Golola knocks out Semata, another rematch on card
Take that one. Golola’s (R) punching prowess was obvious and largely kept Semata at bay. PHOTO BY Ismail Kezaala.
Renowned kickboxer Moses Golola ‘of Uganda’ has defeated at least every Ugandan opponent he has faced.
This after he knocked out his Thai-based nemesis Umar Semata in their rematch at Freedom City Sunday morning.
Semata, aka ‘the Pain,’ was the outright victor in the first duel last October and became the first Ugandan to defeat Golola. But Golola put out all sorts of excuses, which provoked the rematch.
And as it turned out yesterday, Golola, the only man who says can pocket while naked, studied his weaknesses and Semata’s strengths. But Semata, Uganda’s finest, and most gifted kickboxer, dismissed Golola’s warnings as merely verbal. Yesterday’s action and result showed that. Semata retired just a minute into the third round, with a bleeding nose and bruised upper lip.
Do what you do best
Being the proverbial old dog, Golola wasted no resources on improving his inferior kicks. Rather, he strengthened his strength—his punches.
In his corner, was the maverick boxing trainer Sero Dez, brother to Nevada Boxing Hall of Famer Cornelius Boza-Edwards and 2018 Commonwealth boxer David Semujju.
Semata’s corner had an Asian colleague, kickboxer Alex Matsiko and Golola’s victim Abu Kikenwa. Action time, Dez’s impact was evident as Golola threw solid, well calculated punches, not his usual lunges that often leave him exposed. He was focused and in control. He never attempted to kick throughout the first two rounds.
Semata wanted to match Golola’s boxing prowess and balanced it with some kicks that sent Golola to the ropes. He edged the first round but both shared the fans’ fervour at separate moments.
In the second round, Golola unleashed more solid punches and when Semata lifted a kick, he caught him with a heavy left hook that sent him to the canvas. Semata’s signs of decline became evident.
Golola begun the third equally strong, rapid shots pinning Semata to the ropes near his blue corner. He even wrestled him to his knees and knocked him with a left knee.
Could that be a foul that would have disqualified Golola? “Whatever it was, that wouldn’t stop Semata, a Muay Thai fighter,” said Coach Sadat Yiga, who claims to know both fighters well, “He had already fallen in Golola’s trap by attempting to match him in punching. He couldn’t finish the five rounds.” Semata sought refuge on the ropes, squatted, as Golola danced to David Lutalo’s ssente, waving his red gloves. For about five minutes, Semata kept us waiting.
In his corner, he shook his head, in total disbelief. Did his team want him to fight on? He kept shaking his head.
By 12:49am, gloves went off. Semata bleeding, breathing heavily. Golola dancing before he was announced winner two minutes later.
Another rematch
Golola regained his bragging rights though his victory speech wasn’t lyrical. But Semata, who had vowed to knock out him in just one round, wants a rematch: “I could still fight but the man knocked me when I was down, that’s unacceptable.
I want a rematch.” Semata’s promoter Balaam Barugahare confirmed it.
