Kassim Ouma
Kassim Ouma (born 12 December 1978) is a Ugandan professional boxer. He held the IBF junior middleweight title from 2004 to 2005, and has challenged twice for a world middleweight title in 2006 and 2011.
Early life edit
Born into poverty, at the age of six he was kidnapped and forced to join the National Resistance Army and consequently did not see his family for five years. Ouma is the 7th of 13 children, which include 7 brothers and 5 sisters. Only 4 brothers are still alive.
Amateur career edit
Upon leaving the army, Ouma started boxing and amassed an amateur record of 62 wins and 3 losses. He made the Ugandan national boxing team and was selected to fight at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, but did not attend due to financial difficulties.
Professional career edit
On a Ugandan national amateur team trip to the United States, Ouma decided to stay to undertake a career as a professional boxer to support his family in Uganda. Ouma later won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Middleweight world title.
Ouma is a former champion and top-level contender in the Light Middleweight division. He has quality wins against Jason Papillion, Juan Carlos Candelo, and Verno Phillips, his second win against whom earned him the IBF Light Middleweight title. Ouma successfully defended his championship with a twelve-round unanimous decision against Kofi Jantuah of Ghana. Ouma later lost this title in a unanimous decision defeat against Roman Karmazin, a bout in which Ouma was put to the canvas twice. It was only the second defeat of his career.
Since the Karmazin bout, Ouma has remained active in the Light Middleweight division, earning three wins, two by knockout. On May 6, 2006 Ouma defeated Marco Antonio Rubio by split decision despite being knocked down in the first round.
Ouma returned to the ring with an impressive win over undefeated fellow southpaw Sechew Powell August 5, 2006. Powell is from Brooklyn, NY and the fight took place at the Theatre of Madison Square Garden. The official scorecards were 90-100, 93-97, and 94-96 all in favor of Kassim Ouma by unanimous decision.
Ouma lost the middleweight title shot against Jermain Taylor on Dec. 9, 2006. Taylor's power and well-timed clenches kept Ouma from throwing as many punches as he usually does. Despite absorbing a large number of extremely hard shots, Ouma did not go down. The fight went the full 12 rounds, and Ouma lost by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113 for Taylor who was at home in Little Rock, Arkansas.
After the Taylor fight Ouma lost back to back close decisions to Saul Roman in October 2007 and Cornelius Bundrage in March 2008.
On September 25, 2010, Ouma stopped Joey Gilbert in the 6th round of their 10-round bout for the vacant NABA middleweight title at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.
Personal life edit
While in Uganda he was never shot despite being in the army. However, after having moved to America he was shot twice in Florida in December 2002. According to Ouma, his father was beaten to death by the Ugandan army in retaliation for his leaving of the country.[1][2] A documentary entitled Kassim the Dream was made in 2008. It was an official selection at several film festivals.[3]
See also edit
Professional boxing record edit
| 49 fights | 29 wins | 18 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 18 | 4 |
| By decision | 11 | 14 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | Loss | 29–18–1 (1) | Fedor Michel | UD | 6 | 25 May 2022 | Felsenkeller, Traunreut, Germany | |
| 48 | Loss | 29–17–1 (1) | Ryno Liebenberg | UD | 8 | 26 Mar 2022 | Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany | |
| 47 | Loss | 29–16–1 (1) | Ibrahima Diallo | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00 | 4 Dec 2021 | Sartory Saele, Cologne, Germany | |
| 46 | Loss | 29–15–1 (1) | Tony Browne | UD | 8 | 28 Mar 2021 | Claridge Events, Brussels, Belgium | |
| 45 | Loss | 29–14–1 (1) | Ashley Theophane | UD | 10 | 5 Oct 2019 | Gilleleje Hallen, Gilleleje, Denmark | |
| 44 | Loss | 29–13–1 (1) | Fiodor Czerkaszyn | TKO | 2 (8), 2:10 | 23 Mar 2019 | Hala Sportowa im. Olimpijczykow, ul. Ksieznej Anny 18, Lomza, Poland | |
| 43 | Loss | 29–12–1 (1) | Pavel Semjonov | UD | 8 | 16 Nov 2018 | Kalev, Tallinn, Estonia | |
| 42 | Loss | 29–11–1 (1) | Ilias Essaoudi | UD | 8 | 3 Dec 2017 | Hamburg, Germany | |
| 41 | Loss | 29–10–1 (1) | Kamil Szeremeta | UD | 10 | 20 Aug 2016 | Amfiteatr, Misdroy, Poland | |
| 40 | Win | 29–9–1 (1) | Adam Katumwa | TKO | 6 (8) | 22 Apr 2016 | Okapi Hotel Kigali, Rwanda | |
| 39 | Loss | 28–9–1 (1) | Igor Selivanov | UD | 8 | 29 Nov 2015 | Club A2, Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| 38 | Win | 28–8–1 (1) | Rahman Mustafa Yusubov | UD | 6 | 11 Dec 2013 | EconoLodge, Allentown, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 37 | Loss | 27–8–1 (1) | Gennady Golovkin | TKO | 10 (12), 1:57 | 17 Jun 2011 | Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama | For WBA (Regular) middleweight title |
| 36 | Win | 27–7–1 (1) | Joey Gilbert | TKO | 6 (10), 0:59 | 25 Sep 2010 | Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, US | Won vacant WBA–NABA middleweight title |
| 35 | Loss | 26–7–1 (1) | Vanes Martirosyan | UD | 10 | 16 Jan 2010 | The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US | For WBO–NABO and NABF light middleweight titles |
