James Ssekandi
9 November 2009
Kampala — Sportsmen just like anyone, often have things that drive them to an ultimate goal. For Uganda boxer Jackson 'Action' Asiku; there are not many tricks in his book outside of patience.
And no word suits Asiku better after he had two title scheduled fights cancelled twice but he remained focused. In July 2008, he was meant to challenge Indonesian Chris John for the WBA featherweight belt but the fight aborted after both camps disagreed a day prior to the showdown because of payments.
Another opportunity came and quickly passed as Asiku had been scheduled to fight South Africa's Thomas Mashaba for the vacant IBO super bantamweight title in October. A familiar trend in the offing was imminent. Asiku pulled out after Golden Gloves, promoters of the fight, reportedly wanted to 'fix in favour of Mashaba'.
Asiku's story is as beguiling as they come. The Perth-based pugilist provided an exhibition that won the hearts of many on Friday to win the vacant IBO featherweight boxing world title. His brutal 8th round knockout triumph over Mexican Heriberto Ruiz at Parramatta Leagues Club in Sydney, New South Wales must have helped him to forget his past disappointments that had threatened to ruin his career. Asiku, part of the Naguru sports conveyor belt, grabbed the headlines for his performance. "An exciting featherweight fight, or even better, an exciting featherweight champion," cited a report on fightnight.com.
While Ruiz did plenty of good work early in the fight, Asiku wore him down and hurt him at the end of round seven. "On the back of two wins, I always felt I had the momentum going into this one. But we were training cautiously and thought of going the entire distance (of 12 rounds)," Asiku said.
Stamina problems
According to fightnews.com Asiku 26-3 (14) showed no stamina problems evident from earlier in his career. Coming off a stoppage win over former world champion Gairy St Clair earlier this year, he put on one of his most impressive performances.
The end came in round eight. An unrelenting Asiku battered Ruiz, finally dropping him to the canvas in the corner with a right hand.Ruiz beat the count and fought on, but Asiku cornered him again, knocking him down for a second time. Again, Ruiz had to beat the count and gallantly fought on, but Asiku battered him to the ropes, until he dropped him for a third time with a vicious right uppercut which knocked the Mexican's mouth guard out of the ring.
"My team knew Ruiz would slow down in latter rounds, so I had to out run him in the early rounds," Asiku commented on his strategy for the fight. Asiku, 31, had planned so well for this fight. His opponent, Ruiz, 32, who boasts a record of 42-9-2 (24) had fought some of the biggest names in the lighter weight classes, including Eric Morel, Irene Pacheco, Rafael Marquez and Mauricio Pastrana. "I deserve it. I have worked for it," said Asiku, with the new IBO belt draped over his shoulder. Ten years. I have been all over the world, until I came to (trainer) Craig Christian. He is the man. He is the man."
Asiku then issued a public challenge to former IBO junior lightweight world champion Billy Dib, a resident of Sydney. "Billy Dib, bring it on," declared Asiku. "It's here. I'm giving it to you. You want it, yes." Closer to home, Asiku joins three other Ugandan world champions. Ayub Kalule defeated Masashi Kudo to get the WBA light middleweight crown in front of the Japanese fighter's home fans in Akita, Japan in 1978.
In 1989, John "The Beast" Mugabi knocked out Rene Jacquot in France to win the WBC light middleweight crown. Kassim "The Dream" Ouma outwitted American Verno Phillips at Caesers' Palace, Las Vegas in 2004 to become the IBF middleweight champion.
JACKSON ASIKU FACTBOX
Name: Jackson Asiku
Nickname: Action
Hometown: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Birthplace: Uganda
DOB: 0ctober21, 1978
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5ft' 7inc?
Reach: 170
Titles won
2009: IBO world featherweight
IBF Australasian featherweight
2001, 2004, 2007: Australian featherweight
2003: WBO Asia Pacific featherweight
1999: WBC African Boxing Union featherweight
2000: Commonwealth featherweight
Represented Uganda at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia and lost to Arlan Lerio of Philippines
1998: Won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1999: Won bronze at the All-Africa Games in S.A
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