Draft:Atta Soja (boxer)


Atta Soja
Personal information
Birth nameAkhiru Golooba
NicknameAtta Soja
NationalityUgandan
Born (2000-09-23) 23 September 2000 (age 24)
Kampala, Uganda
Years active2018–present
AgentShadir Musa Bwogi
Weight107 kg (236 lb; 16 st 12 lb)
SpouseVivian Nuwahereza
Sport
Weight classHeavyweight
Turned pro2018
Coached byLawrence Kalyango

Akhiru Golooba (born 23 September 2000), known professionally as Atta Soja, is a Ugandan heavyweight boxer born and raised in Kampala. Atta Soja is known for his impressive boxing technics he has expressed in the boxing sport since 2018.[1]

Early life and background

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In 2007, Atta Soja started his elementary education at Remah Junior school in Kampala. As a little boy, Golooba loved the boxing sport way back from school and he loved participating in boxing activities organized by the school. Later in 2016, Atta Soja joined Kampala senior secondary school for his ordinary level education. As a sportsman, he balanced his education and studies until he completed his form four class of education with an O'Level certificate of completion from Uganda National Examinations Board. Atta loved the boxing sport even at school as he always participated in boxing events organized by Kampala senior scondary school. He developed great passion for the boxing sport and started professional training in a local gym in Naakulabye coached and guided by Lawrence Kalyango famously known as Coach Lora.[2]

Career

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Akhiru Golooba started fighting at a young age of 8, fending off the thieves and bullies in Kampala. Atta beat up every one until he made out his way to a legitimate gym in Naakulabye where the older veteran boxers took notice of the tough kid whose shadowboxing looked so fluid and natural day by day.[3] Atta's father never wanted him to do boxing as he kept changing him to homes which are distant to the gym but the little boy never gave up on his dream of being a professional boxer.[4][5] He started spending all his time at the gym working out tirelessly and all his tough upfights and trainings have turned Golooba into a hard working professional boxer.[6]

Atta Soja has faced and won different amateur boxing championships and of late, he was emerged as winner of the Great strikers event organized at the New Obligato in Kampala on 9 March 2024.[7] Atta had a few amateur fights before turning professional. He has always been trained and coached by Lawrence Kalyango[8] who has brought up many different talents like the US-based pro Ismail Muwendo,[9] Dubai-based pro Joshua Nyanzi,[10] former multiple National champion Yusuf Babu,[11] 2019 African Games silver medalist Isaac Masembe[12] and former national captain Rogers Ssemitala.[13]

On 9 March 2024, Atta Soja with the help of Tokyo Olympic boxer Shadir Musa Bwogi as his agent and Lawrence Kalyango as his coach knocked down fellow debutant Ronald Kisakye early in the second round in one of the undercards on Great Strikers event at New Obligato.[14]

Personal life

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Atta Soja is in a public relationship with Vivian Nuwahereza,[15] the couple does not have any children together. Vivian has always been spotted in the training gym holding pads for spouse Atta and she is also a common presence in his dressing room before his fight.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Unveiling the Boxing Journey of Atta Soja: From TikTok Sensation to Title Fights". 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  2. ^ "A New Era for Ugandan Boxing: Atta Soja, Sets Eyes on Heavyweight Boxing Championship". blizz.co.ug. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  3. ^ "Heavyweight boxer Golooba plots second KO in pro division". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. ^ "Rising Star: Atta Soja Takes Ugandan Boxing to New Heights". Kampala Sqoop. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. ^ Admin, Daily Spear (2024-04-07). "Atta Soja Biography: Akhiru Golooba's Boxing Career Profile Revealed to TikTok Fans". Daily Spear UG. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. ^ "Atta Soja: The aspiring heavyweight champ".
  7. ^ BigEyeUg1 (2024-04-07). "Atta Soja: The Boxing Sensation Taking Ugandan Boxing to New Heights". BigEye.UG. Retrieved 2024-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Isabirye, David (2023-09-05). "Boxing Road to Paris: Uganda Bombers team optimistic prior to qualifiers in Senegal". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  9. ^ "Trust keeps Muwendo on course in USA". Monitor. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  10. ^ "Fighters Rec | Joshua Nyanzi". Fighters Rec. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  11. ^ "Heavyweight boxer Yusuf Babu to make professional debut". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  12. ^ "Isaac Masembe eyes National title". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  13. ^ "Semitala Faces Ecuador's Padilla In Aiba World Boxing Championship".
  14. ^ "Rising Star: Atta Soja Takes Ugandan Boxing to New Heights". Kampala Sqoop. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  15. ^ MUGANDA WA JALIA WALDA ATTA NE VIVIAN OMUKWANO GWABWE GWEGOMBESA LWAKI JALIA YAMUWADE EMOTOKA. Retrieved 2024-04-28 – via www.youtube.com.
  16. ^ "Atta Soja: The aspiring heavyweight champ". Monitor. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-04-28.