Kampala.Previously unheard of kickboxing got enviable column inches in the press and media coverage like never before thanks to one man – Moses Golola of Uganda.Kicboxing’s stock was raised so high, 2011 will forever be remembered as the year when the little known sport became one of the latest fads in town.

Motor-mouth Golola won over a large fan-base because of his comical talk and showy style as witnessed when he fought South Sudanese champion Abdul Qadir Rahim for the vacant 75kg African Kickboxing title.

Golola earned a second round knockout over Qadir to take the title but it had been an anti-climax for many of the fans as Golola had barely kicked nor thrown a worthy punch.The 31-year-old’s success by attracting the first-ever international fight in Uganda saw other fighters like Malik ‘The Hit Man’ Kaliisa emerge asking Uganda Kickboxing Federation (UKBF) for a match-up against the new pin-up boy Golola.

UKBF did not guarantee Kaliisa’s wish but instead got him a quick fix in 2008 Uspa Kickboxer of the Year Titus ‘Hard Rock’ Tugume.It was a total mismatch as Tugume hit the living daylights out of a sorry Kaliisa, who looked clueless and evoked a lot of sympathy from his promoter Sylvia ‘Don Queeen’ Owori.

There was no hefty cash prize for Tugume, who has celebrating his 10th anniversary in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), but at least there was a rank promotion.

UPDF Chief of Education and Culture Col. Phinehas Katirima recommended Tugume to the rank of senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Tugume’s pleas to challenge Golola for the African title  fell on deaf ears with the latter insisting that he would only fight a European.

Golola’s manager Abbey Rafsanjan and promoter Patrick Kanyomozi granted their fighter his wish when they booked Hungarian Andras Nagy for a vacant Intercontinental fight on December 9.

The fight would be a historic moment for the sport in Uganda and Golola was not going to play second fiddle on the looming massive night.The Ugandan stormed Kabale for intensive and high-altitude preparations after his Thailand stint had been called off due to civil strife and flooding there.

Amid the hard work, Golola found time for banter and comics infront of cameras and it did well to promote the fight.After 20 days in camp, Golola returned threatening to turn Nagy’s skin to black and predicting a third round knockout. (NMG)

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