IntroductionAs is well known, ranking universities and colleges involves so much criteria and data, and even subjectivity and generalization. Ranking therefore is never an exact science; strengths and weaknesses of the colleges are never static, just as are aspects like availability and use of research funding, upgrading, qualities of instructors. Many colleges are slow at revolutionizing their curriculums, while others are rapidly innovative and easily embrace change.
This year, for the first time in a very long time, I recently perused some of the rankings of the universities all over the world. My impetus lies in the newsflash that California Institute of Technology, a powerhouse in Pasadena that is therefore not far-fetched from where I live, has become ranked in Forbes magazine as the top research university in the world. California very much remains a flagship state, despite the economic woes and the "spoiled brat" image of Californians. There is a latent, sometimes blatant "East Coast-West Coast" rivalry among Americans, that the displacement of Harvard by "Caltech" as the leading academic institution in the world is cause for Californians to roar it into the wild.
When I was at Texas' Baylor University in Waco, I marveled at the young Caltech graduate student from India who visited to witness the wedding of his sister Nivedita Sahu who was a classmate. Undoubtedly, he was a very brilliant and affable fellow. As I left Waco for Los Angeles, the director of the Department of Environmental Studies, a top national atmospheric physicist who additionally had a graduate degree in music, Dr. W. Merle Alexander told me that he routinely visited the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena at least once a year. Professor Alexander was to teach at Baylor for thirty years and was a long-term member of the Waco Symphony Orchestra whereby he played the french horn. Long before I knew about Californian genius Steve Jobs, Baylor had introduced me to directly facing and interacting with the computer world, in the dense network of Apple Macintosh computers all over the campus.
I took interest in the "Times Higher Education" World University rankings which were established in collaboration with a data provider generated by the same agency, with Thomas Reuters, and with expert information from over fifty leading persons in the field from fifteen nations across each of the continents. "Times Higher Education" regards itself as the golden yardstick in the field in the area of university performance comparison. Among the factors considered and weighed in ranking the universities were innovation, citations generated, volume and reputation of the researching, the teaching-learning environment, and the international outlook of the institutions. The institutions were ranked universally, and by region.
World Top Universities 2011-2012(1) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; (2) Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; (2) Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; (4) University of Oxford, UK; (5) Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; (6) University of Cambridge, UK; (7) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA; (8) Imperial College London, UK; (9) University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; (10) University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; (11) Yale University, New Haven, CT; (12) Columbia University, Washington, DC; (13) University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; (14) Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; (15) ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland; (16) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; (17) University College London, UK; (18) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; (19) University of Toronto, Canada; (20) Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Top North American Universities 2011-2012(1) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; (2) Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; (2) Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; (4) Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; (5) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA; (6) University of Chicago, Chicago, IL; (7) University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA; (8) Yale University, New Haven, CT; (9) Columbia University, Washington, DC; (10) University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; (11) Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; (12) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; (13) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; (14) Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; (15) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; (16) University of British Columbia, Canada; (17) Duke University, Durham, NC; (18) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA; (19) University of Washington, Seattle, WA; (20) Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Top African Universities 2011-2012(1) University of Capetown, South Africa; (2) Stellenbosch University, South Africa; (3) University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; (4) Alexandria University, Egypt.
Top Oceania Universities 2011-2012(1) University of Melbourne, Australia; (2) Australian National University, Australia; (3) University of Sydney, Australia; (4) University of Queensland, Australia; (5) Monash University, Australia; (6) University of Auckland, New Zealand; (7) University of New South Wales, Australia; (8) University of Western Australia, Australia; (9) University of Adelaide; (10) University of Otago, New Zealand; (11) Macquarie University, Australia; (12) Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; (13) University of Wollongong, Australia; (14) University of Newcastle, Australia (15) Queensland University of Technology, Australia; (16) University of Canterbury, New Zealand; (17) Charles Darwin University, Australia; (18) University of Tasmania, Australia; (19) University of Waikato, New Zealand; (20) Curtin University, Australia.
Top European Universities 2011-2012(1) University of Oxford, UK; (2) University of Cambridge, UK; (3) Imperial College London, UK; (4) ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland; (5) University College London, UK; (6) Karolinska Institute, Sweden; (7) University of Edinburgh, UK; (8) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany (9) Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland; (10) University of Manchester, UK; (11) King's College London, UK; (12) Ecole Normale Superieure, France; (13) University of Zurich; Switzerland; (14) Ecole Polytechnique, France; (15) University of Bristol, UK; (16) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; (17) Utrecht University, Netherlands; (18) Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany; (19) Universitat Heidelberg, Germany; (20) Wageningen University and Research Center, Netherlands.
Top South American Universities 2011-2012(1) University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; (2) State University of Campinas, Brazil (3) Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile.
Top Asian Universities 2011-2012
(1) University of Tokyo, Japan; (2) University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (3) National University of Singapore, Singapore; (4) Peking University, China; (5) Kyoto University, Japan; (6) Pohang University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; (7) Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong (8) Tsinghua University, China; (9) Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea; (10) Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan; (11) Osaka University, Japan; (12) Tohoku University, Japan; (13) Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; (14) Seoul National University, Republic of Korea; (15) Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (16) National Taiwan University, Taiwan; (17) Tel Aviv University, Israel; (18) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; (19) University of Science and Technology of China, China; (20) City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Jonathan Musere
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Jorge "Maromero" Paez: From Mexican Circus Clown to World Boxing Champion to Celebrity Entertainer
Introduction
The Spanish word "maromero" is derived from "maroma" (somersaults), and would translate to "acrobat," "the one who somersaults," "one who flips his body," or even "trickster." Jorge Adolfo Febles Paez, a native of Mexicali in Baja California, Mexico grew up in a family of roaming and struggling entertainers of a circus owned by his grandmother. More than the boxing ring, Paez loved clown and acrobat roles in the circus. In 1989, "El Maromero" Paez is quoted as saying, regarding the more than $100,000 he would receive for defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title against Lupe Gutierezz in Reno, Nevada:
"I only want to get money, not titles...I came from a down status. Now, I am at the top. It was hard getting there" ("Paez Faces Gutierezz" in "Schenectady Gazette," December 9, 1989).
Undoubtedly one of Jorge Paez's motivations to earn money was the upgrading and marketing of the family circus.
The rise to fame of Maromero Paez was unique, spectacular, and significantly historical. Before Paez's first fight in the United States of America, he was virtually unknown beyond the boxing circles of Mexico where he had earned the nickname "Maromero." In Mexico Paez had mostly fought in Mexicali (which is the state capital, and a portmanteau for "Mexico" and "California") and Tijuana in the state Baja California. He occasionally fought in places like Mexico City and San Luis Colorado. But though largely untested by international competition prior to his ventures into the United States, Paez had amassed an excellent boxing record of 25 wins (19 by knockout), two losses, one draw. Paez amassed the two losses very early in his career.
On January 23rd in Gamaches in Somme, France, 25 year-old African-American Calvin Grove dethroned Puerto Rican Antonio Rivera whose last fight had been on August 30th 1986 when he dethroned Ki-Young Chung of Korea of the IBF flyweight title. Undefeated in 32 previous fights in a professional boxing career that started in 1982, Grove knocked out Rivera in the fourth round of a scheduled 15 rounds. Tall and slender Calvin Grove, one of the best American boxers, was renowned for his speed and skills and ability to evade blows; he earned the nickname, "Silky Smooth." On April 17th 1988, Grove would successfully defend his new title, against American Myron Taylor. The next battle would be with Paez, on August 4th 1988. Grove was expected to win, but Paez had the higher knockout ratio. Paez was going to fight in his familiar hometown with the crowd cheering for the clown. Humidity in Mexicali is generally low, but the July-August weather temperatures often rise to a dehydrating triple-digits Fahrenheit! The temperature high of Mexicali on that August 4th 1988 was 105 degrees Fahrenheit, while the low was 86 degrees!
Calvin Grove Vs. Jorge Adolfo Paez: The First Bout
A high capacity crowd at the Plaza de Toros Calafia was eagerly anticipated the IBF featherweight championship bout. The ring set up in a bullfighting arena was unusually wide in area, and this would be a factor in the fight. It would likely give Grove the space advantage given that he was a hit-and-run fighter. Paez was more of the ambush and close-range boxer who preferred to cut down on the space or corner his opponents and batter them. Unfortunately, there are no rigid legal limits on the dimensions of a boxing ring.
Of historical significance, the Paez-Grove encounter would officially be the last USA televised and major international 15-round professional title bout. Protests over the dangers of boxing had undoubtedly played a part in gradually limiting professional boxing bouts to twelve rounds.
A young-looking Paez, well known for his unique flashy and exotic ring outfits and hairstyles (beside his clowning in the ring) was this time wearing flashy blue shorts and had a neat full crop of hair with bangles tied to the hair ends running down the neck. As usual, Paez was there not to steal the show but to be the show! In comparison, Grove looked none the worse for wear in his white and lines black shorts. He had a significant thick crown-crop of hair on top of his head with the lower circumference of the head heavily trimmed down. Paez at 22 years of age (born on October 27th, 1965 in the small cozy city Colima which is the capital of the Colima state of Mexico) and a relatively short 5'5" (165 cm) was officially weighted 125.75 pounds, while Grove who would turn 26 the next day (August 5th 1988) stood tall at 5'8" and light at 125.5 pounds. The differences arms lengths were also significant. Paez at 68-69 inches and Grove at 71 inches--nearly a full-foot of difference. Grove was born in the small steel town Coatesville in Pennsylvania.
In the first round, Grove exhibits a lot of the Muhammad Ali style. He is hitting and running, circling the ring. Paez looks stronger, much more buffed and muscular than Grove. No doubt, Grove is very much aware of the strength and rocking power of Paez. Paez is the offensive one, Grove is the defensive one. As Paez walks and jogs to Grove to deliver, Grove keeps jabbing and running, but the jabs are not hurting Paez. But the few of Paez's blows that hit Grove are significantly powerful, and one noticeably causes Grove to stumble. This reminds Grove that he will have to continue to be evasive to avoid a Paez onslaught. The fighters have been feeling or assessing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The judges likely awarded each of the two pugilists the same numbers of points for this round.
The second round begins and further signifies that Paez is the one with the devastating power punches that Grove fully realized in the first round. Grove maintains a safe distance from Paez, sometimes running away from a chasing Paez who is intending to put out Paez with a devastating right-left hook.
In rounds three and four, Grove continues his hit-and-retreat stance that frustrates Paez who does not seem to be accustomed to Grove's boxing style. Somewhere in there, Paez delivers a hard left hook that hurts Grove. But this fight is likely becoming a difficult one to score. Should the judges reward for Grove's combinations which are not laced with much power and involve what looks like cowardly retreating and avoiding a toe-to-toe brawl with Paez; or should they award Paez for his keenness but frustration in hitting Grove? Paez's blows are hard and significant, the few times they land. Paez may have to count on Grove losing steam as the fight progresses. And the weather temperatures are significantly high, and Grove with his thin body and continuous running may be bound to lose more energy and body fluids as the fight progresses.
In the fifth round, Paez confidently starts his clowning. This is to please and rail the crowd, displaying what he is famous for. It may also be a way for him to relax given the evasiveness of Grove that has frustrated and psychologically worn him out. Paez is taking a break to allow him to forge a strategy to get at Grove. The only two professional bouts that Paez previously lost happened very early in his career. Paez had never been knocked out and had gone the full distance in a handful of 10-rounders. This is his first international championship, the first beyond 10 rounds. Grove has gone the full distance in a significant number of bouts of 10 rounds and beyond. Grove certainly has the stamina--in his last fight, about a year ago, he defeated Myron Taylor by unanimous decision in a 15-round defense of his new IBF featherweight title.
The sixth round starts, and Paez briefly hits Grove. This is Paez's best round, the audience is excited. Paez lands more head-hunting punches, clownishly taunts Grove,. even faking getting disoriented after Grove's delivering the blows that do not hurt him.
In the seventh round, for the first time, the two boxers are closer in body distance; perhaps a sign that both are tired. But as indicated, the close contact style would likely favor the harder-hitting and offensive Paez. This round is even more exciting than the fifth-sixth rounds, but Paez lands the harder and sharper blows. Both boxers are getting exhausted, and Grove the more worn out, the two seem to be going for the kill as Grove becomes more audacious.
Paez appears to be relaxing in the eighth round, while still looking for the opportunity to land that killer punch. Grove continues to land the flash punches, hoping that the accumulation will give him the points. Paez is also visibly landing blows to Grove's body as he ducks.
In the ninth round Paez picks up the pace and the crowd roars as he occasionally delivers. At some point he taunts Grove to move towards him and fight.
In the tenth round, both boxers display fatigue and each taunts the other. There is significantly visible damage to Grove in the form of a growing swelling on the side of his left eye. Paez gaining confidence, at some point stands straight alongside the ropes with dropped hands as he taunts Grove's seemingly soft punches that he allows Grove to deliver. Paez is urging Grove to step close to him and really fight. Paez seems to be trying to encourage Grove to step closer, attempting to bait and thereafter rock him.
In the eleventh round Paez more intensively chases Grove who remains elusive as he circles and avoids the blows. Grove starts to occasionally hold as the strong Paez lounges forward. For the first time, Paez has surpassed 10 rounds. Grove had previously done it eighteen times. A great round for Paez who has landed heavy lounging blows on a retreating and apparently tired and injured Grove. A strength of Paez is his ability to easily change from the orthodox to the southpaw stance; a bit of ambidexterity with a lot of power in both fists.
In the twelfth round Paez continues to go after the hurt the retreating tired Calvin Grove who is hanging on. Paez becomes overly confident. Grove surprisingly lands and hurts Paez in the last few seconds of the round. But the bell rings and it is too late for Grove to follow up.
The thirteenth round witnesses Paez getting deadlier. The "Maromero" is fighting as though he is as fresh as at the beginning of the bout. He is encouraged by the swelling next to Grove's left eye which is getting worse. The two boxers seem to be adrenaline-charged! This round involves more toe-to-toe exchanges, but Paez is also dancing and gaining the upper hand. Grove is running, but he has become more daring in reciprocating Paez's flurry.
The fourteenth round involves Paez continuing to chase and land on Grove the harder blows. Paez does some clowning, a sign of growing confidence; but he intends to put out Grove.
The final round fifteen is evidently the "do-or-die" round. Grove is hurt and worn out, but the retreating blows he landed that were more significant in the first half of the bout might have him in the lead on the judges' scorecards. On the other hand, the judges could have awarded more points to Paez because of his aggressiveness and hard punches against a seemingly cowardly retreating Grove. In the first seconds of the fifteenth round, Paez is knocked down but it is ruled a push. Paez quickly gets up. But a heavily dehydrated and worn out Grove seems to drop his guard. He retreats to a neutral corner, perhaps to get the support of the ropes. This is Paez's best moment given that Grove is substantially trapped, for the first time! Paez unleashes a left that hurts Grove. This gives Paez the chance to deliver a dangerous combination that knocks Grove to the ground. Grove, in agony, gets up, is given an 8-count. Paez aggressively goes forward and hammers Grove in the same previous corner. Grove falls, again. After the 8-count, Paez uncharacteristically hits Grove in the abdomen and Grove falls although the blow looked like a slap. Grove gets up, his body language implying protest that it was a low blow or maybe water on the floor that made him slip. As the fight has been progressing, Grove has been holding on for dear life, often holding and even twisting around Paez so as to recuperate and kill time. Grove is in agony but the bell saves him from being completely knocked out. There was not a three-knock-down rule in this IBF. The crowd was in a frenzy throughout the fifteenth round.
When the bell rings to signal the end of a lengthy and hard-fought bout, Paez smiles and is lifted up by his team to imply that he has won. Many contend that some of the referees may have given a 10-6 points in favor of Paez in the fifteenth round because of the three knockdowns. after the smiling and confidently waving to the animated crowd, Paez climbs up the corner ropes to wave to the crowd and flex his raised arms like he is the victor. Then he climbs down and collapsedly falls to the floor. He is exhausted but elated! Paez's Mexican entourage that is mostly dressed in white has already swarmed and packed the ring like it were an extended congratulating family. Paez again climbs the ropes. The congratulatory patting from the entourage is seemingly ceaseless! The two boxers Paez and Grove briefly hug and utter some friendly words to each other as they eagerly await the decision. The result, it is a majority decision in favor of an excited and emotional Maromero Paez! The IBF featherweight championship belt is locked around his waist and he is hoisted up, his arms flexing in the air in victory! Paez emotionally weeps, and in the opposite corner is a disappointed Grove with eyes covered by his right hand, with head hanging low. Jorge Paez Jr., just 8 months of age, is brought into the ring for his father to hold and display.
Calvin Grove Vs. Jorge Adolfo Paez: The Second Bout
Since the previous bout, Paez had fought an average Mexican boxer Miguel Molina whom he had previously, on July 28th 1986, beaten by points in a 6-round bout in Tijuana. On September 30th 1988, nearly two months after Paez had won the IBF featherweight title, Paez knocked out Molina in Ciudad Juarez. The rematch with Grove would be Paez's next professional boxing bout.
Inevitably, the audience longed for a Paez-Grove rematch. The rematch would happen on March 30th 1989. The bout took place at the same ring in Mexicali that the previous IBF featherweight championship had taken place. But this time the weather temperatures were considerably lower and much better tolerable than during the previous bout which was contested in August of the previous year. On this March 30th, the maximum temperature was 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest was 60 degrees, and the average was 76 degrees. Contrast that with the foregone August bout whereby the maximum was 104, the minimum was 77, and the average was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, Paez had the home-crowd and weather-familiarity advantage.
