BY JUMA ALI
The former three time national open champion, Festus Omondi credits Uganda boxing federation president Moses Muhangi for promoting amateur boxing especially champions league.
Boxing now attract a lot of sponsorships than ever before and this has been achieved because of Mr. Muhangi’s good marketing ability but still lacks a good organization team.
Festus, went on to say that every big tournament in the whole world, the ring must have two corners which are named red and blue and are identified by labelling red and blue colour on the corner side while as the neutral corners labelled with white strips but during the finals of the boxing champions league, this was not seen at all and only a fan can identify the blue or red corner by boxer’s gloves which was a shame to a big tournament like that.
Festus, who is based in Hong Kong went on to predict about the bombers chances of qualifying for Olympics games where he gave them 3% out of 10% in the remaining two qualifying tournaments, this is because i know what it takes for a boxer to qualify for Olympics, it’s very hard to qualify in World qualifiers because i personally (Festus) failed three times to qualify and the last time, i got bronze but still failed to qualify.
Festus, said that Uganda has good talented boxers who needs good administration for better achievement.
Festus, who grew up in ghettos of Namuwongo, was a national open champion in three different weights, light fly, fly and bantam decided to join the Rwandese boxing national team in 2003 due to discrimination in selecting national team in Uganda where he got gold in Kings cup which was held in Uganda, also got gold in zone 4 which was held in Kigali,Rwanda and bronze in African Senior boxing championship which was held in Cameroon.
Festus, eyes Suleiman Segawa as the next Ugandan boxer to win a World title after Kassim ‘Dream’ Ouma if he keeps on with his performance.
Festus, started his boxing career at Kololo high school while still a student at Kiwuliriza primary school and later joined lukanga boxing club and he is one of the few south pole, Uganda have produced, and during his professional career, he had 12 fights,with 8 wins and 4 defeats and as per now, is a professional/instructor in def boxing promotion based in Hong Kong.
