Mugabi claims silver
John Mugabi<br><br>THE name John “The Beast†Mugabi is what comes to mind at the mention of Uganda at the 1980 Olympics.
By James Bakama
Medals in 1980 Games
Silver
John Mugabi
THE name John “The Beast†Mugabi is what comes to mind at the mention of Uganda at the 1980 Olympics.
After the country’s boycott of the 1976 Montreal games, it took the welterweight’s fists to put Uganda back into the Olympics headlines.
David Agong, who was Uganda's team manager at the time, has one word to describe Mugabi’s form in Moscow: “Deadlyâ€.
Agong confesses that he had never seen a fighter in such devastating form.
Interestingly, Mugabi had almost been dropped from the team for a street brawl that had him locked up at Jinja Road police station shortly before the team’s departure.
While coach Grace Sseruwagi wanted the boxer dropped, another section led by Agong begged for leniency.
Mugabi was finally forgiven and rescued by Agong from the cell.
It was in chilly Moscow that Sseruwagi realised he had almost blundered by dropping Mugabi.
By the end of the quarter-finals, Mugabi was the only Ugandan boxer standing.
Bruised and knocked out within two rounds by Mugabi’s hard punches were Congo’s Georges Koffi, Madagascar's Paul Rasamimanana and Yugoslav Mehmet Bogujevci.
His first fight to go the full distance was the semi-final against a Pole Kazimierz Szczerba that he won thereby setting up a date with Cuban Andres Aldama.
Aldama was a vastly seasoned fighter who had in the 1976 games been beaten by Sugar Ray Leonard.
But before the much awaited Mugabi-Aldama duel, something happened that almost blew Uganda’s gold medal hopes.
Mugabi, who could punch ferociously but also have the naivety of a child, was not amused by the fun that his already defeated team-mates were having.
“The idea of battling with weight while his relaxed colleagues had 24-hour dinning hall access didn’t seem to make sense to him,†recounts Charles Lubulwa, who had earlier been eliminated.
It took a lot of convincing by Sseruwagi and Agong, an evening to the cinema and some snacks to restore Mugabi’s focus.
Lubulwa, a 16-year-old at the time, vividly remembers the final on August 2 in Moscow’s Olympiski Sports Complex.
These were not only the Games' best fighters but they in Alcides Sagara (Cuba) and Sseruwagi also had the best coaching brains.
"Both fighters unleashed bombs," recounts Lubulwa however noting that Mugabi had the edge.
“Mugabi’s hooks were more lethal. But we were all shocked when after the final gong a 4-1 decision was announced in favour of the Cuban,†Lubulwa says.
It was after the final that Mugabi realised what he would have denied himself by not featuring in the final. He signed a lucrative deal that had him win a pro world title nine years later.
Medals in 1980 Games
Silver
John Mugabi
THE name John “The Beast†Mugabi is what comes to mind at the mention of Uganda at the 1980 Olympics.
After the country’s boycott of the 1976 Montreal games, it took the welterweight’s fists to put Uganda back into the Olympics headlines.
David Agong, who was Uganda's team manager at the time, has one word to describe Mugabi’s form in Moscow: “Deadlyâ€.
Agong confesses that he had never seen a fighter in such devastating form.
Interestingly, Mugabi had almost been dropped from the team for a street brawl that had him locked up at Jinja Road police station shortly before the team’s departure.
While coach Grace Sseruwagi wanted the boxer dropped, another section led by Agong begged for leniency.
Mugabi was finally forgiven and rescued by Agong from the cell.
It was in chilly Moscow that Sseruwagi realised he had almost blundered by dropping Mugabi.
By the end of the quarter-finals, Mugabi was the only Ugandan boxer standing.
Bruised and knocked out within two rounds by Mugabi’s hard punches were Congo’s Georges Koffi, Madagascar's Paul Rasamimanana and Yugoslav Mehmet Bogujevci.
His first fight to go the full distance was the semi-final against a Pole Kazimierz Szczerba that he won thereby setting up a date with Cuban Andres Aldama.
Aldama was a vastly seasoned fighter who had in the 1976 games been beaten by Sugar Ray Leonard.
But before the much awaited Mugabi-Aldama duel, something happened that almost blew Uganda’s gold medal hopes.
Mugabi, who could punch ferociously but also have the naivety of a child, was not amused by the fun that his already defeated team-mates were having.
“The idea of battling with weight while his relaxed colleagues had 24-hour dinning hall access didn’t seem to make sense to him,†recounts Charles Lubulwa, who had earlier been eliminated.
It took a lot of convincing by Sseruwagi and Agong, an evening to the cinema and some snacks to restore Mugabi’s focus.
Lubulwa, a 16-year-old at the time, vividly remembers the final on August 2 in Moscow’s Olympiski Sports Complex.
These were not only the Games' best fighters but they in Alcides Sagara (Cuba) and Sseruwagi also had the best coaching brains.
"Both fighters unleashed bombs," recounts Lubulwa however noting that Mugabi had the edge.
“Mugabi’s hooks were more lethal. But we were all shocked when after the final gong a 4-1 decision was announced in favour of the Cuban,†Lubulwa says.
It was after the final that Mugabi realised what he would have denied himself by not featuring in the final. He signed a lucrative deal that had him win a pro world title nine years later.