On March 30th 1989, the ring officials and boxers Grove and Paez stood to the attention of the playing of the USA and Mexico anthems. The rematch for the!BF featherweight championship was going to take place. The ring was exactly the same that the two boxers had battled for the championship, previously. The ring area was again conspicuously wide in area, and comfortably held many boxing officials. A Mexican celebrity sang the Mexican anthem while Paez and many others in the ring and among the audience sang along. Paez was more flashily and glamorously dressed than in their previous bout. Here he wore multi-colored trunks, green gloves and boots, and unevenly matched socks and other accessories that truly made him look like the circus clown. The complex hair style enhanced the circus clown image. Grove wore purple trunks and his rows of braided hair seemed to suggest that he had attempted to match Paez's flashy attire.
The first round begins and Paez is certainly animated and more confident than during the beginning of the last bout. Paez starts by clownishly and tauntingly gyrating his hips as he looks at Grove in the corner across, then at the bell signal he quickly rushes at his opponent. Paez is much more aggressive early in the bout than in their previous fight and seems to want to clobber Grove and end the bout early. He seems to be confident that he now knows Grove well enough and can go for the early kill. Paez manages to land many single left-right punches to Grove's head and body as a cautious Grove mostly wards off Paez with his long arms. Still, Grove is facing Paez more than evading him like he had done in their previous fight. Paez is certainly dominant in this round.
In the second round, Grove becomes more offensive and lands more jabs than during the first round. Paez is relaxed, less animated than in the first round, but he still lands heavy blows and wants to deliver a lounging head kill. Paez taunts Grove, using clowning hip gestures. Near the end of the round, Paez unleashes a series of combinations that seem to hurt Grove. But this round favors Grove, although there was not much action in the round.
At the beginning of the third round, Paez is cornered but is not getting hurt by Grove. He slips out of the corner and the two boxers go toe-to-toe around the ring. Unlike the first bout whereby Grove mostly hit-and-run, this time Grove is bravely standing to Paez and not running. Grove is trading punches with the stronger Paez. The latter, sometimes ducks or lowers his head before landing the 1-2 combination. Near the end of the round, Grove corners Paez and unleashes a significant combination of punches. But Paez slips away and even begins to punch Grove who slightly wobbles. The bell rings.
In the fourth round Paez works hard to strike Grove while ducking and attempting to box through Grove's guarding long arms. Grove is cautious and retreating, and not boxing much. At some point he even holds Paez. But Paez gets the better of the two. Grove throws a punishing right to the head of Paez, but this apparently angers and excites Paez into smothering Grove the more. This is a great round for Paez whereby Grove is getting hurt.
Just before the beginning of the fifth round, a confident Paez in his corner dancingly shakes his chest. The bell rings and Paez straight away runs after Grove. The two exchange thundering jabs. Grove is hurt and he holds Paez so as to avert the onslaught. The referee separates them. Grove recovers and reciprocates Paez's jabs. Paez corners Grove and attempts to block his eyes with the left hand and then deliver a killer combination, but fails to knock him down. This is a great round for Paez who is progressively gaining confidence and landing more blows.
In the sixth round Paez relaxes and tauntingly clowns, even when Grove backs him into a corner, indicating that Grove is not hurting him. The two continue to exchange hard punches, but this time Paez's clowning has allowed Grove to deliver and land more punches. Grove lands on Paez a significantly punishing upper cut.
Paez is back to business in the seventh round. He attacks Grove, but Grove does not back away although at times he holds. Paez continues to taunt Grove by gyrating his hips as he beckons him to come forward and fight. Grove's blows have weakened but he unleashes a dangerous combination that hurts and spurs on Paez to return the favor. Still, Grove is the better deliverer in this round, proving that he trained hard for this championship bout. Grove is much less of the retreating fighter seen in the first fight with Paez. Allowing himself to be cornered is partly a tactic by Paez to get Grove closer so he can more easily rock Grove.
In the eighth round, Grove who has gained confidence backs Paez into a corner and delivers the blows. Paez instinctively counter-attacks and exacts on Grove hard blows that weaken Grove. The latter retreats more, he seems to be getting tired. Grove occasionally holds, but Paez keeps going after him. He even wriggles his hips, deriding Grove. Paez has bagged this round.
In the ninth round a fresh-looking Paez, compared to a worn-out Grove, runs after his foe. Paez seems to be inching toward delivering the killing blows. Grove, using his long arms, wards off and sometimes holds Paez to slow down the onslaught. Grove bravely hangs in there and sometimes delivers punches. Paez's hard punches are hitting the target, but Grove continues to stand. Grove's legs become rubbery and near the end of the round Paez delivers a thundering blow to Grove's head. Grove stumbles. Grove protestingly gestures. The referee immediately warns Paez for hitting Grove after the bell had rang. The boxers' corner teams quickly jump into the ring to avert the tension. Certainly a great and exciting round that heavily favors Paez!
Apparently, this fight is much more defined than the first Grove-Paez bout! In this one, Calvin Grove is much less cowardly. But with the progression into the later rounds, Grove is getting tired and weak, he is sometimes surviving on rubbery legs, he is retreating and holding more, and he is throwing fewer punches.
It is now the tenth round and a weary Grove starts by holding Paez. The latter starts running after and hitting a retreating Grove. The latter attempts to slow down Paez by holding again and again. Grove stumbles, but holds on. But he is too weak and a punch from Paez floors him! The fight resumes after the standing-8 count. Grove is floored again, but gets up--it was ruled a slip. Then a right to the head fells Grove for the third time. An excited but exhausted Paez runs to a neutral corner to rest on the ropes. The bell sounds for the end of the round, saving Grove from further punishment. Grove stumbles to his corner. Surprisingly the Grove corner does not throw in the surrendering towel!
The eleventh comes around, and a courageous but retreating Grove holds on with weak legs. He is relying on adrenaline! Paez, exhausted from all the hard work, has the upper hand. Paez pounds Grove with a left jab that sends him slumping down! Before the referee starts counting, "Maromero" climbs up the corner ropes and raises his arms to the audience in assuring victory. The referee requests Paez to climb down. Grove is finished! He is counted out by the referee. But he still gets up, and medical personnel jumps to him. Simultaneously, Paez flips his body, but before he can flip again, a swarm of the congratulatory Mexican entourage rushes in. Paez climbs onto the corner ropes and gyrates his hips to the frenzied crowd, victoriously raising his arms. He pounds his chest, displaying convincingly victory--as compared to the previous championship fight with Grove whereby he had won by a split decision.
In the "Doghouse Boxing" interview article "Calvin Grove: Mr. Silky Smooth" (March 14, 2008) conducted by Ken Hissner, Grove laments about the second bout with Paez: "We were supposed to fight in L.A. [Los Angeles] when it got changed to Mexico again. He [Paez] was awkward as it is. I lost fair and square. I was exhausted by the 11th round."
The Thereafter
"Maromero" Paez, who became nicknamed the "Clown Price of Boxing" in the USA where he would mostly fight, after the battles with Grove, would remain professionally active until the end of the year 2003. Paez would successfully defend his IBF featherweight title against commendable boxers including Steve Cruz and Troy Dorsey. Paez lost his IBF featherweight title to legendary Tony Lopez on September 22nd 1990. Later, as a lightweight, Paez failed to wrest the title from undisputed champion and legend Pernell Whitaker.
Paez fought in numerous bouts every year--some in Mexico. He won most of them. He challenged legendary Rafael Ruelas for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight title. Paez retired in the tenth round. In 1993, Paez contested for the IBF lightweight title. He lost by unanimous decision to Freddie Pendleton. In July 1994, Paez was knocked out by Olympic gold medallist Oscar De La Hoya for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title. Paez lost in all three of his next fights, the worst of his losing streaks. That included being disqualified for hitting Jose Vida Ramos when he was down on the floor. The next bout was their rematch, a contest for the newly created and little regarded WBO North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super featherweight title. Paez lost by points.
Paez won in his next four fights. In August 1996 he knocked out Narciso Valenzuela, to claim the unheralded WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title. Again in Las Vegas, Paez lost the same title by points to Julian Wheeler in October two months later. In the January 1997 rematch, Paez regained the title by outpointing Wheeler in Los Angeles. As a clown prince, Paez befittingly fought many of his bouts in the entertainment-oriented states of California and Nevada. In April 1997 in Las Vegas, Paez retained the WBC Continental Americas super featherweight crown, knocking out Gerald Gray in the third round. In August of the same year, Paez was stopped by fifth round TKO by Angel Manfredy, failing in his quest again for the World Boxing Union (WBU) super featherweight title.
In August 1998, Paez won the North American Boxing Union (NABU) featherweight title in knocking out Juan Macias in the sixth round in Las Vegas. In August, Paez won the IBA Americas super featherweight crown, knocking out Juan Perez in El Paso in Texas. A year later, Paez was knocked out in the fifth round by Jose Castillo who then captured the vacant IBA super featherweight crown. This happened in Mexicali at the same Plaza Calafia that Paez had won his first world title in 1988.
Although against mostly mediocre boxers, Paez did not lose in any of his next fourteen that were scheduled 10-round non-title bouts. He won all except for the draw with Justo Sanchez. These fourteen, spanning from April 2000 to December 2003 would be his last. The ultimate showy boxing entertainer and traveler would travel to places like Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Phoenix, and Utah to fight. At age 38, Paez retired with an excellent record of 79 wins (51 knockouts), 14 losses, and 5 draws.
Though Jorge Paez preferred that his sons not get into the dangerous sport of boxing, and instead concentrate on formal education, his son Jorge "Maromerito" Paez Jr. is a boxing world title prospect. He is the WBC Youth International welterweight champion. A younger brother, Azriel Paez, also started boxing professionally. The record of "Maromerito" Paez is now 29 wins (18 knockouts), and 4 losses.
Filmography
Jorge Paez is also credited with being a Hollywood and Mexico entertainer and actor. In 1995 he appeared in the movie "Dirty Money" whereby he was "Jorge." This is a robbery and murder mystery that includes the pursuance of a looter to a circus in Mexico.
Earlier in 1993, Paez was "Ernesto" in the movie "Old Shoes" in the Spanish language, filmed in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In "La Ultima Esperanza," a drama and romance TV series that ran from 1993-1995, Paez was "Kid."
In 2006, Paez participated in the continuing "Bailando Por La Boda De Tus Sueños" in Mexico. This "Dancing for a Dream" involves many Mexican celebrities and can be compared to "Dancing with the Stars."
Paez also acted on the NBC Saturday Sports Showcase series in 1990. In 2004, Paez was in "No Way Out" which was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event series. Paez also participated in the related "Smackdown" in the same year.
Conclusion
The flamboyance of boxing Mexican legend Jorge"El Maromero'" Paez was thoroughly entertaining, and involved outrageous hairstyles, dancing, taunting opponents, a new and unique costume each boxing bout, acrobatism and clowning, flipping his body. Nevertheless, Paez was a very muscular and determined hard-working powerful boxer with the drive to win. He read his opponents well even if they were considerably taller than him, zeroed in on their weaknesses, and often put them out. He had an outstanding boxing record in Mexico, the title wins in Mexicali were his first attempts at any major boxing title. Paez challenged many of the boxing legends. Paez became an international sensation in demand. The need to maintain and uplift the struggling family circus spurred him on to be a wonderful circus entertainer. His boxing skills allowed him to earn money from the sport, big dollars that would uplift the family and their business. His love was the circus, and he always brought it with him to the boxing ring. The audiences noticed and grew in capacity; the kids loved Paez's clowning and flashiness. Paez traversed the United States, but principally entertainment-oriented Nevada and California. "El Maromero" became a celebrity. His showiness was quickly noticed and embraced by the film/ entertainment industry. But Paez has never forgotten, and he still performs and stars in his Mexico homeland nation. Paez's genius lay in his being, uniquely and simultaneously, the star clown, the great boxer and the entertainer. Paez has become one of those unforgettables. Calvin Grove, would never regain significant international status although he would go on to contest for three more world titles--against legends Azumah Nelson, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, and Angel Manfredy.
Works Cited
Boswell, Thomas. "Paez Faces Gutierezz" in "Schenectady Gazette" (December 9, 1989).
Hissner, Ken. "Calvin Grove: Mr. Silky Smooth" in "Doghouse Boxing" (March 14, 2008).
Jonathan Musere
The Spanish word "maromero" is derived from "maroma" (somersaults), and would translate to "acrobat," "the one who somersaults," "one who flips his body," or even "trickster." Jorge Adolfo Febles Paez, a native of Mexicali in Baja California, Mexico grew up in a family of roaming and struggling entertainers of a circus owned by his grandmother. More than the boxing ring, Paez loved clown and acrobat roles in the circus. In 1989, "El Maromero" Paez is quoted as saying, regarding the more than $100,000 he would receive for defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title against Lupe Gutierezz in Reno, Nevada:
"I only want to get money, not titles...I came from a down status. Now, I am at the top. It was hard getting there" ("Paez Faces Gutierezz" in "Schenectady Gazette," December 9, 1989).
Undoubtedly one of Jorge Paez's motivations to earn money was the upgrading and marketing of the family circus.
The rise to fame of Maromero Paez was unique, spectacular, and significantly historical. Before Paez's first fight in the United States of America, he was virtually unknown beyond the boxing circles of Mexico where he had earned the nickname "Maromero." In Mexico Paez had mostly fought in Mexicali (which is the state capital, and a portmanteau for "Mexico" and "California") and Tijuana in the state Baja California. He occasionally fought in places like Mexico City and San Luis Colorado. But though largely untested by international competition prior to his ventures into the United States, Paez had amassed an excellent boxing record of 25 wins (19 by knockout), two losses, one draw. Paez amassed the two losses very early in his career.
On January 23rd in Gamaches in Somme, France, 25 year-old African-American Calvin Grove dethroned Puerto Rican Antonio Rivera whose last fight had been on August 30th 1986 when he dethroned Ki-Young Chung of Korea of the IBF flyweight title. Undefeated in 32 previous fights in a professional boxing career that started in 1982, Grove knocked out Rivera in the fourth round of a scheduled 15 rounds. Tall and slender Calvin Grove, one of the best American boxers, was renowned for his speed and skills and ability to evade blows; he earned the nickname, "Silky Smooth." On April 17th 1988, Grove would successfully defend his new title, against American Myron Taylor. The next battle would be with Paez, on August 4th 1988. Grove was expected to win, but Paez had the higher knockout ratio. Paez was going to fight in his familiar hometown with the crowd cheering for the clown. Humidity in Mexicali is generally low, but the July-August weather temperatures often rise to a dehydrating triple-digits Fahrenheit! The temperature high of Mexicali on that August 4th 1988 was 105 degrees Fahrenheit, while the low was 86 degrees!
Calvin Grove Vs. Jorge Adolfo Paez: The First Bout
A high capacity crowd at the Plaza de Toros Calafia was eagerly anticipated the IBF featherweight championship bout. The ring set up in a bullfighting arena was unusually wide in area, and this would be a factor in the fight. It would likely give Grove the space advantage given that he was a hit-and-run fighter. Paez was more of the ambush and close-range boxer who preferred to cut down on the space or corner his opponents and batter them. Unfortunately, there are no rigid legal limits on the dimensions of a boxing ring.
Of historical significance, the Paez-Grove encounter would officially be the last USA televised and major international 15-round professional title bout. Protests over the dangers of boxing had undoubtedly played a part in gradually limiting professional boxing bouts to twelve rounds.
A young-looking Paez, well known for his unique flashy and exotic ring outfits and hairstyles (beside his clowning in the ring) was this time wearing flashy blue shorts and had a neat full crop of hair with bangles tied to the hair ends running down the neck. As usual, Paez was there not to steal the show but to be the show! In comparison, Grove looked none the worse for wear in his white and lines black shorts. He had a significant thick crown-crop of hair on top of his head with the lower circumference of the head heavily trimmed down. Paez at 22 years of age (born on October 27th, 1965 in the small cozy city Colima which is the capital of the Colima state of Mexico) and a relatively short 5'5" (165 cm) was officially weighted 125.75 pounds, while Grove who would turn 26 the next day (August 5th 1988) stood tall at 5'8" and light at 125.5 pounds. The differences arms lengths were also significant. Paez at 68-69 inches and Grove at 71 inches--nearly a full-foot of difference. Grove was born in the small steel town Coatesville in Pennsylvania.
In the first round, Grove exhibits a lot of the Muhammad Ali style. He is hitting and running, circling the ring. Paez looks stronger, much more buffed and muscular than Grove. No doubt, Grove is very much aware of the strength and rocking power of Paez. Paez is the offensive one, Grove is the defensive one. As Paez walks and jogs to Grove to deliver, Grove keeps jabbing and running, but the jabs are not hurting Paez. But the few of Paez's blows that hit Grove are significantly powerful, and one noticeably causes Grove to stumble. This reminds Grove that he will have to continue to be evasive to avoid a Paez onslaught. The fighters have been feeling or assessing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The judges likely awarded each of the two pugilists the same numbers of points for this round.
The second round begins and further signifies that Paez is the one with the devastating power punches that Grove fully realized in the first round. Grove maintains a safe distance from Paez, sometimes running away from a chasing Paez who is intending to put out Paez with a devastating right-left hook.
In rounds three and four, Grove continues his hit-and-retreat stance that frustrates Paez who does not seem to be accustomed to Grove's boxing style. Somewhere in there, Paez delivers a hard left hook that hurts Grove. But this fight is likely becoming a difficult one to score. Should the judges reward for Grove's combinations which are not laced with much power and involve what looks like cowardly retreating and avoiding a toe-to-toe brawl with Paez; or should they award Paez for his keenness but frustration in hitting Grove? Paez's blows are hard and significant, the few times they land. Paez may have to count on Grove losing steam as the fight progresses. And the weather temperatures are significantly high, and Grove with his thin body and continuous running may be bound to lose more energy and body fluids as the fight progresses.
