Record turnout as National Intermediates Boxing Championship gets underway

More than 700 boxers are competing in this year’s National Intermediates Boxing Championship, currently underway at TLC Arena in Kamwokya.

The event, which officially began on 22 March, will climax on Saturday 28 March at the same venue.

Unlike previous editions, this year’s championship will also accommodate national team (Bombers) trials on the final day as the team prepares for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

The trials will feature four bouts, headlined by a welterweight contest between Farahat “The Nightmare” Manirola and Nuhu “Muzaata” Batte, also known as Batteso. Another featured bout is a lightweight clash between budding prodigies Ibrahim Kemis and Shafic Nsasira.

By yesterday evening, Lubya-based COBAP Boxing Club was still tussling with rivals Lukanga Boxing Club, the latter having dominated the championship for the past six years.

Uganda Boxing Publicity Secretary Martin Kaddu expressed confidence that the large number of participants in this year’s edition reflects the sport’s spread across the country.

“We used to see the National Open Championship as more vibrant than the rest of the activities on the UBF calendar. This is no longer the case, as we are seeing a paradigm shift to other championships like this one. It is a sign that the sport has grown from the Central region to all over the country,” Kaddu said.

A total of 65 clubs have participated in this year’s National Intermediates Championship.