Joey Vegas Lubega confident ahead of rematch with Kheri Mbaruku

The Big Show, Friday, Dec, 20

Mtn Arena, Lugogo

Selected bouts

Joey. Lubega (UGA) v K. Mbaruku (TAZ)

S. Musa (UGA) v J. Gihi (TAZ)

S. Tibesigwa (UGA) v L. Kayage (TAZ)

A. Njego (UGA) v E. Mukama (UGA)

Former World Boxing Council International light heavyweight champion, ‘Fabulous’ Joey Vegas Lubega, is confident he still has the power to fight at the top.

Lubega, who is gearing up for his rematch with Tanzania’s Kheri Mbaruku this Friday, December 20, at MTN Arena in Lugogo, revealed this to Vision Sport.

He has set 2025 as the year he plans to vie once again for major boxing titles.

But before 2025, Lubega is set to first sort out his unfinished business with Mbaruku at an event dubbed "The Big Show," organized by Baltic Pro Boxing.

Like the event's name, "The Big Show" will also feature another big name, Olympian Shadir Musa, who is taking on Tanzania’s Joseph Gihi in a super middleweight eight-round thriller.

“2024 hasn’t been good for me. I had three mega fights in France, Russia, and Germany before injuries forced me to withdraw. With 2025 knocking on our doors, expect to see a rejuvenated Joey Vegas Lubega,” he said.

“To those who thought I’m worn out, think twice. Vegas Lubega is a Rolls Royce Phantom car. I still have more fuel in my tank, and they are going to see me vying for mega titles in 2025.”

Lubega, who is Uganda’s last boxer to reach a Commonwealth Games final—a feat he achieved at the 2002 Manchester Games—won the World Boxing Council (WBC) International light heavyweight title in 2012 and defended it in 2013.

In 2012, he knocked out Trinidad and Tobago’s Kirt Sinnette in the fourth round and defended his title against Egyptian Hany Atiyo in 2013.

Lubega, also a former Africa Boxing Union (ABU) Champion, is currently training at Bbule’s gym at Kalerwe Market in Kampala for an eight-round rematch with Mbaruku, an opponent he knocked out in the sixth round in 2022.

“My contract with Mbaruku had a clause for a rematch before injuries forced us to postpone it. But now I’m back to my best, Mbaruku will ask for more water at MTN Arena,” Lubega added.

Among the day’s undercard thrillers, featherweight Salimati Tibesigwa will entertain Tanzania’s Lulu Kayage, cruiserweight Abdul Njego will battle rival Eria Mukama, and heavyweight Nicholas Buule will take on Tanzania’s industrious Alphonce Mchumiatumbo.

Eddie Bazira, the event promoter, is confident the event is worth the billing and will give the fans an action-packed Christmas buffet.