In the fifth round, Paez confidently starts his clowning. This is to please and rail the crowd, displaying what he is famous for. It may also be a way for him to relax given the evasiveness of Grove that has frustrated and psychologically worn him out. Paez is taking a break to allow him to forge a strategy to get at Grove. The only two professional bouts that Paez previously lost happened very early in his career. Paez had never been knocked out and had gone the full distance in a handful of 10-rounders. This is his first international championship, the first beyond 10 rounds. Grove has gone the full distance in a significant number of bouts of 10 rounds and beyond. Grove certainly has the stamina--in his last fight, about a year ago, he defeated Myron Taylor by unanimous decision in a 15-round defense of his new IBF featherweight title.
The sixth round starts, and Paez briefly hits Grove. This is Paez's best round, the audience is excited. Paez lands more head-hunting punches, clownishly taunts Grove,. even faking getting disoriented after Grove's delivering the blows that do not hurt him.
In the seventh round, for the first time, the two boxers are closer in body distance; perhaps a sign that both are tired. But as indicated, the close contact style would likely favor the harder-hitting and offensive Paez. This round is even more exciting than the fifth-sixth rounds, but Paez lands the harder and sharper blows. Both boxers are getting exhausted, and Grove the more worn out, the two seem to be going for the kill as Grove becomes more audacious.
Paez appears to be relaxing in the eighth round, while still looking for the opportunity to land that killer punch. Grove continues to land the flash punches, hoping that the accumulation will give him the points. Paez is also visibly landing blows to Grove's body as he ducks.
In the ninth round Paez picks up the pace and the crowd roars as he occasionally delivers. At some point he taunts Grove to move towards him and fight.
In the tenth round, both boxers display fatigue and each taunts the other. There is significantly visible damage to Grove in the form of a growing swelling on the side of his left eye. Paez gaining confidence, at some point stands straight alongside the ropes with dropped hands as he taunts Grove's seemingly soft punches that he allows Grove to deliver. Paez is urging Grove to step close to him and really fight. Paez seems to be trying to encourage Grove to step closer, attempting to bait and thereafter rock him.
In the eleventh round Paez more intensively chases Grove who remains elusive as he circles and avoids the blows. Grove starts to occasionally hold as the strong Paez lounges forward. For the first time, Paez has surpassed 10 rounds. Grove had previously done it eighteen times. A great round for Paez who has landed heavy lounging blows on a retreating and apparently tired and injured Grove. A strength of Paez is his ability to easily change from the orthodox to the southpaw stance; a bit of ambidexterity with a lot of power in both fists.
In the twelfth round Paez continues to go after the hurt the retreating tired Calvin Grove who is hanging on. Paez becomes overly confident. Grove surprisingly lands and hurts Paez in the last few seconds of the round. But the bell rings and it is too late for Grove to follow up.
The thirteenth round witnesses Paez getting deadlier. The "Maromero" is fighting as though he is as fresh as at the beginning of the bout. He is encouraged by the swelling next to Grove's left eye which is getting worse. The two boxers seem to be adrenaline-charged! This round involves more toe-to-toe exchanges, but Paez is also dancing and gaining the upper hand. Grove is running, but he has become more daring in reciprocating Paez's flurry.
The fourteenth round involves Paez continuing to chase and land on Grove the harder blows. Paez does some clowning, a sign of growing confidence; but he intends to put out Grove.
The final round fifteen is evidently the "do-or-die" round. Grove is hurt and worn out, but the retreating blows he landed that were more significant in the first half of the bout might have him in the lead on the judges' scorecards. On the other hand, the judges could have awarded more points to Paez because of his aggressiveness and hard punches against a seemingly cowardly retreating Grove. In the first seconds of the fifteenth round, Paez is knocked down but it is ruled a push. Paez quickly gets up. But a heavily dehydrated and worn out Grove seems to drop his guard. He retreats to a neutral corner, perhaps to get the support of the ropes. This is Paez's best moment given that Grove is substantially trapped, for the first time! Paez unleashes a left that hurts Grove. This gives Paez the chance to deliver a dangerous combination that knocks Grove to the ground. Grove, in agony, gets up, is given an 8-count. Paez aggressively goes forward and hammers Grove in the same previous corner. Grove falls, again. After the 8-count, Paez uncharacteristically hits Grove in the abdomen and Grove falls although the blow looked like a slap. Grove gets up, his body language implying protest that it was a low blow or maybe water on the floor that made him slip. As the fight has been progressing, Grove has been holding on for dear life, often holding and even twisting around Paez so as to recuperate and kill time. Grove is in agony but the bell saves him from being completely knocked out. There was not a three-knock-down rule in this IBF. The crowd was in a frenzy throughout the fifteenth round.
When the bell rings to signal the end of a lengthy and hard-fought bout, Paez smiles and is lifted up by his team to imply that he has won. Many contend that some of the referees may have given a 10-6 points in favor of Paez in the fifteenth round because of the three knockdowns. after the smiling and confidently waving to the animated crowd, Paez climbs up the corner ropes to wave to the crowd and flex his raised arms like he is the victor. Then he climbs down and collapsedly falls to the floor. He is exhausted but elated! Paez's Mexican entourage that is mostly dressed in white has already swarmed and packed the ring like it were an extended congratulating family. Paez again climbs the ropes. The congratulatory patting from the entourage is seemingly ceaseless! The two boxers Paez and Grove briefly hug and utter some friendly words to each other as they eagerly await the decision. The result, it is a majority decision in favor of an excited and emotional Maromero Paez! The IBF featherweight championship belt is locked around his waist and he is hoisted up, his arms flexing in the air in victory! Paez emotionally weeps, and in the opposite corner is a disappointed Grove with eyes covered by his right hand, with head hanging low. Jorge Paez Jr., just 8 months of age, is brought into the ring for his father to hold and display.
Calvin Grove Vs. Jorge Adolfo Paez: The Second Bout
Since the previous bout, Paez had fought an average Mexican boxer Miguel Molina whom he had previously, on July 28th 1986, beaten by points in a 6-round bout in Tijuana. On September 30th 1988, nearly two months after Paez had won the IBF featherweight title, Paez knocked out Molina in Ciudad Juarez. The rematch with Grove would be Paez's next professional boxing bout.
Inevitably, the audience longed for a Paez-Grove rematch. The rematch would happen on March 30th 1989. The bout took place at the same ring in Mexicali that the previous IBF featherweight championship had taken place. But this time the weather temperatures were considerably lower and much better tolerable than during the previous bout which was contested in August of the previous year. On this March 30th, the maximum temperature was 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest was 60 degrees, and the average was 76 degrees. Contrast that with the foregone August bout whereby the maximum was 104, the minimum was 77, and the average was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, Paez had the home-crowd and weather-familiarity advantage.
On March 30th 1989, the ring officials and boxers Grove and Paez stood to the attention of the playing of the USA and Mexico anthems. The rematch for the!BF featherweight championship was going to take place. The ring was exactly the same that the two boxers had battled for the championship, previously. The ring area was again conspicuously wide in area, and comfortably held many boxing officials. A Mexican celebrity sang the Mexican anthem while Paez and many others in the ring and among the audience sang along. Paez was more flashily and glamorously dressed than in their previous bout. Here he wore multi-colored trunks, green gloves and boots, and unevenly matched socks and other accessories that truly made him look like the circus clown. The complex hair style enhanced the circus clown image. Grove wore purple trunks and his rows of braided hair seemed to suggest that he had attempted to match Paez's flashy attire.
The first round begins and Paez is certainly animated and more confident than during the beginning of the last bout. Paez starts by clownishly and tauntingly gyrating his hips as he looks at Grove in the corner across, then at the bell signal he quickly rushes at his opponent. Paez is much more aggressive early in the bout than in their previous fight and seems to want to clobber Grove and end the bout early. He seems to be confident that he now knows Grove well enough and can go for the early kill. Paez manages to land many single left-right punches to Grove's head and body as a cautious Grove mostly wards off Paez with his long arms. Still, Grove is facing Paez more than evading him like he had done in their previous fight. Paez is certainly dominant in this round.
In the second round, Grove becomes more offensive and lands more jabs than during the first round. Paez is relaxed, less animated than in the first round, but he still lands heavy blows and wants to deliver a lounging head kill. Paez taunts Grove, using clowning hip gestures. Near the end of the round, Paez unleashes a series of combinations that seem to hurt Grove. But this round favors Grove, although there was not much action in the round.
At the beginning of the third round, Paez is cornered but is not getting hurt by Grove. He slips out of the corner and the two boxers go toe-to-toe around the ring. Unlike the first bout whereby Grove mostly hit-and-run, this time Grove is bravely standing to Paez and not running. Grove is trading punches with the stronger Paez. The latter, sometimes ducks or lowers his head before landing the 1-2 combination. Near the end of the round, Grove corners Paez and unleashes a significant combination of punches. But Paez slips away and even begins to punch Grove who slightly wobbles. The bell rings.
In the fourth round Paez works hard to strike Grove while ducking and attempting to box through Grove's guarding long arms. Grove is cautious and retreating, and not boxing much. At some point he even holds Paez. But Paez gets the better of the two. Grove throws a punishing right to the head of Paez, but this apparently angers and excites Paez into smothering Grove the more. This is a great round for Paez whereby Grove is getting hurt.
Just before the beginning of the fifth round, a confident Paez in his corner dancingly shakes his chest. The bell rings and Paez straight away runs after Grove. The two exchange thundering jabs. Grove is hurt and he holds Paez so as to avert the onslaught. The referee separates them. Grove recovers and reciprocates Paez's jabs. Paez corners Grove and attempts to block his eyes with the left hand and then deliver a killer combination, but fails to knock him down. This is a great round for Paez who is progressively gaining confidence and landing more blows.
In the sixth round Paez relaxes and tauntingly clowns, even when Grove backs him into a corner, indicating that Grove is not hurting him. The two continue to exchange hard punches, but this time Paez's clowning has allowed Grove to deliver and land more punches. Grove lands on Paez a significantly punishing upper cut.
Paez is back to business in the seventh round. He attacks Grove, but Grove does not back away although at times he holds. Paez continues to taunt Grove by gyrating his hips as he beckons him to come forward and fight. Grove's blows have weakened but he unleashes a dangerous combination that hurts and spurs on Paez to return the favor. Still, Grove is the better deliverer in this round, proving that he trained hard for this championship bout. Grove is much less of the retreating fighter seen in the first fight with Paez. Allowing himself to be cornered is partly a tactic by Paez to get Grove closer so he can more easily rock Grove.
In the eighth round, Grove who has gained confidence backs Paez into a corner and delivers the blows. Paez instinctively counter-attacks and exacts on Grove hard blows that weaken Grove. The latter retreats more, he seems to be getting tired. Grove occasionally holds, but Paez keeps going after him. He even wriggles his hips, deriding Grove. Paez has bagged this round.
In the ninth round a fresh-looking Paez, compared to a worn-out Grove, runs after his foe. Paez seems to be inching toward delivering the killing blows. Grove, using his long arms, wards off and sometimes holds Paez to slow down the onslaught. Grove bravely hangs in there and sometimes delivers punches. Paez's hard punches are hitting the target, but Grove continues to stand. Grove's legs become rubbery and near the end of the round Paez delivers a thundering blow to Grove's head. Grove stumbles. Grove protestingly gestures. The referee immediately warns Paez for hitting Grove after the bell had rang. The boxers' corner teams quickly jump into the ring to avert the tension. Certainly a great and exciting round that heavily favors Paez!
Apparently, this fight is much more defined than the first Grove-Paez bout! In this one, Calvin Grove is much less cowardly. But with the progression into the later rounds, Grove is getting tired and weak, he is sometimes surviving on rubbery legs, he is retreating and holding more, and he is throwing fewer punches.
It is now the tenth round and a weary Grove starts by holding Paez. The latter starts running after and hitting a retreating Grove. The latter attempts to slow down Paez by holding again and again. Grove stumbles, but holds on. But he is too weak and a punch from Paez floors him! The fight resumes after the standing-8 count. Grove is floored again, but gets up--it was ruled a slip. Then a right to the head fells Grove for the third time. An excited but exhausted Paez runs to a neutral corner to rest on the ropes. The bell sounds for the end of the round, saving Grove from further punishment. Grove stumbles to his corner. Surprisingly the Grove corner does not throw in the surrendering towel!
The eleventh comes around, and a courageous but retreating Grove holds on with weak legs. He is relying on adrenaline! Paez, exhausted from all the hard work, has the upper hand. Paez pounds Grove with a left jab that sends him slumping down! Before the referee starts counting, "Maromero" climbs up the corner ropes and raises his arms to the audience in assuring victory. The referee requests Paez to climb down. Grove is finished! He is counted out by the referee. But he still gets up, and medical personnel jumps to him. Simultaneously, Paez flips his body, but before he can flip again, a swarm of the congratulatory Mexican entourage rushes in. Paez climbs onto the corner ropes and gyrates his hips to the frenzied crowd, victoriously raising his arms. He pounds his chest, displaying convincingly victory--as compared to the previous championship fight with Grove whereby he had won by a split decision.
In the "Doghouse Boxing" interview article "Calvin Grove: Mr. Silky Smooth" (March 14, 2008) conducted by Ken Hissner, Grove laments about the second bout with Paez: "We were supposed to fight in L.A. [Los Angeles] when it got changed to Mexico again. He [Paez] was awkward as it is. I lost fair and square. I was exhausted by the 11th round."
The Thereafter
"Maromero" Paez, who became nicknamed the "Clown Price of Boxing" in the USA where he would mostly fight, after the battles with Grove, would remain professionally active until the end of the year 2003. Paez would successfully defend his IBF featherweight title against commendable boxers including Steve Cruz and Troy Dorsey. Paez lost his IBF featherweight title to legendary Tony Lopez on September 22nd 1990. Later, as a lightweight, Paez failed to wrest the title from undisputed champion and legend Pernell Whitaker.
Paez fought in numerous bouts every year--some in Mexico. He won most of them. He challenged legendary Rafael Ruelas for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight title. Paez retired in the tenth round. In 1993, Paez contested for the IBF lightweight title. He lost by unanimous decision to Freddie Pendleton. In July 1994, Paez was knocked out by Olympic gold medallist Oscar De La Hoya for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title. Paez lost in all three of his next fights, the worst of his losing streaks. That included being disqualified for hitting Jose Vida Ramos when he was down on the floor. The next bout was their rematch, a contest for the newly created and little regarded WBO North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super featherweight title. Paez lost by points.
Paez won in his next four fights. In August 1996 he knocked out Narciso Valenzuela, to claim the unheralded WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title. Again in Las Vegas, Paez lost the same title by points to Julian Wheeler in October two months later. In the January 1997 rematch, Paez regained the title by outpointing Wheeler in Los Angeles. As a clown prince, Paez befittingly fought many of his bouts in the entertainment-oriented states of California and Nevada. In April 1997 in Las Vegas, Paez retained the WBC Continental Americas super featherweight crown, knocking out Gerald Gray in the third round. In August of the same year, Paez was stopped by fifth round TKO by Angel Manfredy, failing in his quest again for the World Boxing Union (WBU) super featherweight title.
In August 1998, Paez won the North American Boxing Union (NABU) featherweight title in knocking out Juan Macias in the sixth round in Las Vegas. In August, Paez won the IBA Americas super featherweight crown, knocking out Juan Perez in El Paso in Texas. A year later, Paez was knocked out in the fifth round by Jose Castillo who then captured the vacant IBA super featherweight crown. This happened in Mexicali at the same Plaza Calafia that Paez had won his first world title in 1988.
Although against mostly mediocre boxers, Paez did not lose in any of his next fourteen that were scheduled 10-round non-title bouts. He won all except for the draw with Justo Sanchez. These fourteen, spanning from April 2000 to December 2003 would be his last. The ultimate showy boxing entertainer and traveler would travel to places like Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Phoenix, and Utah to fight. At age 38, Paez retired with an excellent record of 79 wins (51 knockouts), 14 losses, and 5 draws.
Though Jorge Paez preferred that his sons not get into the dangerous sport of boxing, and instead concentrate on formal education, his son Jorge "Maromerito" Paez Jr. is a boxing world title prospect. He is the WBC Youth International welterweight champion. A younger brother, Azriel Paez, also started boxing professionally. The record of "Maromerito" Paez is now 29 wins (18 knockouts), and 4 losses.
Filmography
Jorge Paez is also credited with being a Hollywood and Mexico entertainer and actor. In 1995 he appeared in the movie "Dirty Money" whereby he was "Jorge." This is a robbery and murder mystery that includes the pursuance of a looter to a circus in Mexico.
Earlier in 1993, Paez was "Ernesto" in the movie "Old Shoes" in the Spanish language, filmed in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In "La Ultima Esperanza," a drama and romance TV series that ran from 1993-1995, Paez was "Kid."
In 2006, Paez participated in the continuing "Bailando Por La Boda De Tus Sueños" in Mexico. This "Dancing for a Dream" involves many Mexican celebrities and can be compared to "Dancing with the Stars."
Paez also acted on the NBC Saturday Sports Showcase series in 1990. In 2004, Paez was in "No Way Out" which was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event series. Paez also participated in the related "Smackdown" in the same year.
