Connrad Sseruyange, popularly known in the boxing circles and across social media as “Kingkong”, continues to draw attention both inside and outside the ring. The Baltic Pro Boxing promotion fighter, with a record of 15 bouts – 9 wins (6 KOs) and 6 losses (1 by KO), recently stepped into the gym for an opportunity many young fighters only dream of: sparring with his role model, Isaac Masembe.

Masembe, currently ranked 2nd in Uganda and 110th globally (out of 1,785), is one of the country’s finest boxing exports. He is preparing for his upcoming showdown against Ezera Ssali on August 27th, and welcomed the chance to sharpen his skills against Kingkong in sparring.

For Sseruyange, who is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Munarbek Seitbek Uulu at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan, the experience was more than just training. He described Masembe as the kind of boxer who inspired his own journey, admitting that it’s rare for a fighter to openly acknowledge someone in the same weight division as a role model.

“It’s hard for a fellow boxer to say another boxer in the same weight is his role model, but Masembe is different,” Kingkong admitted after the session.

The sparring session wasn’t just about throwing punches; it symbolized respect, humility, and growth. For Kingkong, who has built a large fan base thanks to his social media presence, the moment proved that even the most celebrated personalities in the sport still look up to others for inspiration.

With Masembe’s big fight approaching and Kingkong aiming to bounce back from defeat, this partnership could be a sign that Uganda’s boxing scene is not only thriving but also rooted in mutual respect and shared ambition.