Ugandan Defends Boxing Crown

[International: Sports]

Ugandan Commonwealth featherweight champion Jackson “Action” Asiku will defend his title on June 20, 2008 against Ghanaian Osumanu Akaba alias “Golden Boy,” at York Hall, Bethnal Green London.

Osumanu knows there is a mountain to scale if he wants to capture the Commonwealth crown. Asiku an all action featherweight with detonators in either hand first captured the belt in 2005.

Asiku, 29, has held onto the Commonwealth title since he assumed it in 2005, when he first stopped the Englishman Marc Callaghan in the first round and broke into the limelight of UK boxing scene at Gorebrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England.

The purse bid which were submitted on January 28, 2008, to Cardiff-based Commonwealth head office, were opened on Wednesday, March 12. A couple of promoters had submitted the bid, but Promoter Barry Hearn of England emerged the successful purse bidder above others.

Among the bidders were former Asiku managers now with Brave Heart. Asiku once destroyed the former British featherweight champion Jamie McKeever in 1:55 seconds in June 2006.

This successful title defense prompted many boxing aficionado to claim that Asiku is the best African fighter to hit the world stage since the heydays of legendary Ghanaian Azumah Nelson.

Akaba is managed by Danny Lutaaya and Sam Nortey. “These are great world top fighters and I believe it’s going to be a thriller, that’s only what I can about this fight,” Lutaaya added.

Uganda has had some Commonwealth champs who went on to shine as professionals.

Ayub Kalule won the middleweight title, beating Al Koravou of Fiji in 1978 in Denmark. Kalule went on to win a WBA light middleweight title. Kalule is the only Ugandan to win a WBA title.

Another classy boxer, Franco Wanyama, beat Tony Booth of England in 1994, before he lost the title to Nigeria’s Chris Okoh in one of the greatest fight ever witnessed in cruiser weight in 1995.

Justin “The Destroyer” Juuko inscribed his name on the title in 1995 in the featherweight category after beating Canadian boxer Tony Pep. Juuko is the only Ugandan who has managed to make three successful defenses.

Asiku, now with 25 fights, has won 22, twelve of which are by Kos; he’s lost three with no ties. His performances have put him top onto the UK Pay-per-View TV Channel, Sky sports.

Osumanu, with 13 fights, has 10 wins, one draw and two losses, one to South African and current WBC International champion Jeffrey Mathebura; his other loss is to a fellow countryman, Ghana’s featherweight Champion and Commonwealth challenger Abdul Mormer.

[email protected]

“Speaking Truth To Power.”