Uganda’s boxing powerhouse David Ssemujju, popularly known as “Da Animal”, has stormed into continental glory after stopping Japan’s Kosei Nogami with a spectacular 8th-round TKO to claim the WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight Title at the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
In a high-paced 10-round welterweight showdown, Ssemujju’s power and precision proved too much for Nogami, who came into the fight undefeated in his first four professional bouts. The Ugandan southpaw broke down his opponent with calculated pressure before forcing the referee’s intervention in the 8th round, handing Nogami the first loss of his career.
The victory improves Ssemujju’s professional record to 10 fights, 9 wins (5 by knockout), and 1 loss—his only defeat being a narrow points decision to Uzbekistan’s Kamronbek Eshmatov.
With this latest triumph, Ssemujju now holds two major titles:
- Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) Japanese Welterweight Champion
- WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight Champion
The win also skyrockets his rankings:
- No. 1 in Uganda (out of 25 active welterweights)
- No. 3 in Africa in the welterweight division
- No. 62 worldwide (out of 2,620 ranked fighters)
Within Uganda, he is now recognized as the No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, just behind Sulaiman “Sula” Segawa.
After the emphatic victory, an emotional Ssemujju dedicated the win to his country:
“This belt belongs to Uganda. I told the world that Da Animal would not be denied, and tonight I proved it. This is only the beginning—I am coming for the world stage.”
With his destructive finish in Tokyo, David Ssemujju has officially cemented himself as one of Africa’s most feared welterweights, and boxing insiders believe a world title shot may not be far from reach.