Conclusion
The flamboyance of boxing Mexican legend Jorge"El Maromero'" Paez was thoroughly entertaining, and involved outrageous hairstyles, dancing, taunting opponents, a new and unique costume each boxing bout, acrobatism and clowning, flipping his body. Nevertheless, Paez was a very muscular and determined hard-working powerful boxer with the drive to win. He read his opponents well even if they were considerably taller than him, zeroed in on their weaknesses, and often put them out. He had an outstanding boxing record in Mexico, the title wins in Mexicali were his first attempts at any major boxing title. Paez challenged many of the boxing legends. Paez became an international sensation in demand. The need to maintain and uplift the struggling family circus spurred him on to be a wonderful circus entertainer. His boxing skills allowed him to earn money from the sport, big dollars that would uplift the family and their business. His love was the circus, and he always brought it with him to the boxing ring. The audiences noticed and grew in capacity; the kids loved Paez's clowning and flashiness. Paez traversed the United States, but principally entertainment-oriented Nevada and California. "El Maromero" became a celebrity. His showiness was quickly noticed and embraced by the film/ entertainment industry. But Paez has never forgotten, and he still performs and stars in his Mexico homeland nation. Paez's genius lay in his being, uniquely and simultaneously, the star clown, the great boxer and the entertainer. Paez has become one of those unforgettables. Calvin Grove, would never regain significant international status although he would go on to contest for three more world titles--against legends Azumah Nelson, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, and Angel Manfredy.
Works Cited
Boswell, Thomas. "Paez Faces Gutierezz" in "Schenectady Gazette" (December 9, 1989).
Hissner, Ken. "Calvin Grove: Mr. Silky Smooth" in "Doghouse Boxing" (March 14, 2008).
Jonathan Musere
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Soviet Union vs. Uganda: A Dual Boxing Tournament
On December 12th 1970, an international dual boxing match between the Soviet Union and Uganda, was held in Kampala. Uganda had become an established boxing powerhouse by notably emerging as the leading Commonwealth of Nations' boxing nation. The Commonwealth Games had been held in July. Uganda's boxing gold medal wins were courtesy of James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, and Benson Masanda and the others were silver medals won by Deogratias Musoke and 1968 Olympic bronze medallist Leo Rwabwogo.
The population of the Soviet Union in 1970 was approximately 240 million and Soviet amateur boxers were rated as among the best in the world. The dual boxing match-up was intriguing given Uganda's recent boxing victory at the Commonwealth Games; and the growing tradition of boxing in the two nations. The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was a superpower, while third world country Uganda had a scanty population of approximately 10 million.
The first bout was that of light-flyweight James Odwori who had recently won the Commonwealth Games' title, against Russian Anatoli Semenov. Odwori is rated as one of the most skillful and most exciting of Uganda's boxers. He won many medals and would represent Uganda at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich where he was placed 5th. This time at the Kampala tournament, Semenov was awarded the victory by points. Semenov had represented the Soviet Union at the European Amateur Boxing Championships held in Bucharest in 1969, but had been beaten by points by Roman Rozek of Poland.
Uganda's flyweight contender Leo Rwabwogo had won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in July, and he had won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico City. He would also win a silver medal at the forthcoming Olympics in Munich. His haul of prestigious international medals is impressive, and he was one of the best of Uganda's boxers during the late 1960's and early 1970's. At this tournament in Kampala, sturdy and strong Rwabwogo disposed of P. Ershov of the Soviet Union by a knockout in the first round. Ershov had participated in an International friendly, the Leningrad Tournament , in November 1969. He was beaten by points, by fellow Soviet Yuriy Fedorov, in the quarter-finals' round.
Uganda's bantamweight Eridadi Mukwanga became Uganda's first Olympic silver medallist during the venue Mexico City in 1968. Unfortunately, Mukwanga was beaten by points in the very first preliminary round at the recent Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. This time in Kampala, Mukwanga was again disappointing. He lost to Nikolay Novikov of the Soviet Union, by points. Novikov was placed 5th at the Olympics in Mexico City as a flyweight. Other merits include a silver medal at the European Boxing Championships in 1969, and the Merited Master of Sports of the USSR award.
Soviet featherweight Valerian Sergeyevich Sokolov was set to challenge Uganda's Deogratias Musoke. Interestingly it is Sokolov who, as a bantamweight, had won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics by knocking out previously mentioned Eridadi Mukwanga in the second round. In this Kampala tournament, Sokolov again established himself as a knockout artist by stopping Musoke in the first round. At the Commonwealth Games in July, Musoke had settled for the featherweight silver medal after being outpointed in the final by Kenyan boxing legend Philip Waruinge. At the summer Olympics in 1972, Waruinge would be awarded the silver and the gold to Boris Kuznetsov of the Soviet Union by points. Waruinge felt that he had been robbed. In the same Olympic featherweight bouts, Deogratias Musoke was disappointedly placed 17th after becoming defeated in the second round. The featherweight boxing competitors numbered forty-five. As for Valerian Sokolov, he is credited for winning 196 boxing fights out of the 216 amateur bouts in which he contested. In 1968 Sokolov was bestowed on the Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1969. Fighting as a featherweight, Sokolov was placed 5th at the European Boxing Championships in June 1971.
Boris Georgievich Kuznetsov, who would in 1972 win the featherweight Olympic gold, was here in Kampala scheduled to fight Ugandan Peter Odhiambo. This would be a lightweight bout. Odhiambo impressively outpointed Kuznetsov, avenging Uganda's previous two losses. Odhiambo would move on to win the lightweight gold medal at the African Amateur Boxing Championships of June 1972, in Nairobi. Boris Kuznetsov is regarded as one of the best and famous Soviet fighters. In February 1972, in a friendly with the USA, Kuznetsov won in his bout by stopping Robert Vascocu in the second round. In 1974, at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, Kuznetsov won a silver medal. Kuznetsov was awarded both the Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1972.
Mohamed Muruli of Uganda won the light-welterweight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in June. In this Kampala tournament, in the same weight class, he would be pitted against Alexander Zaytsev of the Soviet Union. In the second round Muruli was disqualified. Nevertheless, Muruli remains one of Uganda's most renowned amateur boxers. In 1974 in Christchurch, Muruli won Uganda another gold medal. His record as the only Ugandan to have ever win more than one Commonwealth Games' boxing gold medal, remains intact.
Tall 22 year-old welterweight Andrew Kajjo had represented Uganda at the Olympic Games of 1968 and the recent Commonwealth Games, but did not win any medals in either games. This time in Kampala, Kajjo ably technically knocked out Soviet welterweight Alexander Ovechkin in the second round. Uganda's hopes of becoming the overall winner, were raised.
In the light-middleweight bout, Uganda's Abdalla beat the Soviet Vladmir Yakshilov, by points--making it the first time in the tournament that Uganda registered two consecutive wins. Vladmir Yakshilov represented the Soviet Union at the Leningrad Tournament in November 1969. At this international invitational, Yakshilov was eliminated in the semi-finals. In December 1969 in Kiev, Yakshilov participated in the Soviet Team Championships. He won in the Russia vs. Belarus dual and. the Russia vs. Kazakhstan dual. He lost in the Russia vs. Ukraine bouts.
Matthias Ouma was among Uganda's prominent fighters during the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1965 he won a silver medal at the 1965 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, a bronze medal at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, a gold medal win at the 1968 Africa Boxing Championships in Lusaka, and later a silver medal at the 1972 All-Africa Boxing Championships held in Nairobi, a silver at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos. Ouma represented Uganda at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, but did not here win any medals. In this 1970 tournament in Kampala, Ouma as a light-heavyweight, was beaten by a points margin by Yuri Nesterov. Nevertheless, Ouma is still ranked high as one of the best of Uganda's middle- and light-heavyweight boxers. Yuri Nesterov was a dreaded Soviet boxer, and is perhaps most remembered for being beaten by American Duane Bobick during the dual of February 1972, and beaten by the same Bobick in the boxing preliminaries in September 1972 in Munich. In another dual in January 1973, heavyweight Nesterov was knocked out American Nick Wells.
Ugandan heavyweight Benson Masanda, had easily won the Commonwealth boxing crown amidst a limited number of heavyweight boxers at the Games. This time in December in Kampala, Soviet Vladimir Chernyshev out-powered Masanda, technically knocking him out in the second round. Masanda still maintains his record as having been one of the most prominent of Ugandan boxing heavyweights. Others of his accolades include a gold medal at the 1972 Africa Boxing Championships held in Nairobi, and a bronze medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. In June 1971 in Madrid, Chernyshev won the heavyweight title at the European Amateur Championships. Chernyshev represented the Soviet Union in a dual with USA in February 1972, and was knocked out by Duane Bobick.
Boxers of the former USSR are still considered among the best in the world. In Kampala, the best of Soviet amateur boxers were pitted against Uganda's best boxers. The result was 6-4 in favor of the Soviet Union. Against such a gigantic superpower and prominent boxing nation, Uganda's Third World boxers had proved that they were indeed a formidable force in international amateur boxing.
Jonathan Musere
The population of the Soviet Union in 1970 was approximately 240 million and Soviet amateur boxers were rated as among the best in the world. The dual boxing match-up was intriguing given Uganda's recent boxing victory at the Commonwealth Games; and the growing tradition of boxing in the two nations. The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was a superpower, while third world country Uganda had a scanty population of approximately 10 million.
The first bout was that of light-flyweight James Odwori who had recently won the Commonwealth Games' title, against Russian Anatoli Semenov. Odwori is rated as one of the most skillful and most exciting of Uganda's boxers. He won many medals and would represent Uganda at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich where he was placed 5th. This time at the Kampala tournament, Semenov was awarded the victory by points. Semenov had represented the Soviet Union at the European Amateur Boxing Championships held in Bucharest in 1969, but had been beaten by points by Roman Rozek of Poland.
Uganda's flyweight contender Leo Rwabwogo had won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in July, and he had won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico City. He would also win a silver medal at the forthcoming Olympics in Munich. His haul of prestigious international medals is impressive, and he was one of the best of Uganda's boxers during the late 1960's and early 1970's. At this tournament in Kampala, sturdy and strong Rwabwogo disposed of P. Ershov of the Soviet Union by a knockout in the first round. Ershov had participated in an International friendly, the Leningrad Tournament , in November 1969. He was beaten by points, by fellow Soviet Yuriy Fedorov, in the quarter-finals' round.
Uganda's bantamweight Eridadi Mukwanga became Uganda's first Olympic silver medallist during the venue Mexico City in 1968. Unfortunately, Mukwanga was beaten by points in the very first preliminary round at the recent Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. This time in Kampala, Mukwanga was again disappointing. He lost to Nikolay Novikov of the Soviet Union, by points. Novikov was placed 5th at the Olympics in Mexico City as a flyweight. Other merits include a silver medal at the European Boxing Championships in 1969, and the Merited Master of Sports of the USSR award.
Soviet featherweight Valerian Sergeyevich Sokolov was set to challenge Uganda's Deogratias Musoke. Interestingly it is Sokolov who, as a bantamweight, had won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics by knocking out previously mentioned Eridadi Mukwanga in the second round. In this Kampala tournament, Sokolov again established himself as a knockout artist by stopping Musoke in the first round. At the Commonwealth Games in July, Musoke had settled for the featherweight silver medal after being outpointed in the final by Kenyan boxing legend Philip Waruinge. At the summer Olympics in 1972, Waruinge would be awarded the silver and the gold to Boris Kuznetsov of the Soviet Union by points. Waruinge felt that he had been robbed. In the same Olympic featherweight bouts, Deogratias Musoke was disappointedly placed 17th after becoming defeated in the second round. The featherweight boxing competitors numbered forty-five. As for Valerian Sokolov, he is credited for winning 196 boxing fights out of the 216 amateur bouts in which he contested. In 1968 Sokolov was bestowed on the Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1969. Fighting as a featherweight, Sokolov was placed 5th at the European Boxing Championships in June 1971.
Boris Georgievich Kuznetsov, who would in 1972 win the featherweight Olympic gold, was here in Kampala scheduled to fight Ugandan Peter Odhiambo. This would be a lightweight bout. Odhiambo impressively outpointed Kuznetsov, avenging Uganda's previous two losses. Odhiambo would move on to win the lightweight gold medal at the African Amateur Boxing Championships of June 1972, in Nairobi. Boris Kuznetsov is regarded as one of the best and famous Soviet fighters. In February 1972, in a friendly with the USA, Kuznetsov won in his bout by stopping Robert Vascocu in the second round. In 1974, at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, Kuznetsov won a silver medal. Kuznetsov was awarded both the Honored Master of Sports of the USSR and the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1972.
Mohamed Muruli of Uganda won the light-welterweight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in June. In this Kampala tournament, in the same weight class, he would be pitted against Alexander Zaytsev of the Soviet Union. In the second round Muruli was disqualified. Nevertheless, Muruli remains one of Uganda's most renowned amateur boxers. In 1974 in Christchurch, Muruli won Uganda another gold medal. His record as the only Ugandan to have ever win more than one Commonwealth Games' boxing gold medal, remains intact.
Tall 22 year-old welterweight Andrew Kajjo had represented Uganda at the Olympic Games of 1968 and the recent Commonwealth Games, but did not win any medals in either games. This time in Kampala, Kajjo ably technically knocked out Soviet welterweight Alexander Ovechkin in the second round. Uganda's hopes of becoming the overall winner, were raised.
In the light-middleweight bout, Uganda's Abdalla beat the Soviet Vladmir Yakshilov, by points--making it the first time in the tournament that Uganda registered two consecutive wins. Vladmir Yakshilov represented the Soviet Union at the Leningrad Tournament in November 1969. At this international invitational, Yakshilov was eliminated in the semi-finals. In December 1969 in Kiev, Yakshilov participated in the Soviet Team Championships. He won in the Russia vs. Belarus dual and. the Russia vs. Kazakhstan dual. He lost in the Russia vs. Ukraine bouts.
Matthias Ouma was among Uganda's prominent fighters during the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1965 he won a silver medal at the 1965 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, a bronze medal at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, a gold medal win at the 1968 Africa Boxing Championships in Lusaka, and later a silver medal at the 1972 All-Africa Boxing Championships held in Nairobi, a silver at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos. Ouma represented Uganda at both the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, but did not here win any medals. In this 1970 tournament in Kampala, Ouma as a light-heavyweight, was beaten by a points margin by Yuri Nesterov. Nevertheless, Ouma is still ranked high as one of the best of Uganda's middle- and light-heavyweight boxers. Yuri Nesterov was a dreaded Soviet boxer, and is perhaps most remembered for being beaten by American Duane Bobick during the dual of February 1972, and beaten by the same Bobick in the boxing preliminaries in September 1972 in Munich. In another dual in January 1973, heavyweight Nesterov was knocked out American Nick Wells.
Ugandan heavyweight Benson Masanda, had easily won the Commonwealth boxing crown amidst a limited number of heavyweight boxers at the Games. This time in December in Kampala, Soviet Vladimir Chernyshev out-powered Masanda, technically knocking him out in the second round. Masanda still maintains his record as having been one of the most prominent of Ugandan boxing heavyweights. Others of his accolades include a gold medal at the 1972 Africa Boxing Championships held in Nairobi, and a bronze medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. In June 1971 in Madrid, Chernyshev won the heavyweight title at the European Amateur Championships. Chernyshev represented the Soviet Union in a dual with USA in February 1972, and was knocked out by Duane Bobick.
Boxers of the former USSR are still considered among the best in the world. In Kampala, the best of Soviet amateur boxers were pitted against Uganda's best boxers. The result was 6-4 in favor of the Soviet Union. Against such a gigantic superpower and prominent boxing nation, Uganda's Third World boxers had proved that they were indeed a formidable force in international amateur boxing.
Jonathan Musere
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Kassim "the Dream" Ouma vs. Gennady Golovkin: The Upcoming WBC Middleweight Boxing Title Bout
The statistics suggest that Uganda boxer, a former title holder of the prestigious IBF (International Boxing Federation) junior middleweight title Kassim "the Dream" Ouma is very determined and heavily training to regain his universal status. The fact is borne out in Ouma's middleweight-class technical knocking out of tall Joey Gilbert in the 6th round of his latest fight of September 25th 2010, in Reno in Nevada. Joey Gilbert, though relatively age-advanced in boxing at 35, previously possessed the commendable boxing record of 20 wins (with 15 knockouts) and 2 losses. Gilbert's defeating by Ouma spelled his first loss by knockout. Here, Ouma captured the vacant and relatively prestigious NABA (North American Boxing Association) in the middleweight division.
Ouma's training residence is now Riverside in California, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles; a far cry from eastern coastal Florida where Ouma was known to prepare for his battles. Ouma now trains at the Capital Punishment Boxing Club. The change in management and training venue partly stems from the need to switch circumstances and location that was encouraged after Ouma lost a succession of fights, not long after capturing the world title. Ouma claims that ever since the move, he has not suffered any "distractions."
Kassim Ouma (27-7-1, 17 knockouts) is next scheduled to be at the Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City to challenge WBA (World Boxing Association) middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (20-0, 17 knockouts) for the prestigious title. It will happen on Friday, June 17th 2011. But it will not be easy for Ouma; this will undoubtedly be one of his biggest battles. Golovkin who is from Kazakhstan and is based in Germany, is a well-built and strong commendable cautious boxer who delivers that rocking early rounds' knock-out in the tradition of such boxers as John "the Beast" Mugabi and Teofilo Stevenson. That undefeated Golovkin has delivered a 85% knockout record, is quite imposing. But Ouma evidently has the stamina to hold on until the end of all the 12 rounds. Yet, some contend that Ouma lost much of his steam after his WBC middleweight fight that he lost to Jermaine Taylor.
