Kayongo, Muwendo In Action, Kamya-Truax Off
Photos and Story By Jesse Kelley
7.20.09

Ugandan fighters will be showcased in part during the boxing portion of this Saturday nights fight card at the Armory in Saint Paul, MN. Headlining will be returning power puncher Mohammed Kayongo (14-2-1, 10 Ko's). Kayongo last fought in St. Paul in April of 2007 against deceptive boxer/puncher Eberto Medina. Kayongo was slightly ahead through four rounds when a right hand laid out Medina cold.
"I didn't think it was going to last until the fourth round but he was tough." Said Kayongo. "Once I got my timing right I got him with that right hand and bang, he was out. I knew right away when I caught him that the fight was over."

Kayongo was out of action for more then a year before traveling to Chicago to face veteran Alex Perez (23-30-4). Kayongo managed to easily outbox Perez despite breaking his hand in the first round.
"He was also a real tough guy but I don't think he would have lasted the full six rounds if I didn't break my hand in the first round. I had to fight with one hand but he was tough so I give him credit for finishing the fight.

Kayongo is fully healed and will look to put a blemish on New York's Jamar Patterson's undefeated (8-0) record this Saturday night.
"Yeah you know, I am pretty excited to fight in front of the Minnesota fans again. It's been too long since I fought here. I am excited and ready. I can't say too much about this guy but I am a fighter, and I come to fight. I can assure you I will come out the winner. He is undefeated but he has been fighting different guys then myself. I have a different style and I don't think he has fought anybody like me.

Also on the card will be Kayongo's teammate Ismail Muwendo (3-0). Muwendo has already begun to turn heads with his accurate and powerful punching displays in the ring. Most recently, Muwendo stopped Josh Jungjohann in Hinckley, MN in June. Muwendo seemed happy with his performance, which included two vicious knockdowns in the opening minutes enroute to a ko victory.
Tolzman says that an opponent was locked in for this Saturday but has recently fallen out. "We thought we had a tough opponent lined up but I guess things didn't work out. I would like to get somebody durable for Ismail but it sounds like there might be another guy lined up that I don't really know anything about. As long as he will be around our weight and is durable that is cool. Ismail has taken a few durable guys out pretty early so far but it isn't what he has done in the ring so much but what he is doing in the gym that has me so happy. I see what he is doing with Robert Kamya and what he does against Mohammed and the support he has here is what I like to see. A lot of people say he has more of a pro style and I have to agree, he really does and we will see more of that on Saturday."

Former world champ and world traveled Robert "The Doctor" Kamya (16-10) was also slated to be on the card against "Golden" Caleb Truax but Kamya revealed that the fight will no longer take place. Trainer Scott Tolzman explained that the original fight plan was to have Robert fight at 160 but because of the training shape Kamya is in and weighing in at 157 a week before fight time, they made the decision not to fight above 154 from here on out. Truax-Kamya was set at a weight of 160.

Kamya, who is a very humble fighter, talked about his move to Minnesota and some of his travels around the world when asked to talk about his boxing accomplishments.
"I came to Minnesota to work with these tough young fighters, Mohammed and Ismail. It's really good training, good work. I know some people don't recognize me here in Minnesota but I am the a former WBC champion, I have worked with many world champions. I have fought in many big places so being in Minnesota and fighting a local guy is really exciting. I was supposed to fight on the 25th but I am so disappointed the fight is not happening. I am a fighter and I am ready, I never quit or back down from anyone. I may not be the greatest out there but I am tough. I know that there are some fights lined up for me here in Minnesota and I look forward to whatever comes up for me.

Tolzman also talked about the potential fights for Kamya locally. "We have had some nice talks with people here about fights at 154 and that is where we want to be at. Guys like Kolle plan to go to 154 and that is one of the fights we are looking at.

"Oh yeah, I will fight anyone" Said Kamya at the prospect of facing Kolle. "People look at my record but they don't see who I have fought. People take me as the underdog but the people I have fought are out there fighting for titles. Right now is my time. I am 36 so I don't have any time to waste. I want to return to fighting at the top and I would love the chance to start by facing the top guys here in Minnesota. Most of my time has been spent sparring world champions and only getting one or two fights a year for myself but I am in great shape and I feel like now is my time.

Lightweight Jeremy McLaurin is also scheduled to box. I will keep you posted if I get word that a Caleb Truax opponent can be found.
Headlining the MMA portion of the show will be the return of Jimmy "The Outlaw" Gomez. Watch for Gomez interview to come tomorrow.
More info on "Glory" at the Saint Paul Armory can be found at www.soboxing.com