From a Welterweight to Light Middleweight Champion is how much difference a year can make, taking in Kibira ‘Matrix’ Owen as the perfect example.
Kibira has managed to bag two Uganda Boxing Champions League Belts in consecutive seasons, with the second(season two) enabling him to take home a welterweight belt.
The third (season three) waved goodbye to him with another in the Light Middleweight division but in a more contested group that saw him battle it out with young blood.
Owen clinched his second belt after putting together consistent performances that saw him attain invincible status.
To attain this, the Lukanga/ Kyengera boxer has to crown his season with a strategic and revenge-filled performance against the reigning National Open Champion, Nerrick ’Bulabe’ Tumusiime.
“I had the pain in me and I had to use it in the right way,” Kibira after the fight.
To be noticed, the Kololo High student and boxer Tumusiime beat Kibira in the 2024 National Open Final as the Lukanga man was gaining his Light Middleweight status.
Into the bout, both boxers had a fair share of the proceedings with Kibira owning the First round and taking his spending the next two dodging Nerrick’s punches allowing him to score better.
Coming into the Fourth, both boxers evenly scored leaving the Fifth to decide with Nerrick in the lead however Kibira paid close attention to detail coming back to seal it in beast mode thus winning by a Knockout.
Other bouts on the day saw Batte Nuhu just like Kibira maintain his season’s unbeaten status with a victory over COBAP teammate and Bombers Captain Ukasha Matovu with a split 4-3 win
This came after a Corporate Boxing fight that saw Rickman beat Grenade with a 4-1 split result.
Mutajjazi Boxing Club duo Kemis Ibrahim and Kimuli Henry all drowned in losses. Kemis lost to Adriko Jimmy (KCCA BC) 4:1 split in the Elite 60Kgs while Kimuli saw his Featherweight 57 kgs contest against Kassim Mulungi stopped in Round 3.
Kimera Moses (Cobap BC) also stopped Matovu Shafick by RSC round 5 in the Junior 51Kgs.
Kayemba Imran (Lukanga BC) beat Mutwalib Mahad (Kololo BC) by 5:0 unanimous in the Junior 46Kgs.
Hussein Mulo (Namungoona BC) strategically won against Balyegesa Benon (Cobap BC) by 5:0 unanimous Elite 54Kgs
In the women’s category, Erina Namutebi (UPDF) secured her maiden belt, taking it away from opponent Emily Nakalema who was disqualified after multiple fouls.
In the Elite 52Kgs, Muduwa Brenda (Cobap BC) won her first bout against Nabbanja Christine (UPDF BC) by 5:0 unanimous.
All boxers that topped the different weight categories were awarded belts on the day.
The coming season of the Champions League will be boxed off in March 2025.