Facing such a formidable Golovkin would require Ouma to adapt a hit-and-run-and-hold style, in the way "Sugar" Ray Charles Leonard managed to outbox the much stronger and dangerous Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The bout with Golovkin is good news for Ouma and his native Uganda. Since Ouma won the IBF Junior Middleweight title in October 2004, and lost to Jermaine Taylor for the WBC middleweight title in December 2006, Ugandan boxers have not had a shot at boxing titles of such prestige. Ouma is now 32, Golovkin is 29; this may be Ouma's last contention for a top three (WBC, IBF, and WBA) world governing bodies' titles.
Ouma is notable for having been abducted into guerrilla soldiery when he was a child in Uganda.
Jonathan Musere
Ouma's training residence is now Riverside in California, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles; a far cry from eastern coastal Florida where Ouma was known to prepare for his battles. Ouma now trains at the Capital Punishment Boxing Club. The change in management and training venue partly stems from the need to switch circumstances and location that was encouraged after Ouma lost a succession of fights, not long after capturing the world title. Ouma claims that ever since the move, he has not suffered any "distractions."
Kassim Ouma (27-7-1, 17 knockouts) is next scheduled to be at the Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City to challenge WBA (World Boxing Association) middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (20-0, 17 knockouts) for the prestigious title. It will happen on Friday, June 17th 2011. But it will not be easy for Ouma; this will undoubtedly be one of his biggest battles. Golovkin who is from Kazakhstan and is based in Germany, is a well-built and strong commendable cautious boxer who delivers that rocking early rounds' knock-out in the tradition of such boxers as John "the Beast" Mugabi and Teofilo Stevenson. That undefeated Golovkin has delivered a 85% knockout record, is quite imposing. But Ouma evidently has the stamina to hold on until the end of all the 12 rounds. Yet, some contend that Ouma lost much of his steam after his WBC middleweight fight that he lost to Jermaine Taylor.
Facing such a formidable Golovkin would require Ouma to adapt a hit-and-run-and-hold style, in the way "Sugar" Ray Charles Leonard managed to outbox the much stronger and dangerous Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The bout with Golovkin is good news for Ouma and his native Uganda. Since Ouma won the IBF Junior Middleweight title in October 2004, and lost to Jermaine Taylor for the WBC middleweight title in December 2006, Ugandan boxers have not had a shot at boxing titles of such prestige. Ouma is now 32, Golovkin is 29; this may be Ouma's last contention for a top three (WBC, IBF, and WBA) world governing bodies' titles.
Ouma is notable for having been abducted into guerrilla soldiery when he was a child in Uganda.
Jonathan Musere
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Vitalish Bbege and Vitalish Nyamor Bege: Uganda-Germany Boxers
American boxer Michael Gerard "Iron Mike" Tyson was born in the New York City borough Brooklyn on June 30th 1966. The ferocity and intimidating style of Tyson involved a series of rapid knockout wins that lead to his becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of the world in 1986. Ten years after Mike Tyson was born, a young northern Ugandan boxer Vitalis (Vitalish) Bbege, who had quickly acquired the equivalent of a national Tyson-like ferocious boxing image, was scheduled to represent Uganda at the 1976 Olympics to be held in Montreal from July 18th to 31st. Among the boxers on the Uganda team were future national boxing legends John Baker Muwanga (bantamweight) and featherweight Cornelius Boza-Edwards (Bbosa). Vitalish Bbege was scheduled to be Uganda's welterweight competitor. Many African and other countries politically boycotted the 1976 around the starting of these Olympics. The scheduled preliminary bouts involving boycotting nations' boxers were ruled walkovers in favor of the opponents of the non-boycotting nations.
In retrospect, Bbege had widely acquired his national brutal rapid knockout reputation during the 1974 African Amateur Boxing Championships that just so happened to be held in Bbege's Uganda home territory. The boxing tournament took place in Kampala in November. Welterweight Bbege quickly disposed of all his opponents by early knockout, save for the audacious and strong Prince of Egypt who persistently held on until the end. Young and relatively unknown Bbege was quickly in the books as Africa's amateur welterweight boxing champion. For decades, his name has remained legendary in Uganda and as synonymous with not only boxers, but also with belligerent and hard hitting regular people.
Bbege, as a welterweight represented Uganda at the Pre-Olympic Boxing Tournament in Montreal from November 27th to December 1st 1975. In the quarter-finals, on November 27th, the referee stopped Nico Jeurissen from Bbege's onslaught, in the very first round. Bbege, in the semi-finals on November 29th, true to fashion, knocked out Leo Pelletier of Canada in the second round. But the finals, on December 1st, were not fruitful for Bbege. Bbege was defeated by Yoshifumi Seki of Japan with the referee stopping the fight in the first round. Bbege went home with the silver medal. And so did heavyweight Jacob Odonga, another Ugandan who was technically knocked out in the finals (by Hocine Tafer of France). The only other Ugandan contestant at this tournament was Mustapha Wasajja. He won the gold medal after outpointing Bryan Gibson of Canada.
After the 1976 Olympic boycott, Vitalish Bbege soon moved to the then West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany-FRG) where they would be more lucrative boxing opportunities for him. He remained an amateur boxer and never boxed professionally. He joined the Sparta Flensburg Boxing Club (BC Flensburg) in the city Flensburg where he still resides and is a fitness and boxing trainer.
Representing Sparta Flensburg (BC Flensburg), Bbege won numerous annual Schleswig-Holstein Amateur Boxing Association (SHABV) titles from the late 1970's to the late 1980's. In 1979, Bbege won the SHABV amateur middleweight (75kg) title, the same title as a light-middleweight (71 kg) in 1980 and 1981. In 1982, 1986, and 1990 Bbege became the SHABV middleweight champion. In 1984, 1985, and 1987, Bbege as a heavyweight (81kg), was the SHABV title holder.
On January 30th 1984, Vitalish Bbege represented West Germany in a boxing dual verses the United States. He boxed as a light-middleweight and defeated Michael Cross by two points to one in a three-round match-up. Interestingly Bbege has a brother who goes by the names Vitalish Nyamor Bbege and was another capable boxer who moved to Germany. Under the name Vitalish Nyamor, he also represented Germany at the same tournament and as a welterweight defeated Alton Rice by three points to zero. It is remarkable that out of the ten bouts, the Bbege brothers won two of the total of four bouts won by West Germany.
John Odhiambo of Uganda and legendary Kenyan boxer David Attan are some of the other Africans that boxed in the Germany Bundesliga during the 1970's and 1980's. John Odhiambo, as a light-middleweight, had been scheduled to represent Uganda at the boycotted 1976 Olympics.
Vitalish Bbege and Vitalish Nyamor-Bbege, both regarded as Flensburg boxing legends, are well settled in Germany with their families. Offspring Dennis Nyamor Bbege is a boxer. Others of the Bbege descendants include Iris Bbege, Nancy Bbege, and Elvis-Aaron Bege.
Jonathan Musere
In retrospect, Bbege had widely acquired his national brutal rapid knockout reputation during the 1974 African Amateur Boxing Championships that just so happened to be held in Bbege's Uganda home territory. The boxing tournament took place in Kampala in November. Welterweight Bbege quickly disposed of all his opponents by early knockout, save for the audacious and strong Prince of Egypt who persistently held on until the end. Young and relatively unknown Bbege was quickly in the books as Africa's amateur welterweight boxing champion. For decades, his name has remained legendary in Uganda and as synonymous with not only boxers, but also with belligerent and hard hitting regular people.
Bbege, as a welterweight represented Uganda at the Pre-Olympic Boxing Tournament in Montreal from November 27th to December 1st 1975. In the quarter-finals, on November 27th, the referee stopped Nico Jeurissen from Bbege's onslaught, in the very first round. Bbege, in the semi-finals on November 29th, true to fashion, knocked out Leo Pelletier of Canada in the second round. But the finals, on December 1st, were not fruitful for Bbege. Bbege was defeated by Yoshifumi Seki of Japan with the referee stopping the fight in the first round. Bbege went home with the silver medal. And so did heavyweight Jacob Odonga, another Ugandan who was technically knocked out in the finals (by Hocine Tafer of France). The only other Ugandan contestant at this tournament was Mustapha Wasajja. He won the gold medal after outpointing Bryan Gibson of Canada.
After the 1976 Olympic boycott, Vitalish Bbege soon moved to the then West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany-FRG) where they would be more lucrative boxing opportunities for him. He remained an amateur boxer and never boxed professionally. He joined the Sparta Flensburg Boxing Club (BC Flensburg) in the city Flensburg where he still resides and is a fitness and boxing trainer.
Representing Sparta Flensburg (BC Flensburg), Bbege won numerous annual Schleswig-Holstein Amateur Boxing Association (SHABV) titles from the late 1970's to the late 1980's. In 1979, Bbege won the SHABV amateur middleweight (75kg) title, the same title as a light-middleweight (71 kg) in 1980 and 1981. In 1982, 1986, and 1990 Bbege became the SHABV middleweight champion. In 1984, 1985, and 1987, Bbege as a heavyweight (81kg), was the SHABV title holder.
On January 30th 1984, Vitalish Bbege represented West Germany in a boxing dual verses the United States. He boxed as a light-middleweight and defeated Michael Cross by two points to one in a three-round match-up. Interestingly Bbege has a brother who goes by the names Vitalish Nyamor Bbege and was another capable boxer who moved to Germany. Under the name Vitalish Nyamor, he also represented Germany at the same tournament and as a welterweight defeated Alton Rice by three points to zero. It is remarkable that out of the ten bouts, the Bbege brothers won two of the total of four bouts won by West Germany.
John Odhiambo of Uganda and legendary Kenyan boxer David Attan are some of the other Africans that boxed in the Germany Bundesliga during the 1970's and 1980's. John Odhiambo, as a light-middleweight, had been scheduled to represent Uganda at the boycotted 1976 Olympics.
Vitalish Bbege and Vitalish Nyamor-Bbege, both regarded as Flensburg boxing legends, are well settled in Germany with their families. Offspring Dennis Nyamor Bbege is a boxer. Others of the Bbege descendants include Iris Bbege, Nancy Bbege, and Elvis-Aaron Bege.
Jonathan Musere
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
John Akii-Bua and Amos Omolo: Contrasting and Comparing Two Top Uganda Athletes
Introduction
Amos Omolo, born in 1937, was a Kenyan immigrant running for Uganda, a well-built 5'10" sprinter (100m, 200m, 400m and the relays). John Akii-Bua, born roughly a decade later in 1949, was an indigenous northern Ugandan, a sprinter, a javelin thrower, a decathlete; and for the most part a hurdler, 400m and 4x400m relay runner. Akii-Bua at 6'2" was of a lean and well-muscled build. Both Omolo and Akii-Bua were of the Luo language-speaking ethnic grouping of east Africa. Both were policemen. While Omolo was Uganda's most renowned track star of the 1960's, Akii-Bua was in turn Uganda's most significant track athlete of the 1970's. Akii-Bua's athletic prowess was discovered relatively early in life when he joined the police force while in his teens. However, Amos Omolo started harvesting his track running abilities relatively late in life, a late bloomer. It was while he was in his mid-twenties that Omolo became a significant international runner; and his personal records were achieved when he was in his early thirties before he soon retired.
The Olympics
Both Omolo and Akii-Bua are significantly remembered for their feats at the Olympics; Omolo especially in 1968 (Mexico City) and Akii especially in 1972 (Munich). At both, the two Olympians ran a full finals' lap: Omolo in the 400 meters, and Akii-Bua in the 400 meters-hurdles. In both of these Olympic finals, the world record was broken. There were sharp contrasts in the finals' lane placements: Akii-Bua was in the innermost lane, one which usually slows runners down from taking shorter strides because of the rounder and tighter circumference; while Omolo ran in the outermost lane 8 which while the turns are easier, the runners are less able to gage their position and progress vis-a-vis the runners in the lower lanes.
At the Olympics of 1972, Akii-Bua then in his early 20's, was relatively young. Amos Omolo in the Olympic finals of 1968, aged 31, was relatively advanced in age and the oldest among the finalists. He was also Uganda's oldest Olympics participant. In a 400m Olympic quarter-finals heat, Omolo would win in a Uganda record time of 45.33. This national record remained intact for nearly three decades. Akii-Bua's Olympic gold medal win in the 400 meters-hurdles in 1972 involved the establishment of a 47.82 world record that would stay intact for four years. As a Uganda national record, it has remained intact for four decades. On the other hand, Omolo was beaten into 8th and last place at the 400m finals in 1968. Nevertheless, the crowned gold medallist Lee Edward Evans of the United States had established a new world record that would survive for more than two decades. While Lee Evans here became the first man to ever run a sub-44 seconds 400m, John Akii-Bua in winning became the first man to ever officially run the 400 meters-hurdles below 48 seconds. While Amos Omolo was Uganda's first Olympic track and field finalist, John Akii-Bua was Uganda's first Olympic gold medallist and track and field world record holder.
In Mexico City at the Olympics, on October 16th 1968, fifty-five international athletes that were placed in eight heats, were scheduled to run in Round One of the 400m. The four top finishers in each of the heats would advance to the quarter-finals. Amos Omolo won in his Heat Five, finishing in 45.85, a new national record. Four quarter-final heats were ran the next day. Omolo again performed impressively, winning in Heat Two in a new Uganda record of 45.33. The four top finishers in each heat, moved on to the two semi-final heats which would be run later that day. Omolo's performance in the semi-finals was not as fruitful. The second semi-finals' witnessed Omolo finishing fourth in 45.52. Of significance, the winner of this heat Lee Edward Evans at age 21 established a new Olympic record time of 44.83. Omolo had narrowly missed being axed from advancing to the finals. The finals were set to feature three African Americans, three Africans, and two Europeans. The next day, October 18th, Omolo was placed in outermost lane in the final. The gun went off, Omolo ran a relatively fast 200m, but thereafter tired and slowed down and seemingly lost hope. He finished last and his time of 47.61 was more than two seconds behind seventh placed Andrzej Baderiski of Poland. Omolo was known to fluctuate widely in his performances, sometimes performing excellently and sometimes performing surprisingly poorly relative to his recent performances. American Lee Evans in lane 6, under pressure from his two fellow Americans Lawrence "Larry" James and Ron Freeman, had won in an astounding world record of 43.86. All three Americans were less than 22 years old, the youngest among the finalists.
As for Akii-Bua at the Olympics in the 400mh in 1972, in all three rounds including the finals, he ran in either lane one or lane two. In the first qualifying round that took place on August 31st, Akii was placed in the fourth heat (out of the five) in lane two. The top three finishers of each heat plus one next top finisher would move on to the semi-finals. Akii-Bua won in his heat, finishing in 50.35 seconds. The two semi-finals heats were held the next day. Akii, placed in lane two, won in a relatively fast time of 49.25, followed by world leading Ralph Mann (USA) in 49.53, followed by Olympic champion Dave Hemery (Great Britain) in 49.66. The four leading finishers of each of the semi-final heats would move on to the finals. Next day, September 2nd witnessed Akii-Bua make history by breaking the world record and being the first to officially run the race below 48 seconds. He had done it in 47.82 seconds while running in the restrictive lane one, while the runners-up (same sequence of finishing as their semi-final heat) were in the more favorable lanes 6 (Ralph Mann who won silver with a time of 48.51) and lane 5 (Dave Hemery with a bronze medal finish of 48.52). After four decades, Akii-Bua remains Uganda's only Olympic gold-medallist and Africa's only Olympic gold medal hurdler as well as short-distance runner. What Amos Omolo did not achieve for Uganda at the Olympics in 1968, Akii-Bua rose to the occasion in 1972 to cement for Uganda, Africa, and the rest of the world!
Amos Omolo and William Santino Dralu, Uganda's top sprinters, were selected to run the 100m and 200m dashes respectively in Mexico City in 1968. All the rounds and the final were ran on October 13th 1968. Omolo was placed in the second heat of Round One. There were nine heats and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next five fastest runners would move on to the quarter-finals. Omolo finished fourth in this preliminary round, posting a time of 10.50. The time would enable him to move on to the quarter-finals. Omolo was placed in the third heat (out of four) of the quarter-finals. The first four of each heat would move on to the semi-finals. Competition was quite intense. Omolo was beaten into 7th place and out of the competition; but with a time of 10.45, he had improved on his previous timing. Also significant was the breaking of the world record, twice in this quarter-final. The world record was set by Hermes Ramirez of Cuba (10.10), and later by Charlie Greene of USA (10.02). In the finals, American Jim Hines would win the gold medal in a world record time of 9.95, the silver would go to Lennox Miller of Jamaica, and Charlie Greene would win the bronze.
The flashback to the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo involved Omolo competing in the 400m and the 4x100m relay. On October 17th 1964, Omolo was scheduled to run in the third heat (out of seven) of the preliminary round. The top four runners of each heat, plus the next four top finishers would move on to the next round. Omolo aged 27 finished in a time of 47.6 in the very first round, and his 5th place would not allow Omolo to advance to the next round. On October 20th, Omolo was part of Uganda's 4x100m relay team (with Erasmus Amukun, Aggrey Awori, and James Odongo) that was eliminated in the preliminary round. Uganda's relay group finished 6th in 41.4 seconds.
As for Akii-Bua, Uganda politically boycotted the 1976 Olympics that were held in Montreal. Akii had been scheduled to compete for Uganda in the 400 meters-hurdles and had been training and competing in Germany and USA. He even ran a 45.82 personal best in the 400m flat in 1976. However, the third week of June, Akii tore a thigh (left hamstring) muscle that would have reduced his chances of winning a medal or even competing at the 1976 Olympics at Montreal.
