BY JUMA ALI
National team boxer Jonathan Kyobe survived an early scare to see off prospective Eliphaz Mbazira as sting boxing champions league came to end with week 7 on Saturday, at TLC, Kamwokya.
It was the first fight for Kyobe this season 2 having missed earlier schedules due to fever,leading to lose his place at the bomber’s squad to Cameron.Kyobe was due to fight a S4 student at City High and 2022 National Open best boxer Kasim Murungi during week 5 but could not make it due to fever which gave Murungi a visa to book for his bombers place at the ongoing African boxing championship in Maputo, Cameron where he lost on his debut on the ongoing competition.
During the feather weight main fight fifth round on Saturday,saw Kyobe had to dig deep for the bloody victory.The lukanga boxing hard puncher was at the recieving end in the opening two rounds, thanks to Mbaziira’s powerful body shots, counter hooks and consistent jabbing which kept Kyobe busy during the day. However, the S3 student from St Jonah SS, Namugongo lost steam on top of disadvantaging himself when he switched to fight from the outside in the third round which gave a chance for Kyobe to return on the fight.
Kyobe returned big and tough to win the third and fourth round while the fifth round which was the decisive was close but Mbaziira had lost gas and stamina to turn defensive which gave Kyobe a chance to score more points.
At the end, all the five judges agreed the victory to former 2022 African boxing championship bronze medalist.
“I congratulate my opponent [Kyobe] for his victory but this is not the end, i will go back to gym and correct my mistakes and return big” states, disappointed Mbaziira, who attributed his loss to limited preparation time due to his tight school schedules.
For Kyobe, who was the king of feather weight last year, his win was a warning signal to Kasim Murungi, who thinks of ruling feather weight category.
“I had a game plan of letting him fight for the first two rounds because i knew he would lose steam and stamina and it’s what happened. However, he’s a good competitor with extra ordinary power”,acknowledged hard puncher, Kyobe.
This was Kyobe’s first fight while Mbaziira’s second fight and in his first fight, he stopped experienced Derrick Mubiru.
All the 15 bouts were held with action broad cast live on NBS Sport with Martin Kaddu on the mic.
Other fights of the day saw, number two in welter weight Kibira Owen forced the refree to stop the fight in third round against Muhammad Kawooya Ali, Jonathan Waswa won Moses Nasasira by 4:1, Julius Lukwago won Mwenda Joshua by 4:1, Shamdin Lubega won Tony Mutebi by 3:2, Kisakye Roy won Salmah Ibrahim by 3:2, Shafick Ariatamba won Jonathan Waswa by 4:1, Charles Sekyanzi won Baker Sewanyana by 5:0, Badru Kawooya won Frank Mawanda by 5:0, Shakira Nantongo won Mariam Sultan by 5:0, Adriko Jimmy won Julius Kaddu by 4:1.