| 34 | Loss | 26–6–1 (1) | Gabriel Rosado | SD | 10 | 24 Apr 2009 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US | |
| 33 | Win | 26–5–1 (1) | Martinus Clay | TKO | 6 (10), 1:38 | 4 Oct 2008 | 32nd Street Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 32 | Loss | 25–5–1 (1) | Cornelius Bundrage | UD | 10 | 28 Mar 2008 | Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca, New York, US | |
| 31 | Loss | 25–4–1 (1) | Saúl Román | SD | 10 | 2 Nov 2007 | Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, US | |
| 30 | Loss | 25–3–1 (1) | Jermain Taylor | UD | 12 | 9 Dec 2006 | Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, Arkansas, US | For WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 29 | Win | 25–2–1 (1) | Sechew Powell | UD | 10 | 5 Aug 2006 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | |
| 28 | Win | 24–2–1 (1) | Marco Antonio Rubio | SD | 12 | 6 May 2006 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US | Retained WBO–NABO light middleweight title |
| 27 | Win | 23–2–1 (1) | Francisco Antonio Mora | TKO | 8 (12), 2:34 | 27 Jan 2006 | Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, US | Won vacant WBO–NABO light middleweight title |
| 26 | Win | 22–2–1 (1) | Alfredo Cuevas | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | 13 Oct 2005 | Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 25 | Loss | 21–2–1 (1) | Roman Karmazin | UD | 12 | 14 Jul 2005 | The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, US | Lost IBF light middleweight title |
| 24 | Win | 21–1–1 (1) | Kofi Jantuah | UD | 12 | 29 Jan 2005 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | Retained IBF light middleweight title |
| 23 | Win | 20–1–1 (1) | Verno Phillips | UD | 12 | 2 Oct 2004 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US | Won IBF light middleweight title |
| 22 | Win | 19–1–1 (1) | Juan Carlos Candelo | TKO | 10 (12), 0:15 | 3 Jan 2004 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | |
| 21 | Win | 18–1–1 (1) | Carlos Bojorquez | TKO | 8 (10), 0:35 | 22 Aug 2003 | Silver Star Hotel & Casino, Choctaw, Mississippi, US | |
| 20 | Win | 17–1–1 (1) | Ángel Hernández | SD | 12 | 30 May 2003 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | Won vacant USBA light middleweight title |
| 19 | NC | 16–1–1 (1) | Darrell Woods | TKO | 11 (12), 0:25 | 4 Oct 2002 | Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, US | USBA light middleweight title at stake; Originally a TKO win for Ouma, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Jason Papillion | RTD | 8 (12), 3:00 | 10 May 2002 | Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, US | Won vacant USBA light middleweight title |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | Michael Lerma | UD | 10 | 15 Feb 2002 | Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Pedro Ortega | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | 13 Dec 2001 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Verno Phillips | UD | 10 | 29 Jun 2001 | Magic Casino, Hankinson, North Dakota, US | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Tony Marshall | UD | 10 | 29 Jun 2001 | Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, US | |
| 13 | Draw | 11–1–1 | James Coker | TD | 2 (12), 1:46 | 26 Apr 2001 | Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas, US | For vacant WBC Continental Americas light middleweight title; TD after Coker was cut from an accidental head clash |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Quvonchbek Toygonbayev | UD | 6 | 13 Oct 2000 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Alex Bunema | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00 | 4 May 2000 | Dallas, Texas, US | |
| 10 | Loss | 9–1 | Agustin Silva | TKO | 1 (4) | 20 Nov 1999 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Angel Villegas | TKO | 8 (8) | 18 Jun 1999 | Robert and Mary Montgomery Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, US | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Emiliano Valdez | PTS | 6 | 30 Jan 1999 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Victor Ramos | TKO | 5 (12), 2:50 | 15 Jan 1999 | Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US | Won vacant Florida light middleweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Jerry Smith | TKO | 3 (8), 2:37 | 20 Nov 1998 | Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, Ocala, Florida, US | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Rodney Weston | KO | 1 (6), 2:54 | 7 Nov 1998 | Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Renan Reyes | KO | 1 (6), 1:44 | 16 Oct 1998 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Joseph Ragusa | KO | 1 (4), 0:27 | 12 Sep 1998 | Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Alton Madison | TKO | 3 (4), 2:19 | 27 Jul 1998 | Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Napoleon Middlebrooks | TKO | 1 (4), 1:20 | 10 Jul 1998 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US |
References edit
- ^ "The Big Interview" at Guardian unlimited
- ^ Biograph at Ouma's website[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kassim The Dream". www.kassimthedream.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
External links edit
- Boxing record for Kassim Ouma from BoxRec (registration required)