Uganda's Ouma to defend IBF junior-middleweight title

Uganda's Kassim Ouma will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-middleweight world title against Russian contender Roman Karmazin at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas in United States on Thursday night, local press reported on Thursday.

Ouma, a 26-year-old former soldier, will be making the second defence of the title he won with a unanimous 12-round decision over Verno Phillips October 2, last year.

During the pre-fight press conference on Tuesday, Ouma said he was fighting for Uganda and the relatives that he still supports back home.

"I have more than 20 cousins and relatives in Uganda looking at me for support. I am carrying them all on my belt so I am fighting for them all," said Ouma, who will be paid 250,000 US dollars for the fight, most of which will go to his retinue of trainers, managers and aides.

Ouma has not been to Uganda since 1998 when he defected during a boxing trip to the US, which later granted him political asylum.

Source: Xinhua