OUMA lacks Amin’s punch
IDDI Amin’s formula of knocking out opponents to counter controversies typical of points’ decisions was on many Ugandans’ minds in Kassim Ouma’s loss to Jermain Taylor.
IDDI Amin’s formula of knocking out opponents to counter controversies typical of points’ decisions was on many Ugandans’ minds in Kassim Ouma’s loss to Jermain Taylor.
Most Ugandans here felt Ouma had been robbed. “A knockout would have saved us a lot of pain,†one Ugandan cried after Taylor was declared unanimous winner of the middleweight championship fight at the Alltel Arena.
Uganda’s President in the seventies, Amin, was a staunch boxing fan, who conjured up a secret weapon for his boxers who constantly complained of being robbed by whites at international competitions.
“Knock them out,†Amin, who thrived on knockouts in his 10-year reign as East African heavyweight champion, told the national boxing side.
Ugandan fighters paid heed to the advice and what followed was the country’s golden era in boxing of the seventies.
But the irony of Saturday’s fight lay in the fact that it was homeboy Taylor who had the power punches.
Ouma nevertheless put up a great show, always landing his signature punches in bunches — a trend that many of his fans felt should have produced the killer shot.
Such a shot, according to several Ugandans who travelled to Little Rock from various US states, would have saved them the pain of what they see as a controversial decision.
“If I knew things were pre-determined, I wouldn’t have moved over 1000 miles to come and witness this crap,†said a bitter Joseph Byakatonda. Boston-based Byakatonda, waving a Ugandan flag, still had words of encouragement for his equally crestfallen fighter.
“Don’t worry Kassim, You are the true champ,†the former Kampala Boxing Club pugilist yelled out.
Virginia’s Robert Nyakaana, a younger brother to former WBF and BENELUX light middleweight champion Godfrey Nyakaana, also had his punch for the result.
“This is broad day light theft,†he insisted adding that all that Taylor did was to hold as Ouma did most of the punching.
Yunus Ssengo, a London-based businessman, who said he had travelled all the way from Los Angeles, was also not amused.
“For those who have any doubts, just study the recording,†argued the proprietor of Ssengo International Promotion.
But there were also those who felt that much as Ouma put up his best fight ever, Taylor had an edge.
“Ouma was in great shape, but he will have to punch harder if he is to compete favourably at that division,†noted Boston’s Tadeo Kyambadde.
Bali Bukenya, an accountant with US oil company PLAINS in Houston, was more philosophical.
“Ouma put up a great show, but Taylor had the card. He was the home star and was also the champion,†he observed.
Isn’t it therefore time that Ouma learnt how to pack a punch the way Amin would have wanted?
Most Ugandans here felt Ouma had been robbed. “A knockout would have saved us a lot of pain,†one Ugandan cried after Taylor was declared unanimous winner of the middleweight championship fight at the Alltel Arena.
Uganda’s President in the seventies, Amin, was a staunch boxing fan, who conjured up a secret weapon for his boxers who constantly complained of being robbed by whites at international competitions.
“Knock them out,†Amin, who thrived on knockouts in his 10-year reign as East African heavyweight champion, told the national boxing side.
Ugandan fighters paid heed to the advice and what followed was the country’s golden era in boxing of the seventies.
But the irony of Saturday’s fight lay in the fact that it was homeboy Taylor who had the power punches.
Ouma nevertheless put up a great show, always landing his signature punches in bunches — a trend that many of his fans felt should have produced the killer shot.
Such a shot, according to several Ugandans who travelled to Little Rock from various US states, would have saved them the pain of what they see as a controversial decision.
“If I knew things were pre-determined, I wouldn’t have moved over 1000 miles to come and witness this crap,†said a bitter Joseph Byakatonda. Boston-based Byakatonda, waving a Ugandan flag, still had words of encouragement for his equally crestfallen fighter.
“Don’t worry Kassim, You are the true champ,†the former Kampala Boxing Club pugilist yelled out.
Virginia’s Robert Nyakaana, a younger brother to former WBF and BENELUX light middleweight champion Godfrey Nyakaana, also had his punch for the result.
“This is broad day light theft,†he insisted adding that all that Taylor did was to hold as Ouma did most of the punching.
Yunus Ssengo, a London-based businessman, who said he had travelled all the way from Los Angeles, was also not amused.
“For those who have any doubts, just study the recording,†argued the proprietor of Ssengo International Promotion.
But there were also those who felt that much as Ouma put up his best fight ever, Taylor had an edge.
“Ouma was in great shape, but he will have to punch harder if he is to compete favourably at that division,†noted Boston’s Tadeo Kyambadde.
Bali Bukenya, an accountant with US oil company PLAINS in Houston, was more philosophical.
“Ouma put up a great show, but Taylor had the card. He was the home star and was also the champion,†he observed.
Isn’t it therefore time that Ouma learnt how to pack a punch the way Amin would have wanted?