Uganda boxing legend and former IBF 154-pound world champion Kassim Ouma is set to face Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri on December 26.
The bout, which will appropriately take place on “Boxing Day.”
Ouma, who is just weeks away from his 44th birthday, is set to take place in Uganda, marking the first time Ouma has fought there since he stopped Muhamad Kayongo back in 1999.
Ouma was one of Africa’s finest fighters of the 21st century. He captured the IBF world junior middleweight title in October 2004, when he outpointed Verno Phillips in Las Vegas. Ouma followed up that victory with an impressive unanimous decision win over dangerous Ghanaian Kofi Jantuah in January 2005.
Although Ouma would lose his title later that year, he remained a top contender afterward and, even at an advanced age, gave former middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin a great battle in 2011.
Ouma (29-18-1, 18 KOs) hasn’t enjoyed much success in recent years. He has lost a whopping nine in a row and 10 of his last 11. This does not bode well for his upcoming bout against Okwiri (7-1-1, 6 KOs), himself a 36-year-old boxer coming off a seventh-round stoppage loss to Emmany Kalombo in June.
These two combatants will be fighting for their careers when they square off.
Addressing the press in Kampala on Wednesday, Simon Katongole, the Vice President Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC), revealed that the match has been approved.
“I want to urge the public to come and support their own. The boxers have time to practice because they have to give the public a good show,” Katongole said.
Steven Seguya, promoter of the event, expressed excitement at bringing this event home.
“We want Kassim to inspire other fellow boxers. Champions will be playing with fellow champions and it’s an event you have not seen anywhere. It’s the first time Kassim is playing in Africa and we are blessed that he will come to Uganda. This is the fourth fight that we are having this year and this time different countries are participating,” Seguya said.
Seguya revealed that musicians King Saha and Winnie Nwagi will headline the performances on Boxing Day.
Other matches scheduled to take place on that day are: Isaac Sebufu versus Seguya Mubarak, Kamada Ntege Vs Meddie Bukenya, Kasuja Henry Vs Robert Kamya and David Semuju Vs Salehe Mukaleka among others.