The Olympics that were held in Moscow in July 1980 were also boycotted by many countries, significantly reducing the pool and strength of the competitors. Akii's performance had declined, but he qualified to represent Uganda again in the 400mh and in addition the 4x400m relay. On July 24th, Akii ran in the first heat (out of the three) of the first round of the 400 meters-hurdles. He was in the relatively favorable middle-lane 4, a far cry from the Olympics of 1972 where he had been placed in either restrictive lane one or two in all three rounds including the final. Aged 30 in Moscow, Akii was the oldest of the competitors in the low hurdles. In this first round, on July 24 1980, Akii finished 5th in 50.87 seconds. He moved onto the semi-finals given that he was one of the next four fastest hurdlers to the top four fastest finishers of each of the heats. The next day, Akii-Bua, drawn in the outermost lane 8 in the semi-final, finished 7th in 51.10 seconds. He was eliminated from moving on to the finals. On July 31, Akii-Bua was in heat two of the first round of the 4x400m relay. Despite having Africa's strongest long-relay team in Moscow, Uganda finished 5th (3:07.0) in this first round and was disabled from moving on to the semi-finals. Uganda's other relay athletes were Silver Ayoo, Charles Dramiga, and Pius Olowo.
Both Akii-Bua and Amos Omolo apparently represented Uganda at two Olympic venues, and both their Olympic finales were when they were in their early 30's. Omolo was less consistent in his performances whereby he sometimes achieved exceptional times and sometimes was simply satisfactory. But notably, Omolo's personal best performances were when he was in his thirties. Akii-Bua's personal best records were attained when he was in his early and mid-twenties. Akii was a determined athlete despite the unfavorable social and political climate of Uganda at that time. Amos Omolo competed for Uganda during a period of relative peace.
The Commonwealth of Nations Games
The then British Empire Commonwealth Games in 1962 took place in Perth in Australia in the last week of November. Amos Omolo was scheduled to represent Uganda in the 440 yards dash and in the 4x440y relay. Uganda's relay team would eventually not participate in the relay. As for the 440y, on November 26th 25 year-old Omolo impressively won in the third (of a total 6 heats) of the first round, finishing in 47.20 seconds. Next came the two semi finals in which qualifying Omolo was placed in the second one. Here on November 26th, Omolo (46.96) was beaten into second place by George Kerr (46.93) of Jamaica in a photo-finish. The finals, later in the day would be quite a battle between the top three finishers. In another photo-finish, George Kerr (46.74) won the gold medal, Robbie Brightwell of England won silver, and Omolo (46.88) won the bronze. The next runner-up finished nearly one second behind. Omolo emerged as a formidable and promising runner in the Commonwealth and in Africa. This would be Uganda's only athletics medal at the venue, one of Uganda's first medals at such internationally significant games. It was also an exciting time for Uganda as it closely followed the granting of political independence from Britain on October 9th 1962.
The 1966 Commonwealth Games would be hosted by Kingston in Jamaica from August 5th to 13th. Omolo would again be placed to represent Uganda in the 440y and in the 4x400y relay. The preliminary round of the 440y would be contested on August 8th and Omolo was placed in the fourth heat. Omolo (48.3) finished second to Martin Winbolt Lewis of England (47.6) and advanced to the semi-finals that would be contested on August 11th. Omolo was placed in the second of the two semi-final heats. Omolo finished 6th in 47.84 seconds and was eliminated from moving on to the finals. He had therefore failed to replicate his presence in the finals in which he had won the bronze at the previous Commonwealth Games venue.
Next for Omolo would be the long relay on August 13th. There was just one preliminary (semi-final) round before the final and Uganda was placed in the second of the two heats. Uganda's relay team of Omolo, George Odeke (future national coach and prominent sports administrator), Francis Hategakimana (Hatega), and Asuman Bawala Nkedi won in their heat (3:13.4), but the runners in the other (first) heat were relatively faster. The finals saw Uganda turning up a disappointing 8th and last place in 3:13.6. Trinidad and Tobago won in 3:02.8, followed by Canada, then bronze for Great Britain & Northern Ireland. Also, all of Uganda's 4x400y relay runners had, including Omolo competed in the individual 400y but had not performed well.
Edinburgh in Scotland would be the next venue for the Commonwealth Games, from July 17th to 25th in 1970. Omolo had been a finalist in the 400m at the Olympic Games of 1968, and was 8th. In Edinburgh, Omolo was nearly 33 years old which was at that time considered a relatively advanced age for a sprinter. This time Omolo was placed to to run only in the 100m for Uganda. His performance in the second heat (out of the 8 preliminary heats) was lukewarm. Omolo was eliminated from the competition after finishing 6th in a time of 10.76 seconds. This would be Omolo's last Commonwealth Games' performance. Uganda was in contention for the men's 4x400m relay, but the team of Bill (William) Koskei, Charles Obilu, William Santino Dralu, and Daniel Oboth would be disqualified during the preliminary heats.
John Akii-Bua's presence in Edinburgh would be the first and last time he would represent Uganda at the Commonwealth Games. This quite contrasted with Omolo's three-time presence at the Commonwealth Games. Internationally unknown Akii-Bua aged 20 would compete in the 110 meters-hurdles and in the 400 meters-hurdles. On July 17th, Akii was placed in the first heat (out of the three) of the preliminary round of the 110mh. He finished fourth in 14.39 seconds, and advanced to the semi-finals. Interestingly, the winner in this heat and eventual gold medallist was David Hemery of England who had won gold in the 400mh at the Olympics of 1968 in a new world record, and who would win the bronze medal at the next Olympic venue in which Akii would win the gold and break Hemery's world record. The semi-finals of the 110mh in Edinburgh would be contested the next day--July 18th. Akii Bua finished 5th in 14.43 seconds, coming short of moving on to the finals.
On the same day July 18th, Akii ran in the first round of the 400mh. He was placed in the second heat of the three heats, and he won in 51.82 seconds. Next would be two semi-final heats on July 21. Akii, in the first semi-final finished second (51.94) after John Sherwood of England. The second semi-final was won by Uganda's Bill Koskei in 51.39 seconds. In the finals that were ran on the same day, Akii (51.14) was beaten into fourth place behind gold medallist John Sherwood (50.03), silver medallist Bill Koskei (50.15), and Charles Yego of Kenya (50.19).
Akii-Bua's first significant introduction to the athletic world was his 400 meters-hurdles win at the Africa vs USA (USA-Pan African) meet on 17th July 1971 in Durham, North Carolina. Akii-Bua won in an astonishing 49 seconds, a new Africa record, and the fastest time of the year.
All-Africa Games
At these continental games, Amos Omolo competed at venues in the 1960's but did not win any medals. On the other hand, Akii-Bua won a gold and silver medals at these Games. The first of these Games were held in 1965 in the capital Brazzaville of Congo. Akii was at the All-Africa Games in Lagos in January 1973, fresh from the Olympic gold and world record setting in Munich in the Fall of 1972. Akii-Bua's winning time in Lagos was in an excellent 48.54 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of runners up William Koskei (50.22) of Kenya, and Silver Ayoo (50.25) of Uganda. It was the fastest 400mh time ever recorded on the continent. Akii was also part of the 1973 4x400m relay Uganda team (3:07.21) that won the bronze medal behind winners Kenya (3:06.38) and silver medallists Nigeria (3:06.98).
The erratic occurring All-Africa Games were held five years later, in 1978. This time in Algiers in Algeria, Akii (49.55) was narrowly beaten into second place by Daniel Kimaiyo (49.48) of Kenya. Akii, similar to the previous venue, additionally was part of the 4x400m relay team. This time, the Uganda team performed significantly better, both in positioning and time recorded. In the finals in 1978, the winner was Nigeria (3:03.24) followed by silver medallists Uganda (3:04.20), thereafter Kenya (3:05.92). This would be Akii's last appearance at the All-Africa Games. The next venue would be in 1987 in Nairobi in Kenya.
East and Central African Championships
In 1968, when the venue was Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Omolo won the gold medal in the 400m, finishing in 46.7 seconds. Earlier, in 1964, with the venue Kisumu in Kenya, Omolo was part of Uganda's 4x400m relay team that won the gold medal.
Akii-Bua's haul of gold medal wins at these champions was bigger than Omolo's. The championships in Kampala in 1969 involved Akii-Bua winning the gold in the 110 meters-hurdles in 14.6 seconds. In 1971, in Lusaka in Zambia, Akii won the gold in the 400 meters-hurdles with a finishing time of 50.5 seconds. At the same distance, Akii-Bua would again win gold in 1975 when the venue was Mombasa in Kenya. He was timed at 50.2 seconds. At the same venue, Akii was part of Uganda's 4x400m relay team that won the gold in 3:09.01.
Conclusion
Amid the many comparisons and contrasts, Amos Omolo and Akii-Bua will forever reign among Uganda's and Africa's greatest athletes. As Omolo was retiring from athletics, young Akii-Bua was beginning to shine. Akii took over the helm to attain the universal top athletic status that Omolo had strived to but failed to achieve. Akii-Bua has for four centuries remained Uganda's most significant track athlete.
References
Murphy, F. The Last Protest: Lee Evans in Mexico City. Windsprint Press, Michigan: 2006.
Phillips, B. Honour of Empire, Glory of Sport: the History of Athletics at the Commonwealth Games. Parrs Wood, Michigan: 2000.
www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country
www.sports-reference.com/olympics
www.topsinathletics.info
Jonathan Musere
Amos Omolo, born in 1937, was a Kenyan immigrant running for Uganda, a well-built 5'10" sprinter (100m, 200m, 400m and the relays). John Akii-Bua, born roughly a decade later in 1949, was an indigenous northern Ugandan, a sprinter, a javelin thrower, a decathlete; and for the most part a hurdler, 400m and 4x400m relay runner. Akii-Bua at 6'2" was of a lean and well-muscled build. Both Omolo and Akii-Bua were of the Luo language-speaking ethnic grouping of east Africa. Both were policemen. While Omolo was Uganda's most renowned track star of the 1960's, Akii-Bua was in turn Uganda's most significant track athlete of the 1970's. Akii-Bua's athletic prowess was discovered relatively early in life when he joined the police force while in his teens. However, Amos Omolo started harvesting his track running abilities relatively late in life, a late bloomer. It was while he was in his mid-twenties that Omolo became a significant international runner; and his personal records were achieved when he was in his early thirties before he soon retired.
The Olympics
Both Omolo and Akii-Bua are significantly remembered for their feats at the Olympics; Omolo especially in 1968 (Mexico City) and Akii especially in 1972 (Munich). At both, the two Olympians ran a full finals' lap: Omolo in the 400 meters, and Akii-Bua in the 400 meters-hurdles. In both of these Olympic finals, the world record was broken. There were sharp contrasts in the finals' lane placements: Akii-Bua was in the innermost lane, one which usually slows runners down from taking shorter strides because of the rounder and tighter circumference; while Omolo ran in the outermost lane 8 which while the turns are easier, the runners are less able to gage their position and progress vis-a-vis the runners in the lower lanes.
At the Olympics of 1972, Akii-Bua then in his early 20's, was relatively young. Amos Omolo in the Olympic finals of 1968, aged 31, was relatively advanced in age and the oldest among the finalists. He was also Uganda's oldest Olympics participant. In a 400m Olympic quarter-finals heat, Omolo would win in a Uganda record time of 45.33. This national record remained intact for nearly three decades. Akii-Bua's Olympic gold medal win in the 400 meters-hurdles in 1972 involved the establishment of a 47.82 world record that would stay intact for four years. As a Uganda national record, it has remained intact for four decades. On the other hand, Omolo was beaten into 8th and last place at the 400m finals in 1968. Nevertheless, the crowned gold medallist Lee Edward Evans of the United States had established a new world record that would survive for more than two decades. While Lee Evans here became the first man to ever run a sub-44 seconds 400m, John Akii-Bua in winning became the first man to ever officially run the 400 meters-hurdles below 48 seconds. While Amos Omolo was Uganda's first Olympic track and field finalist, John Akii-Bua was Uganda's first Olympic gold medallist and track and field world record holder.
In Mexico City at the Olympics, on October 16th 1968, fifty-five international athletes that were placed in eight heats, were scheduled to run in Round One of the 400m. The four top finishers in each of the heats would advance to the quarter-finals. Amos Omolo won in his Heat Five, finishing in 45.85, a new national record. Four quarter-final heats were ran the next day. Omolo again performed impressively, winning in Heat Two in a new Uganda record of 45.33. The four top finishers in each heat, moved on to the two semi-final heats which would be run later that day. Omolo's performance in the semi-finals was not as fruitful. The second semi-finals' witnessed Omolo finishing fourth in 45.52. Of significance, the winner of this heat Lee Edward Evans at age 21 established a new Olympic record time of 44.83. Omolo had narrowly missed being axed from advancing to the finals. The finals were set to feature three African Americans, three Africans, and two Europeans. The next day, October 18th, Omolo was placed in outermost lane in the final. The gun went off, Omolo ran a relatively fast 200m, but thereafter tired and slowed down and seemingly lost hope. He finished last and his time of 47.61 was more than two seconds behind seventh placed Andrzej Baderiski of Poland. Omolo was known to fluctuate widely in his performances, sometimes performing excellently and sometimes performing surprisingly poorly relative to his recent performances. American Lee Evans in lane 6, under pressure from his two fellow Americans Lawrence "Larry" James and Ron Freeman, had won in an astounding world record of 43.86. All three Americans were less than 22 years old, the youngest among the finalists.
As for Akii-Bua at the Olympics in the 400mh in 1972, in all three rounds including the finals, he ran in either lane one or lane two. In the first qualifying round that took place on August 31st, Akii was placed in the fourth heat (out of the five) in lane two. The top three finishers of each heat plus one next top finisher would move on to the semi-finals. Akii-Bua won in his heat, finishing in 50.35 seconds. The two semi-finals heats were held the next day. Akii, placed in lane two, won in a relatively fast time of 49.25, followed by world leading Ralph Mann (USA) in 49.53, followed by Olympic champion Dave Hemery (Great Britain) in 49.66. The four leading finishers of each of the semi-final heats would move on to the finals. Next day, September 2nd witnessed Akii-Bua make history by breaking the world record and being the first to officially run the race below 48 seconds. He had done it in 47.82 seconds while running in the restrictive lane one, while the runners-up (same sequence of finishing as their semi-final heat) were in the more favorable lanes 6 (Ralph Mann who won silver with a time of 48.51) and lane 5 (Dave Hemery with a bronze medal finish of 48.52). After four decades, Akii-Bua remains Uganda's only Olympic gold-medallist and Africa's only Olympic gold medal hurdler as well as short-distance runner. What Amos Omolo did not achieve for Uganda at the Olympics in 1968, Akii-Bua rose to the occasion in 1972 to cement for Uganda, Africa, and the rest of the world!
Amos Omolo and William Santino Dralu, Uganda's top sprinters, were selected to run the 100m and 200m dashes respectively in Mexico City in 1968. All the rounds and the final were ran on October 13th 1968. Omolo was placed in the second heat of Round One. There were nine heats and the top three finishers in each heat, plus the next five fastest runners would move on to the quarter-finals. Omolo finished fourth in this preliminary round, posting a time of 10.50. The time would enable him to move on to the quarter-finals. Omolo was placed in the third heat (out of four) of the quarter-finals. The first four of each heat would move on to the semi-finals. Competition was quite intense. Omolo was beaten into 7th place and out of the competition; but with a time of 10.45, he had improved on his previous timing. Also significant was the breaking of the world record, twice in this quarter-final. The world record was set by Hermes Ramirez of Cuba (10.10), and later by Charlie Greene of USA (10.02). In the finals, American Jim Hines would win the gold medal in a world record time of 9.95, the silver would go to Lennox Miller of Jamaica, and Charlie Greene would win the bronze.
The flashback to the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo involved Omolo competing in the 400m and the 4x100m relay. On October 17th 1964, Omolo was scheduled to run in the third heat (out of seven) of the preliminary round. The top four runners of each heat, plus the next four top finishers would move on to the next round. Omolo aged 27 finished in a time of 47.6 in the very first round, and his 5th place would not allow Omolo to advance to the next round. On October 20th, Omolo was part of Uganda's 4x100m relay team (with Erasmus Amukun, Aggrey Awori, and James Odongo) that was eliminated in the preliminary round. Uganda's relay group finished 6th in 41.4 seconds.
As for Akii-Bua, Uganda politically boycotted the 1976 Olympics that were held in Montreal. Akii had been scheduled to compete for Uganda in the 400 meters-hurdles and had been training and competing in Germany and USA. He even ran a 45.82 personal best in the 400m flat in 1976. However, the third week of June, Akii tore a thigh (left hamstring) muscle that would have reduced his chances of winning a medal or even competing at the 1976 Olympics at Montreal.
The Olympics that were held in Moscow in July 1980 were also boycotted by many countries, significantly reducing the pool and strength of the competitors. Akii's performance had declined, but he qualified to represent Uganda again in the 400mh and in addition the 4x400m relay. On July 24th, Akii ran in the first heat (out of the three) of the first round of the 400 meters-hurdles. He was in the relatively favorable middle-lane 4, a far cry from the Olympics of 1972 where he had been placed in either restrictive lane one or two in all three rounds including the final. Aged 30 in Moscow, Akii was the oldest of the competitors in the low hurdles. In this first round, on July 24 1980, Akii finished 5th in 50.87 seconds. He moved onto the semi-finals given that he was one of the next four fastest hurdlers to the top four fastest finishers of each of the heats. The next day, Akii-Bua, drawn in the outermost lane 8 in the semi-final, finished 7th in 51.10 seconds. He was eliminated from moving on to the finals. On July 31, Akii-Bua was in heat two of the first round of the 4x400m relay. Despite having Africa's strongest long-relay team in Moscow, Uganda finished 5th (3:07.0) in this first round and was disabled from moving on to the semi-finals. Uganda's other relay athletes were Silver Ayoo, Charles Dramiga, and Pius Olowo.
