Kassim Ouma rules out rekindling relationship with Juliana Kanyomozi

 

 

Born  - 12 December 1978,

 

Kampala

 

Nickname- The Dream

 

Weight -  Light middle/ middleweight

 

2004- Beat Verno Phillips to win the IBF l/middle title

 

Stance- Orthodox

 

Record- 29 wins (18kos), 11

 

losses, 1 draw, 1 no contest

 

 

As he heads into retirement a lot has changed. But even with his falling fortunes Ouma, now 40, believes there is something he can still do for Uganda.

 

Now based in Germany, Ouma is currently in Uganda on a short holiday. He had an exclusive interview with The New Vision and opened up on a wide range of issues.

 

 Juliana Kanyomozi (L) leans on Kassim Ouma shoulder during a press conference after receiving his USPA award on April 25, 2007. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga

 

 

I am here for a short holiday. But I also have plans of fighting in Kampala. This is the only gift I can give Uganda. I am about to retire and want my last fight to be at home. I want it in the MTN Arena, Lugogo.

 

I was based abroad for almost all my entire professional boxing career. It is now time to end it where it all started- here. I started my boxing career in Uganda. I want to end it here, but even more importantly, Ugandans deserve to see me fight at home.

 

I am in talks with Uganda's biggest promoters- Big Strikers International. I want them to organize a fight in June or July.

 

 

I also want to give back to Uganda by training young talent. I have the necessary qualifications.  My world title is the equivalent of a Boxing Degree. I have learned a lot over the years and feel there is something I can give back to my country.

 

 Ouma celebrates his victory over Marco Antonio Rubio of Torreon, Mexico at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 6, 2006. Courtesy photo

 

 

We had a relationship. I first met her when she came to the US for the Uganda convention. We were later together when I fought Jermain Taylor. I have taken about 10 years since I last met her face to face. I used to talk to her on Messenger when she lost her son in 2014. That's about the time I also lost my grandmother.

 

Say hello to Juliana when you see her. She is a musician and a good lady but I moved on. I even got more children since we parted.

 

 

I won't say how many children I have. All I can tell you is that I love them all. My first American son Rahim Ouma will soon be 16. My first born Omar Ojambo is 22. Ojambo is now a pharmacist in the US. By the way, in Uganda, I have 20 Degrees to my credit. I have paid fees for these relatives and friends up to graduation.

 

You insist on knowing how many children I have. Okay, they are 10 from six mothers. Two of these (the youngest ones) are from a Slovak woman. There are four boys and six girls. I am in touch with all of them on social media.

 

 

I don't regret anything. I did what I had to do. Most importantly I won the world title. But maybe the only thing that hurts me is my failure to come home when I was a champion. I would have loved to share my glory at home.

 

 

It was definitely my first fight against Verno Phillips in North Dakota in 2001. He was a favourite but I upset him. He had earlier knocked out another Ugandan Godfrey Nyakana. I set a new world record of most punches thrown as I averaged 130 punches a round.

 

 

 Kassim Ouma of Uganda lands a right to Verno Phillips of Denver, Colorado during the 11th round of the IBF junior middleweight championship bout at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 2, 2004. Ouma won by unanimous decision. Courtesy photo

 

 

That was in 2006 at my world title fight against Jermain Taylor. You (James Bakama) know that fight because you attended it in Little Rock, Arkansas. You wrote that I got $800,000 (sh2.98bn). That's not true. I got much more than that. But again I won't tell you exactly how much.

 

 

I don't have any investment at home. That's another regret. It's because I couldn't come home when I was making lots of money. Then people are not also not trustworthy. I would send say $10,000 or $20,000 and it would be wasted. So, I asked myself: What will happen if I send $500,000?

 

That's why I concentrated in the US. I even got a place there where I will be buried. So don't be surprised if there is a fight for my body when I die between of those who want me buried in Uganda and those who want me in the US. The US is like my home.

 

I have money in the US. I won't tell you how much. The day I make it back there I will have access to it.

 

 

I abused my green card. I stayed for over a year in Uganda and even missed a court session. That shouldn't have happened but I fell sick while here and couldn't make it back to the US. The court case had to do with a small amount of Cocaine they got me with. It wasn't very serious and the case had to be lightened to a misdemeanor.

 

 Juliana with Ouma as he speaks to members of the press on April 25, 2007

 

 

In 1997 I was part of Uganda's team for the World Military Championships in San Antonio, Texas. As soon as I landed in Washington DC I broke away from the team. I lived like a street child for three weeks.

 

The first thing I looked for in Washington was a boxing gym. I knew that would be my savior. I eventually got one and began training. But at the start, I wasn't taken seriously. You know I am not good at shadow boxing so it wasn't easy to impress.

 

I was eventually given a sparring chance against one of the stars of the gym. Everyone thought I was in for a big whipping. But they were mistaken. Everyone was shocked by my skills. That marked the start of my American Dream.

 

After traveling from gym to gym, I eventually settled in Florida, where I made my pro debut on July 10, 1998, with a first-round KO of Napoleon Middlebrooks.

 

Five more victories, all by knockout (three in the first round) followed, and in my seventh bout, on January 15, 1999, I was put in a 12 round Florida state title bout against Victor Ramos.

 

Ramos only made it through five rounds with the hard-punching Ugandan though, and I had my first championship belt.

 

Five years later I outpointed American Verno Phillips to become the fifth Ugandan boxer to win a world title.