing of Uganda’s Juuko.

What you need to know:

Born in Masaka, Juuko rose through the ranks to become one of Uganda’s best boxers of his generation. He won a light flyweight gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand before clinching the World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherweight title

Boxing.

Ugandan boxer Juuko fought Mayweather as a late substitute in 1999 and worked with Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roch.

KAMPALA. The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight has got everyone talking. Even those without a clue on boxing have something to say about the fight due Sunday morning (Saturday night in Las Vegas). It’s the talk of the town.
One Ugandan that deserves all the attention while discussing Mayweather-Pacquiao is Justin Juuko. The Ugandan Destroyer knows both boxers too well.

In 1999, while at the peak of his powers, Juuko fought American Mayweather but lost in the ninth round. He also recently posted pictures of himself posing with Pacauiao on Facebook.

“They are both my friends,” Juuko recently told Daily Monitor. “It’s very hard for me to pick someone to support. I want the best boxer on the night to win,” added the 42-year-old Juuko.

While he won’t be openly backing any camp on Sunday morning, the 1990 Commonwealth gold medallist feels the unbeaten Mayweather has a slight advantage.

“It’s an even fight,” Juuko said, “But Floyd has an advantage because he is undefeated and knows how to control fights. And for me, the person who controls the pace of the fight will win. It’s that simple.”

Pacquiao is famed for his aggressive punching style while Mayweather tends to be calm in the ring and score points while defending smartly.
“Styles make fights. Manny’s style is very problematic and awkward. This makes him a very dangerous opponent and Floyd must be aware of that,” Juuko added before dismissing recent local media reports that he is currently sparring with Pacquiao.

“I sparred with Pacquiao some years ago. I think I had about 60 rounds with him. However, I still meet him because he at times trains at Wilcard Gym in Hollywood. I work in the same gym, training some boxers but Manny uses the private wing,” he revealed. “Remember Freddie Roch (Pacquiao’s trainer) used to train me when I was still competing.”

Born in Masaka, Juuko rose through the ranks to become one of Uganda’s best boxers of his generation. He won a light flyweight gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand before clinching the World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherweight title.

He, however, still looks back at his Mayweather clash with some level of regret.
“You know I only had four days to prepare for that fight. I had to lose several kilos to make the weight and that affected my performance. After losing, I asked for a rematch but never got it. If I had secured it, we wouldn’t be talking about Mayweather-Pacquiao now.”
Juuko is now trying to make ends meet as a full time trainer.