OUMA

KASSIM Ouma lost to Jermain Taylor, but to many fans in this small farming state, the Ugandan will always stand out as a matador who gave them a treat of real boxing.

At the forefront, is Taylor’s uncle James Malone.

Shortly after announcer Michael Buffer declared Taylor unanimous winner, Malone said the fight should have been much closer.

“That boy (Ouma) is real bad. I say bad. When he (Ouma) soaked Taylor’s best one-two, I knew my nephew was in trouble,” noted Malone.

Malone, a cab driver in Little Rock, had more: “If that fight was going for 15 rounds like in the old days, I can assure you that Jermain would have got knocked out.”

Malone, like Taylor’s manager Lou Dibella after the 12 nail-biting rounds observed that the American had never faced a better conditioned opponent.

“I had predicted a knock-out, but Ouma surprised us all,” said Dibella. “It’ll take him a year before fully recovering,” said Malone.

“You are a great fighter,” American spectators told Ouma as he walked to his dressing room.
The fight was scored 117-11,115-113 and 118-110 in Taylor’s favour.