Stephen Ouma
22 December 2007
Kampala — Former Commonwealth Super Featherweight champion Justin 'The Ugandan Destroyer' Juuko will make a return to the ring against Tanzania's Deo " The Hammer" Njiku on December 31 in Masaka town.
After degenerating from a "Destroyer" to a "Punching" bag and showing signs of retirement, Juuko is defying all odds to try to prove he is still a force to reckon with in profession ranks. The 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and East African champion wants to use the fight as a tune-up ahead of his planned WBO super featherweight clash against champion Joan Guzman of Dominican Republic.
The boxing fraternity has been calling on the Ugandan pugilist, who fought big names like USA's Floyd Mayweather and Mexican Diego Coralles (RIP), at the height of his career, to hang his gloves.
"I have been training hard day and night and I'm in good shape to put up a good show and win at my home town," he said.
Whether the Ugandan is capable of regaining the top form of the late 1990s that should put him on course to taking on big names in the world is yet to be seen.
Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) Mr Celestino Mindra said if Juuko feels he is still capable of elevating himself back to top world ranks he should prove himself.
"As a Commission our role is to develop and promote the sport. We cannot say one is off form and retire because performance determines form," he said.
In a related development Kenya's super featherweight Kennedy Munika will take on Uganda's Faruk Muhammed in an eight round fight. Ugandans Muhammad Okoya and Achilles Semwogerere will face off in the same weight while Shabila Namaga fights Nantongo Mulinde.
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