Gold Medal Match: Shs54m for grabs as Wasswa Ssali, Erina Namutebi get ready to rumble

Wasswa Ssali (in blue) will battle for gold against South Africa's Sogwayi Sanele. Kenya Boxing Arena

BOXING Gold Medal Match: Shs54m for grabs as Wasswa Ssali, Erina Namutebi get ready to rumble

Moses King 11:10 - 05.08.2023

Uganda's Wasswa Ssali and Erina Namutebi will battle for gold in the Africa Elite Men's and Women's Boxing Championships grand finale on August 5 in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde.

Seventeen boxers represented Uganda in Cameroon; at least seven will return with medals, with five settling for bronze. Wasswa and Namutebi could upgrade to silver or gold depending on their performance in the finale.

Wasswa faces South Africa's Sogwayi Sanele in the lightweight category finale, while Namutebi will battle it out with Chahib Hichrak of Algeria in the light welterweight grand finale.

Lukanga Boxing Club pugilist Wasswa has defeated three opponents advancing from the preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals.

He outpointed Irungu Maina of Kenya in the round of 16 and defeated Burkina Faso boxer Naba Ousmane to qualify for the semifinals. He then added DRC's Idris Kitangila to his rich list of victims.

Wasswa Ssali (in yellow) at the official weighing-in ceremony before the grand finale, August, 5 in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Wasswa and Namutebi will either walk away with a gold (Shs54m cash prize) or a silver medal (Shs36m).

UPDF boxer Namutebi dominated proceedings in the semifinal bout as she defeated Mozambique's Mulongo Sandra in Referee Stops Contest.

The five boxers who won bronze include Solomon Geko (Heavyweight), Erinah Namutebi (light welterweight),  Nakalema Emily (welterweight), Ronald Okello (middleweight) and Ukasha Matovu (welterweight).

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