The Ugandan boxing fraternity is in mourning following the sudden dying of nationwide workforce boxer Alex Kanaabi, who was pronounced lifeless within the early hours of Thursday morning at Kiruddu Hospital. In response to household sources, the sunshine middleweight boxer is suspected to have died from poisoning.

Kanaabi was an energetic competitor within the Boxing Champions League broadcast on NBS Sport and was having fun with the most effective part of his profession. He received the sunshine middleweight title throughout final yr’s Champions League finals on Boxing Day, his remaining look within the ring. After switching from welterweight to mild middleweight, he additionally received gold on the nationwide championships, qualifying for the league.

UOC President Donald Rukare handing Alex Kanabi (center) on the 2025 UBCL Finals

In October final yr, Kanaabi made his nationwide workforce debut on the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championship in Kenya, returning house with a bronze medal for Uganda.

Scenes of grief have been witnessed at his household house in Kireka, Kinawataka, as mourners gathered to pay their final respects. Political leaders, together with MP Ibrahim Semujju and Uganda Boxing Federation president Moses Muhangi, referred to as for calm and urged respect for the household’s determination to bury Kanaabi in Masaka this Friday.

Kanaabi’s sudden dying revives painful recollections of the mysterious passing of fellow boxer Bala Geko in October 2023, leaving the boxing group as soon as once more grappling with the lack of a rising star.