Both Akii-Bua and Amos Omolo apparently represented Uganda at two Olympic venues, and both their Olympic finales were when they were in their early 30's. Omolo was less consistent in his performances whereby he sometimes achieved exceptional times and sometimes was simply satisfactory. But notably, Omolo's personal best performances were when he was in his thirties. Akii-Bua's personal best records were attained when he was in his early and mid-twenties. Akii was a determined athlete despite the unfavorable social and political climate of Uganda at that time. Amos Omolo competed for Uganda during a period of relative peace.
The Commonwealth of Nations Games
The then British Empire Commonwealth Games in 1962 took place in Perth in Australia in the last week of November. Amos Omolo was scheduled to represent Uganda in the 440 yards dash and in the 4x440y relay. Uganda's relay team would eventually not participate in the relay. As for the 440y, on November 26th 25 year-old Omolo impressively won in the third (of a total 6 heats) of the first round, finishing in 47.20 seconds. Next came the two semi finals in which qualifying Omolo was placed in the second one. Here on November 26th, Omolo (46.96) was beaten into second place by George Kerr (46.93) of Jamaica in a photo-finish. The finals, later in the day would be quite a battle between the top three finishers. In another photo-finish, George Kerr (46.74) won the gold medal, Robbie Brightwell of England won silver, and Omolo (46.88) won the bronze. The next runner-up finished nearly one second behind. Omolo emerged as a formidable and promising runner in the Commonwealth and in Africa. This would be Uganda's only athletics medal at the venue, one of Uganda's first medals at such internationally significant games. It was also an exciting time for Uganda as it closely followed the granting of political independence from Britain on October 9th 1962.
The 1966 Commonwealth Games would be hosted by Kingston in Jamaica from August 5th to 13th. Omolo would again be placed to represent Uganda in the 440y and in the 4x400y relay. The preliminary round of the 440y would be contested on August 8th and Omolo was placed in the fourth heat. Omolo (48.3) finished second to Martin Winbolt Lewis of England (47.6) and advanced to the semi-finals that would be contested on August 11th. Omolo was placed in the second of the two semi-final heats. Omolo finished 6th in 47.84 seconds and was eliminated from moving on to the finals. He had therefore failed to replicate his presence in the finals in which he had won the bronze at the previous Commonwealth Games venue.
Next for Omolo would be the long relay on August 13th. There was just one preliminary (semi-final) round before the final and Uganda was placed in the second of the two heats. Uganda's relay team of Omolo, George Odeke (future national coach and prominent sports administrator), Francis Hategakimana (Hatega), and Asuman Bawala Nkedi won in their heat (3:13.4), but the runners in the other (first) heat were relatively faster. The finals saw Uganda turning up a disappointing 8th and last place in 3:13.6. Trinidad and Tobago won in 3:02.8, followed by Canada, then bronze for Great Britain & Northern Ireland. Also, all of Uganda's 4x400y relay runners had, including Omolo competed in the individual 400y but had not performed well.
Edinburgh in Scotland would be the next venue for the Commonwealth Games, from July 17th to 25th in 1970. Omolo had been a finalist in the 400m at the Olympic Games of 1968, and was 8th. In Edinburgh, Omolo was nearly 33 years old which was at that time considered a relatively advanced age for a sprinter. This time Omolo was placed to to run only in the 100m for Uganda. His performance in the second heat (out of the 8 preliminary heats) was lukewarm. Omolo was eliminated from the competition after finishing 6th in a time of 10.76 seconds. This would be Omolo's last Commonwealth Games' performance. Uganda was in contention for the men's 4x400m relay, but the team of Bill (William) Koskei, Charles Obilu, William Santino Dralu, and Daniel Oboth would be disqualified during the preliminary heats.
John Akii-Bua's presence in Edinburgh would be the first and last time he would represent Uganda at the Commonwealth Games. This quite contrasted with Omolo's three-time presence at the Commonwealth Games. Internationally unknown Akii-Bua aged 20 would compete in the 110 meters-hurdles and in the 400 meters-hurdles. On July 17th, Akii was placed in the first heat (out of the three) of the preliminary round of the 110mh. He finished fourth in 14.39 seconds, and advanced to the semi-finals. Interestingly, the winner in this heat and eventual gold medallist was David Hemery of England who had won gold in the 400mh at the Olympics of 1968 in a new world record, and who would win the bronze medal at the next Olympic venue in which Akii would win the gold and break Hemery's world record. The semi-finals of the 110mh in Edinburgh would be contested the next day--July 18th. Akii Bua finished 5th in 14.43 seconds, coming short of moving on to the finals.
On the same day July 18th, Akii ran in the first round of the 400mh. He was placed in the second heat of the three heats, and he won in 51.82 seconds. Next would be two semi-final heats on July 21. Akii, in the first semi-final finished second (51.94) after John Sherwood of England. The second semi-final was won by Uganda's Bill Koskei in 51.39 seconds. In the finals that were ran on the same day, Akii (51.14) was beaten into fourth place behind gold medallist John Sherwood (50.03), silver medallist Bill Koskei (50.15), and Charles Yego of Kenya (50.19).
Akii-Bua's first significant introduction to the athletic world was his 400 meters-hurdles win at the Africa vs USA (USA-Pan African) meet on 17th July 1971 in Durham, North Carolina. Akii-Bua won in an astonishing 49 seconds, a new Africa record, and the fastest time of the year.
All-Africa Games
At these continental games, Amos Omolo competed at venues in the 1960's but did not win any medals. On the other hand, Akii-Bua won a gold and silver medals at these Games. The first of these Games were held in 1965 in the capital Brazzaville of Congo. Akii was at the All-Africa Games in Lagos in January 1973, fresh from the Olympic gold and world record setting in Munich in the Fall of 1972. Akii-Bua's winning time in Lagos was in an excellent 48.54 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of runners up William Koskei (50.22) of Kenya, and Silver Ayoo (50.25) of Uganda. It was the fastest 400mh time ever recorded on the continent. Akii was also part of the 1973 4x400m relay Uganda team (3:07.21) that won the bronze medal behind winners Kenya (3:06.38) and silver medallists Nigeria (3:06.98).
The erratic occurring All-Africa Games were held five years later, in 1978. This time in Algiers in Algeria, Akii (49.55) was narrowly beaten into second place by Daniel Kimaiyo (49.48) of Kenya. Akii, similar to the previous venue, additionally was part of the 4x400m relay team. This time, the Uganda team performed significantly better, both in positioning and time recorded. In the finals in 1978, the winner was Nigeria (3:03.24) followed by silver medallists Uganda (3:04.20), thereafter Kenya (3:05.92). This would be Akii's last appearance at the All-Africa Games. The next venue would be in 1987 in Nairobi in Kenya.
East and Central African Championships
In 1968, when the venue was Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, Omolo won the gold medal in the 400m, finishing in 46.7 seconds. Earlier, in 1964, with the venue Kisumu in Kenya, Omolo was part of Uganda's 4x400m relay team that won the gold medal.
Akii-Bua's haul of gold medal wins at these champions was bigger than Omolo's. The championships in Kampala in 1969 involved Akii-Bua winning the gold in the 110 meters-hurdles in 14.6 seconds. In 1971, in Lusaka in Zambia, Akii won the gold in the 400 meters-hurdles with a finishing time of 50.5 seconds. At the same distance, Akii-Bua would again win gold in 1975 when the venue was Mombasa in Kenya. He was timed at 50.2 seconds. At the same venue, Akii was part of Uganda's 4x400m relay team that won the gold in 3:09.01.
Conclusion
Amid the many comparisons and contrasts, Amos Omolo and Akii-Bua will forever reign among Uganda's and Africa's greatest athletes. As Omolo was retiring from athletics, young Akii-Bua was beginning to shine. Akii took over the helm to attain the universal top athletic status that Omolo had strived to but failed to achieve. Akii-Bua has for four centuries remained Uganda's most significant track athlete.
References
Murphy, F. The Last Protest: Lee Evans in Mexico City. Windsprint Press, Michigan: 2006.
Phillips, B. Honour of Empire, Glory of Sport: the History of Athletics at the Commonwealth Games. Parrs Wood, Michigan: 2000.
www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country
www.sports-reference.com/olympics
www.topsinathletics.info
Jonathan Musere
Monday, April 11, 2011
Uganda Commonwealth Games Golden Boxers James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, Benson Masanda, and Ayub Kalule and the Wins in Track Athletics in the 1970's
Introduction
It was at the Commonwealth of Nations Games of 1970 and 1974, that were held in the city Edinburgh in Scotland and in Christchurch in New Zealand respectively, that Uganda's competitors were most victorious at these quadrennial events.
In 1970, Uganda's performance in boxing was the most uplifting with Uganda winning three gold medals (James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, and Benson Masanda) and two silver medals (Leo Rwabwogo and Deogratias Musoke). The other medals won for Uganda were on the track--William Koskei's silver medal in the 400 meters-hurdles, and Judith Ayaa's bronze medal in the women's 400 meters. Uganda performed equally well at the Commonwealth Games of 1970.
Bronze medal wins in boxing, at the Commonwealth Games held in Kingston in Jamaica in 1966, by Alex Odhiambo, Mathias Ouma, and Benson Ocan were indication that Uganda was moving up in international amateur boxing ranks. Uganda's performance at the Commonwealth Games, four years earlier (1962) in Perth in Australia, witnessed Uganda win her first Commonwealth gold by way of heavyweight boxer George Oywello. Also impressive at the venue were the boxing bronze medal wins by John Sentongo and future national army commander and Olympic Committee member Francis Nyangweso, and the silver medal won by future national boxing trainer Kesi Odongo. To buttress Uganda's confidence in the realm of boxing were Uganda's first and only Olympic medal wins, at the 1968 venue Mexico City, by boxers Leo Rwabwogo and Eridadi Mukwanga--a bronze and silver medal respectively. That is in spite of the lofty Olympic judging of 1968 and later 1972 that was seemingly tinged with racial bias and favoritism.
Edinburgh, Scotland 1970
At the 1970 Commonwealth of Nations Games, the teenager James Odwori was Uganda's boxing competitor in the flyweight division. The beginning was quite easy for Odwori, given that he was not drawn among the four out of the total 10 flyweights that would fight in the preliminary rounds on July 17th. Since the total numbers of competitors in the very low and the very high weight divisions were relatively fewer, many were automatically placed in the next round--the quarter finals. The first flyweight quarter-finals bout was on July 20th. Odwori beat Anthony Kerr of host-country Scotland, on points, and earned his ticket to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals that involved four contenders, Odwori was again scheduled to box in the first bout. By a majority points decision, Odwori impressively beat Mickey Abrams of England, on July 22nd and was through to the finals! Odwori would move on to beat Anthony Davis of Wales by points, to win Uganda's first 1970 Commonwealth Games gold medal. Odwori had impressively set the standard for Uganda boxers. He boxed for the Uganda Prisons and the national teams for more than ten years to come and later went back to his native Kenya where he became Kenya Prisons boxing coach and later Kenya national coach.
The flyweight division involved twelve contenders at the Commonwealth Games of 1970. Just like Odwori, Uganda's contender Leo Rwabwogo luckily bypassed the preliminary round of July 17th such that he would first fight as a quarter-finalist. On July 20th Leo Rwabwogo was place in the quarter-finals to fight Leon Nissen (whose identical twin Henry was also a boxer) of Australia. The referee stopped the contest in the second round, a technical knockout in favor of Rwabwogo, allowing Rwabwogo to move on the semi-finals. On July 22nd, Rwabwogo was placed in the first bantamweight semi-final bout with opponent 18 year-old David Larmour of Ireland who would later become an Olympian and professional boxer. Rwabwogo won by a majority points decision. For the finals, Rwabwogo would battle with future professional and Englishman David (Dave) Needham of Nottingham. Needham ably outpointed Rwabwogo by 4-1, allowing Rwabwogo to settle for the silver medal. The gold medal had eluded Rwabwogo at the Olympic Games in Mexico City where he settled for bronze; and in the forthcoming Olympics of 1972 that were held in Munich in Germany, Rwabwogo would again fall short of the big win after being defeated in the finals. But famed Rwabwogo remains Uganda's only double-Olympic medallists and the only Ugandan to have captured medals at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Uganda's bantamweight contender Eridadi Mukwanga had at the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico city cemented history by becoming the nation's first Olympic silver medallist. At these Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Rwabwogo was in the very last bout of the bantamweight division scheduled to fight Joe Cooke of Canada. Mukwanga was not able to live up to his fame and expectations, defeated by points by Joe Cooke of Canada on July 18th. Cooke would later on also be kicked out of medal contention, when he was defeated by Stewart Ogilvie of Scotland, after the referee stopped the bout in the first round.
In the featherweight division Uganda's Deogratias Musoke strutted his feathers. At the preliminaries, on July 18th, Musoke was pitted against unheralded G. Marisa of Tanzania. The bout went in favor of Musoke after the referee halted the contest in the second round. On July 21st, in the quarter-finals, Musoke moved on to the semi-finals after beating Eddie Pritchard of Wales by points. For the semi-finals was scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Abdul Samad Mir. The fight did not materialize because Samad Mir was unable to fight. It became an easy walkover in favor of Musoke. The consolation for Pakistan was that Mir's bronze medal was the sole one for the nation at this Commonwealth Games' venue. Also, Samad Mir remains one of the most famous of Pakistani boxers. In the 1970's he was declared "Best Boxer of Asia." He joined the army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also coached the Pakistani's Army Boxing as well as National teams. Samad Amir passed away in May 2009.
In the finals, Musoke would face Kenya's longstanding boxing legend Philip Waruinge whose boxing accolades include multiple medals at both the Commonwealth and the Olympic Games. Deogratias Musoke, defeated on points in the finals on July 24th, was awarded the featherweight boxing silver medal.
The preliminary lightweight bout on July 18th, between Uganda's teenager Joseph Nsubuga and Olympian Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia, resulted in an early farewell for Nsubuga who was defeated by points.
Mohamed Muruli, one of Uganda's master boxers, had as a lightweight been placed fifth overall at the Olympics of 1968 in Mexico City. This time, Muruli would represent Uganda as a light welterweight. There were twelve competitors in this division and Muruli was lucky to be drawn into the quarter-finals and therefore forego fighting in the preliminaries of July 17th. In the quarter-finals, held on July 20th, Muruli outpointed Reginald Forde of Guyana. Forde remains one of the most famous Guyanese boxers. On September 14th 1978, Reggie Forde was as a professional fighter knocked out in the fifth round by famed Uganda boxer Ayub Kalule, in the quest for the British Empire Commonwealth title.
On July 22nd, in the semi-finals, hard-hitting Muruli defeated future Olympian Odartey Lawson of Ghana when the referee stopped the fight in the first round. Muruli moved on to win the gold for Uganda after outpointing Dave Davis of Wales on July 24th.
The welterweight division witnessed Uganda's Olympian Andrew Kajjo eliminate Hugo Chansa of Zambia by points on July 17th 1970. The next year Chansa would turn professional and in April 1974 he would die from brain injuries soon after being knocked out by Scotland's Don McMillan in a middleweight bout. On June 20th, Emma Ankudey of Ghana would mar Kajjo's quest for a medal by beating him by points in the quarter-finals. Ankudey would eventually win the gold medal and also represent Ghana at the Olympics of 1972 in Montreal.
Uganda's biracial light-middleweight boxing champion David Jackson was drawn to start fighting in the quarter-finals, and not fight among the eight competitors in the preliminaries. As a teenager Jackson was placed fifth overall in among the light-middleweight competitors at the Olympics of 1968 in Mexico City. This time in Edinburgh, Jackson did not go far, given that on July 20th the referee halted the bout in the first round in favor of Tom Imrie of Scotland. Imrie had won the Commonwealth silver medal at the previous venue of Kingston in Jamaica and he remains a famous Scottish boxer. Imrie would be the eventual gold medal winner this time in Edinburgh, and thereafter move on to professional fighting. His record as a professional pugilist was mediocre. David Jackson would again fight for Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics (1972) in Montreal, and be placed 9th overall in the welterweight division.
The teenager John Opio moved on to the quarter-finals, after defeating future professional boxer Billy May of Wales, by points on July 20th in the preliminary rounds of the middleweight division. But in the quarter-finals, against Samuel Kasongo of Zambia, Opio was eliminated after the referee stopped the contest in the third round. Opio would represent Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics in Munich.
The preliminaries of the light heavyweight division involved the second-round disqualification of Commonwealth bronze medallist and 2-time Olympian George Mathias Ouma at the hands of Johnny Banham of England on July 18th.
Because there were only seven contestants in the heavyweight division, and six were placed in the quarter-finals. It was Uganda's Benson Masanda, among the seven boxers, who hit the jackpot by automatically being placed in the next level--the semi-finals! The quarter-finals took place on July 20th. In the semi-finals on July 22nd, Masanda defeated Canada's Jack Meda by disqualification in round 2. In the finals, on July 24th, Masanda won gold by defeating John McKinty of Ireland by points. Compared to all Uganda's boxing participants, Masanda had won the gold in quite an easy and unconventional way. This would be Uganda's second Commonwealth Games' gold medal, following that of George Oywello in 1962 in Perth in Australia.
