Rickman Maintains Shs 100m Condition for Shakib Rematch

On August 30, 2025, singer Rickman Manrick knocked out socialite Shakib Cham Lutaaya in a heavily hyped corporate boxing match at the MTN Arena Lugogo.

The bout ended in round two after Rickman unleashed a flurry of punches to Shakib’s head, leaving him unconscious and forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Speaking during a sit down on the Ugandan Boy Talk Show, the “Bango” hitmaker looked back on the fight with pride, describing the victory as one of the most significant moments of his life.

This is one of the proudest moments of my life. I have never been so proud of myself as I was in that moment. We really worked hard for this win with my team and my coach at the Masco Training Camp in Mulago. We worked tirelessly. I put a lot into this fight because I felt I had a lot more to lose than my opponent.

Rickman explained that the pressure surrounding the fight pushed him to give everything in training, noting that a loss would have affected several areas of his life beyond the ring.

If I lost this fight, the radio station [NRG] I work at was going to lose, my music, talk about my then girlfriend, there was a lot at stake at that moment. I used to tell myself every day at training, “I have to win this fight. Like it or not, in whatever way, I really, really have to win.” There were a lot of people who were going to lose had I lost.

According to the singer, that mindset translated into an intense training schedule that left little room for shortcuts.

I really put a lot of work into it. We trained four days a week. Sometimes I did some extra sessions on Saturday because I knew, as an athlete, training is really the key. Mastering the craft, knowing the technicalities of the game, what to do, what not to do, listening to the coaches. I put a lot of work into this fight and it really paid off.

When the conversation turned to the possibility of a rematch, Rickman was quick to point out that staging another fight would not be easy.

Honestly, this boxing thing was a lot of work as a whole, in terms of organising the fight, selling the tables, and reaching out and calling people. It was really draining for me, and I think it was draining for Shakib as well. We had to do a lot of things, even last minute. So to do it again, it really has to be worth it.

He stressed that boxing is dangerous and insisted any rematch must come with serious money.

This is not a game. It can be life and death in the ring, so it really has to make sense moneywise, financially. That is why I put an ultimatum of Shs 100 million, just to make it feel like it is worth it.

For now, the singer is enjoying the aftermath of his knockout triumph and will only box again if the money is right.