Boxing News of Wednesday, 5 September 2001

Source: GNA

Ugandan "Bomber" says would kayo Agbeko in round six

Mike "Bomber" Kizza, East and Central Africa Super Bantamweight champion who flew into the country from his Ugandan home-based on Sunday has predicted a sixth-round knockout over Ghanaian Joseph Agbeko in their high-profile vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Bantamweight Championship bout on Friday, at the Kanashie Sports Complex.

"The more Agbeko tries to travel the full 12 round, the more he would get punished", Kizza told the GNA sports in an interview at the Shangri-La hotel in Accra on Monday.

"I'm here to win the biggest fight in my 6-year carrier, I expect nothing but a win on Friday", the stocky 25-year old Ugandan boxer said.

Kizza who has an impressive record of 16-15-1 and eight by way of knockouts, said he has watched the Ghanaian boxer once, on Television back in Ugandan and said he was very much impressed.

He told the GNA however, that with his trump card of power punching and the ability to endure punishment, "there is no way Agbeko can survive the 12 rounds.

"I admit that Agbeko is fast in the ring, but we will device a strategy to stop him", Kizza said.

Asked whether stepping down in weight from a super bantamweight to bantamweight would not affect his performance, the boxer said there is no way the weight difference could affect him adding "I have prepared adequately for this fight".

"Everyone back home is expecting me to win, I'm a hero in my country and I can't afford to disappoint them", Kizza said.

Asked if the unexpected happens, the boxer said, "as a man you have to make room for the unexpected but I'm very optimistic".

Irrespective of the outcome of Friday's fight, Kizza is scheduled to mount the ring in November this year, to fight Mike Brode of UK in a Commonwealth title bout.

Agbeko, originally scheduled to fight Lewis Mwambo of Zambia had his opponent changed in the last minute, after the Zambia lost to Kizza in the East and Central Africa Championship in Bologna, Italy, last week.

The show sanctioned by the WBF and Ghana Boxing Authority and being put together by Life Time Promotions and Management Syndicate, would stage seven other bouts including three title fights.