Nearly 3 years later, Olympians return to the ring as pros

Fighter. David Ssemuju (in red) lands a heavy punch on the face of Yusuf Nkobeza during the national trials at Lugogo in the past. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE.

What you need to know:

  • The former Bombers captain will take on debutant Henry Kasujja in the main event, a middleweight six-rounder. “Expect the best of Shadir.”

For years Musa Shadir Bwogi and David Ssemuju were celebrities at MTN Arena-Lugogo, where they showcased their boxing talents, against a catalogue of opponents.

In fact, after sweeping every adversary aside, they had to face each other. Not once. 
But twice. 

The Arena was home, as Shadir confessed. But the last time the two entered this venue as fighters was January 5, 2020, at the finals of the National Olympic Trials.

Tomorrow, two and half years later, Shadir and Ssemuju, who represented Uganda at the Tokyo Olympics last year, return to their favourite Arena, eager to win their second bouts as professionals.

After falling out with the amateur federation about contracts for the inaugural Champions League, Shadir, Ssemuju and Catherine Nanziri, Uganda’s first female boxing Olympian, made their professional debuts on  April 1 at the Phillip Omondi Stadium about 500m away from the Arena, under 12 Sports Rounds Promotions

Ugandan boxer Shadir Musa Bwogi. 

Having won their respective fights by unanimous decisions, the pair will showcase their might in a familiar territory.

“Honestly, I have been missing the arena and now that the opportunity has come, I must do my best to give our fans what they have been missing,” Shadir told Daily Monitor.

The former Bombers captain will take on debutant Henry Kasujja in the main event, a middleweight six-rounder. “Expect the best of Shadir.”

In the co-main event Ssemuju faces Samali Ntambi in a super welterweight six-round contest. 
Other potentially thrilling encounters will involve East and Central Africa champion John Serunjogi against Ignatius ‘The Lion’ Onyango in a super middleweight 10-rounder; Isaac Ssebuufu vs Farahat Manilola in the Light-welterweight four-rounder and 5. Swalik Kisitu against Ibra Mubiru in a welterweight four-rounder.