Kassim Ouma eyes boxing comeback

By Samson Opus

FORMER World Champion Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma is dreaming again of returning to top flight boxing.

To embark on that hard journey, the US-based Ugandan prize fighter takes on Igor Selivanov in St. Petersburg, Russia on Sunday.

The build-up bout is organised by Pro Box Baltic Promotions. The boxer departed for Russia yesterday.

Ouma has been training in Kenya in preparation for the fight which Baltic

Promotion group manager Eddy Bazira said is a ‘possible win’ for the Ugandan fighter.

On paper, the fight seems a mismatch as Ouma who boasts of a spanning record of 38 fights, 30 wins, 17 of them by knockout. The Russian has a shot but clean unbeaten record of 10 fights with six knockouts.

Returning after over three years out of the ring, Ouma, 38, faces an uphill task as he takes on Selivanov who is 17 years younger than him.

But Bazira believes that the Russian could be a stepping stone for Ouma to come back to the limelight.

Since failing to reclaim IBF world title when he succumbed to Jermain Taylor in 2006, Ouma’s boxing career went into oblivion.

However Bazira is optimistic that Ouma could rise from the abyss.

“I am impressed by his (Ouma’s) work rate. I think he can deliver. If he wins this fight, Ouma will have big fights in the near future,” said Bazira before departure yesterday.

Ouma, last fought December 11, 2013 when he beat Rahman Mustapha Yusubov on a unanimous point decision. 

Ouma rose to prominence after beating Verno Phillips to win the IBF light middleweight world title in 2004.