Courtesy of the final tally of gold medals won by James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, and Benson Masanda; and silver medals won by Leo Rwabwogo and Deogratias Musoke Uganda had convincingly emerged as Commonwealth of Nations' boxing championships. This was the first collective international victory for Uganda, and the nation rejoicingly looked forward to more triumphs at the international level. The rest of Uganda's medals were just two: the silver medal won by William "Bill" Koskei in the 400 meters-hurdles, and the bronze medal won by Judith Ayaa in the 400 meters-sprint. The total of three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal placed Uganda as ninth overall at this Commonwealth tournament with 7 medals. How would Uganda's boxers fare in the next Commonwealth venue that would be Christchurch in New Zealand in 1974? There had been a military coup in Uganda, commander Idi Amin became president, the regime became notorious for killings and disappearances of nationals and even foreigners. Anxiety loomed as to whether unfavorable social and political factors would translate to disappointing performances in the realm of sports. And yes, many aspects of sports deteriorated during the regime of Idi Amin, and the pool of potential and current athletes was reduced. But how would Uganda fare in Christchurch, two years to the day into the regime of Idi Amin?
Christchurch, New Zealand 1974
Christchurch hosted the Commonwealth of Nations' Games from January 24th to February 2nd, 1974. The boxing flyweight division saw the returning of the gold medallist James Odwori of Uganda. In the quarter-finals, on January 28th, Odwori knocked out Tanzanian Olympian Bakari Selemani (Seleman) in the second round. The semi-finals, held on January 31st witnessed Odwori defeat Singapore's Syed Abdul Kadir by points. Kadir remains one of Singapore's most renowned fighters, and was named "Sportsman of the Year" after his Commonwealth Games' bronze medal win.
The finals of the light flyweight division were held of February 1st. This time, Odwori would be pitted against Kenyan Stephen Muchoki who remains one of Kenya's most famous boxers. The relatively shorter Muchoki outpointed the champion Odwori, leaving Odwori to settle for silver. Muchoki would successfully defend his Commonwealth gold at the forthcoming venue Edmonton in Canada, in 1978. His illustrious career also included the silver medal win at the World Amateur Championships in Havana in 1974, and later the gold in the tournament which was hosted by Belgrade in Yugoslavia in 1978. Muchoki would thereafter move into the professional ranks and even become Africa Boxing Union champion. But he failed in his quest for the European title and the World Boxing Association title, and he retired from boxing during the late 1980's.
In the quarter-finals of the flyweight division, on January 29th, Ugandan John Byaruhanga knocked-out John Lawless of Scotland in the second round. But in the semi-finals, January 31st, Byaruhanga was defeated on points by Olympian Chandra Narayanan of India. Byaruhanga hence settled with the bronze medal.
Uganda's bantamweight Ali Rojo was drawn as a quarter-finalist to fight Olympian Habibu (Habib) Kinyogoli of Tanzania on January 28th. Rojo won by points and moved on to the semi-finals. Kinyogoli remains one of the most renowned of Tanzania's boxer and he is a boxing trainer.
The January 31st bantamweight semi-final was in favor of Rojo, by points, leaving Kenyan Isaac Kuria Maina to go home with the bronze. in the finals, on February 1st, Patrick "Pat" Cowdell of England killed Ali Rojo's quest for the gold by winning by points. Rojo had won the second boxing medal for Uganda. A famous British boxer, Cowdell would build an impressive boxing career during which he became a European Union champion. But he failed to win in his fighting for a world title.
Uganda's featherweight competitor was Shadrack (Shadrah? Shadrach?) Odhiambo. On January 29th, in the quarter-finals, young future Olympian and long-time fighter Odhiambo outpointed Colin Flinn of England. Odhiambo would later as a light welterweight fight for Sweden and win her a bronze medal at the World Amateur Championships in 1982 in Munich. Odhiambo also fought for Sweden in the 1980 (Moscow) and 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympics. He did not win any Olympic medals.
In the Christchurch Commonwealth games semi-final, Odhiambo ably defeated Dale Anderson of Canada by points on January 31st. However, the finals, on February 1st witnessed experienced Commonwealth Games' champion Eddie Ndukwu of Nigeria win the gold medal on a points decision. Odhiambo had won Uganda's third boxing silver medal! Ndukwu would soon turn professional and even reign as British Empire (Commonwealth) featherweight champion. Ndukwu remains among the more formidable names among Nigerian boxers.
On January 27th, in the preliminaries, a locally popular and heavily promising 20 year-old lightweight lad Ayub Kalule climbed into the ring to challenge Tanzanian William Lyimo who was the same age as Kalule. Kalule won, by points. In 1980, Lyimo aged 27 would fight at the Olympic Games held in Moscow. He commendably passed the second round, but was in the quarter-finals knocked out in the third round by 20 year-old Anthony Willis of Great Britain. He would thus settle for 5th position in the welterweight division. Many African countries boycotted the Olympic venue of Moscow. Heaney later became a professional boxer, but he would soon retire without an acclaimed boxing record.
In the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games' lightweight boxing fight in Christchurch, on January 28th 1974, Ayub Kalule ably out-boxed and bloodily facially disfigured 22 year-old Irishman "Sugar" Ray Heaney. The fight is featured on You-Tube whereby Heaney was allotted two mandatory counts given the formidable punishing from the fast and hard-punching Kalule.
In the semi-finals, Kalule was set to face New Zealand teenager Robert Charles Colley. The outcome involved Colley being outpointed and settling for the bronze medal.
At the quarter finals, Kalule was pitted against 19 year-old New Zealander Robert Charles Colley. Colley would be outpointed (and settle for the bronze), allowing Kalule to move on to the final stage. After being eliminated by Russian Valery Limasov in the first round at the Olympic Games of 1976 held in Montreal (Canada), Colley would turn professional. Though Colley's professional record is impressive, it is mediocre insofar as his fights were confined to New Zealand and Australia, and Colley retired quite early in life...in 1980. At the finals of these Commonwealth Games, Kalule would outpoint Kayin Amah of Nigeria and therefore win the gold. Kayin Amah, who had in the preliminaries lost to legendary Philip Waruinge of Kenya in the previous Commonwealth Games (1970), would this time be happier with taking home a silver.
Perhaps Ayub Kalule's most prestigious amateur encounter, would be the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships that were held in Havana in Cuba in August 17-30. Here, Kalule, a light welterweight, defeated Bulgarian Vladmir Kolev to win the gold. In November of the same year, Kalule still as a light welterweight, won another gold medal for Uganda. This was at the African Amateur Boxing Championships that were held in Kampala on Kalule's soil. The next year Kalule turned professional in Denmark, rose rapidly through the ranks. He could go on to become Uganda's first professional world boxing champion (WBA junior middleweight). His accolades included becoming a European Boxing Union Champion, and battling such renowned boxers as "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Sumbu Kalambay, Mike McCallum, Lindell Holmes, and Herol Graham. Kalule fought in what many regard as the golden era of junior middleweight champions. Kalule is still Uganda's most famous boxer. In March 2011, Kalule was contracted to coach top junior Danish boxers.
Joseph Nsubuga had been eliminated on points by Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia right at the beginning of the preliminaries at the previous Commonwealth Games venue Edinburgh. There Nsubuga had represented Uganda as a lightweight. Nsubuga, still a teenager, was now back at the Commonwealth Games to fight as a light welterweight. This time, the preliminary first round on January 27 witnessed Nsubuga quickly overwhelm his opponent. The fight did not go far. The referee halted the contest in the first round, dashing the hopes of Philip Sapak of Papua New Guinea. However, two days later in the quarter-finals, James Douglas of Scotland defeated Nsubuga by points and thereby halted Nsubuga's quest for a medal.
Months later, in August, Nsubuga would win a bronze medal for Uganda at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana. Nsubuga had moved up to the middleweight division. Quite a skillful boxer, Nsubuga would turn professional and move to Norway, and he would mostly fight in Europe. Nsubuga stopped competing in 1981 when he was knocked out by famous future world champion Davey Moore. Perhaps Nsubuga's most notable professional fight was his spirited gladiator battle (non-title bout) with legendary Panamanian Roberto Duran. Though Duran seemed to be tiring, Joseph "Stoneface" Nsubuga was knocked out at the end of the fourth round. This fight is available on You-Tube.
Welterweight Mohamed Muruli had won Uganda a gold medal at the previous Commonwealth of Nations Games' venue Edinburgh. There in 1970, Muruli had boxed as a lightweight. Here in Christchurch, Muruli was representing Uganda as a welterweight. The preliminary round witnessed Muruli outpunch Caleb Okech of Kenya, on January 26th. On January 29th, during the quarter-finals, Muruli beat future Olympian Carmen Rinke of Canada by points. The semi-finals involved Muruli beating Steven Cooney of Scotland, by points on January 31st. On February 1st, Muruli became the first Ugandan to ever win two Commonwealth Games' gold medals by outpointing Welsh Errol McKenzie in the finals. McKenzie would turn professional during 1975, but he retired after an unimpressive boxing record. Muruli is among Uganda's outstanding boxers, and he twice represented Uganda at the Olympics.
Uganda's light middleweight John Langol was rescued by the referee who stopped the preliminaries match-up of January 27th 1974 against Lance Revill of New Zealand. The fight was stopped in the second round. In 1981, Langol moved to Birmingham in England to fight professionally. His professional tenure would last only four years and it would involve an unimpressive record of 6 wins and 8 losses. Revill would fight professionally in Australia and New Zealand, but his boxing record would be average.
On January 29th of 1974, in a quarter-final, Uganda's middleweight champion Mustapha Wasajja was knocked out in the first round by Les Rackley of New Zealand. At the inaugural World Boxing Championships held on August 1974 in Havana, Wasajja was eliminated by points in the quarter-finals. In November, Wasajja would become Africa amateur champion at the regional tournament held in Kampala. In a pre-Olympic international tournament held in Montreal at the end of November 1975, Wasajja won Uganda's only gold at the venue. Wasajja is notable for having become the premier WBA light heavyweight contender after he turned professional. He lost the mandatory championship fight to Michael Spinks, in February 1982. Wasajja mostly fought in Europe and his boxing record is quite impressive. After Spinks, Wasajja lost his next two fights and thereafter retired from boxing. Wasajja is one of Uganda's greatest boxers.
Just as had happened in the previous Commonwealth Games, the reigning heavyweight champion Benson Masanda of Uganda was directly placed in the quarter-finals because there were not many contenders in the class. On January 28th Masanda outpointed Fisi Brown of New Zealand. In the semi-finals, the referee stopped the bout in favor of legendary Nigerian Fatai Ayinla, an Olympian who had won the light heavyweight gold at the previous Commonwealth Games. Masanda was hence made to step down for the bronze medal. In turn, the referee would stop the bout in favor of Neville Meade, in the finals. Fatai Ayinla-Adekunle's accolades include the heavyweight gold medal at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, and a bronze medal at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana. He boxed for Nigeria for many years.
Uganda's other medals were won on the track. Uganda's Silver Ayoo (46.07), narrowly beaten by Kenyan legendary Olympic gold medallist Charles Asati (46.04), won the silver medal in the 400 meters. Uganda's 4 x 400m relay team won the bronze medal, behind Kenya (gold) and England. The relay competitors were William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo, Silver Ayoo, and John Kakonge.
The Final Tally
At Commonwealth Games of 1970, held in Edinburgh, Uganda's three boxing gold medals were won by light flyweight James Odwori, light welterweight Mohamed Muruli, and heavyweight Benson Masanda; and the two silver medals were won by flyweight Leo Rwabwogo, and featherweight Deogratias Musoke. Uganda did not win any bronze medals here.
In 1974 in Christchurch, the two gold medals were won by lightweight Ayub Kalule and light welterweight Mohamed Muruli; the three silver medals were won by light flyweight James Odwori, bantamweight Ali Rojo, and featherweight Shadrach Odhiambo; and the two bronze medals were won by flyweight John Byaruhanga and heavyweight Benson Masanda.
Hence, while Uganda won slightly more boxing medals in 1974, the medals in 1970 subtly carried "more weight." For those eight years, Uganda had the best amateur boxers amongst the Nations of the British Commonwealth. Additionally, at each of the Commonwealth Games venues, Ugandan track athletes finished second and third (William Koskei--400 meter-hurdles and Judith Ayaa--400m, respectively in 1970, and Silver Ayoo--400m and Silver Ayoo, William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo and John Kakonge--the 4 x 400m relay, respectively in 1974). In 1970 Uganda finished 12th overall in track and field athletics; Australia, England, and Scotland were the top three countries. Similarly, in 1974 Uganda finished 12th overall in track and field athletics; but England, Australia, and Kenya were the top three countries. The overall performances of Uganda at each of the Commonwealth Games venues were hence strikingly similar. Uganda has never performed better than that at the Commonwealth Games, ever since those 1970's.
Jonathan Musere
It was at the Commonwealth of Nations Games of 1970 and 1974, that were held in the city Edinburgh in Scotland and in Christchurch in New Zealand respectively, that Uganda's competitors were most victorious at these quadrennial events.
In 1970, Uganda's performance in boxing was the most uplifting with Uganda winning three gold medals (James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, and Benson Masanda) and two silver medals (Leo Rwabwogo and Deogratias Musoke). The other medals won for Uganda were on the track--William Koskei's silver medal in the 400 meters-hurdles, and Judith Ayaa's bronze medal in the women's 400 meters. Uganda performed equally well at the Commonwealth Games of 1970.
Bronze medal wins in boxing, at the Commonwealth Games held in Kingston in Jamaica in 1966, by Alex Odhiambo, Mathias Ouma, and Benson Ocan were indication that Uganda was moving up in international amateur boxing ranks. Uganda's performance at the Commonwealth Games, four years earlier (1962) in Perth in Australia, witnessed Uganda win her first Commonwealth gold by way of heavyweight boxer George Oywello. Also impressive at the venue were the boxing bronze medal wins by John Sentongo and future national army commander and Olympic Committee member Francis Nyangweso, and the silver medal won by future national boxing trainer Kesi Odongo. To buttress Uganda's confidence in the realm of boxing were Uganda's first and only Olympic medal wins, at the 1968 venue Mexico City, by boxers Leo Rwabwogo and Eridadi Mukwanga--a bronze and silver medal respectively. That is in spite of the lofty Olympic judging of 1968 and later 1972 that was seemingly tinged with racial bias and favoritism.
Edinburgh, Scotland 1970
At the 1970 Commonwealth of Nations Games, the teenager James Odwori was Uganda's boxing competitor in the flyweight division. The beginning was quite easy for Odwori, given that he was not drawn among the four out of the total 10 flyweights that would fight in the preliminary rounds on July 17th. Since the total numbers of competitors in the very low and the very high weight divisions were relatively fewer, many were automatically placed in the next round--the quarter finals. The first flyweight quarter-finals bout was on July 20th. Odwori beat Anthony Kerr of host-country Scotland, on points, and earned his ticket to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals that involved four contenders, Odwori was again scheduled to box in the first bout. By a majority points decision, Odwori impressively beat Mickey Abrams of England, on July 22nd and was through to the finals! Odwori would move on to beat Anthony Davis of Wales by points, to win Uganda's first 1970 Commonwealth Games gold medal. Odwori had impressively set the standard for Uganda boxers. He boxed for the Uganda Prisons and the national teams for more than ten years to come and later went back to his native Kenya where he became Kenya Prisons boxing coach and later Kenya national coach.
The flyweight division involved twelve contenders at the Commonwealth Games of 1970. Just like Odwori, Uganda's contender Leo Rwabwogo luckily bypassed the preliminary round of July 17th such that he would first fight as a quarter-finalist. On July 20th Leo Rwabwogo was place in the quarter-finals to fight Leon Nissen (whose identical twin Henry was also a boxer) of Australia. The referee stopped the contest in the second round, a technical knockout in favor of Rwabwogo, allowing Rwabwogo to move on the semi-finals. On July 22nd, Rwabwogo was placed in the first bantamweight semi-final bout with opponent 18 year-old David Larmour of Ireland who would later become an Olympian and professional boxer. Rwabwogo won by a majority points decision. For the finals, Rwabwogo would battle with future professional and Englishman David (Dave) Needham of Nottingham. Needham ably outpointed Rwabwogo by 4-1, allowing Rwabwogo to settle for the silver medal. The gold medal had eluded Rwabwogo at the Olympic Games in Mexico City where he settled for bronze; and in the forthcoming Olympics of 1972 that were held in Munich in Germany, Rwabwogo would again fall short of the big win after being defeated in the finals. But famed Rwabwogo remains Uganda's only double-Olympic medallists and the only Ugandan to have captured medals at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Uganda's bantamweight contender Eridadi Mukwanga had at the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico city cemented history by becoming the nation's first Olympic silver medallist. At these Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Rwabwogo was in the very last bout of the bantamweight division scheduled to fight Joe Cooke of Canada. Mukwanga was not able to live up to his fame and expectations, defeated by points by Joe Cooke of Canada on July 18th. Cooke would later on also be kicked out of medal contention, when he was defeated by Stewart Ogilvie of Scotland, after the referee stopped the bout in the first round.
In the featherweight division Uganda's Deogratias Musoke strutted his feathers. At the preliminaries, on July 18th, Musoke was pitted against unheralded G. Marisa of Tanzania. The bout went in favor of Musoke after the referee halted the contest in the second round. On July 21st, in the quarter-finals, Musoke moved on to the semi-finals after beating Eddie Pritchard of Wales by points. For the semi-finals was scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Abdul Samad Mir. The fight did not materialize because Samad Mir was unable to fight. It became an easy walkover in favor of Musoke. The consolation for Pakistan was that Mir's bronze medal was the sole one for the nation at this Commonwealth Games' venue. Also, Samad Mir remains one of the most famous of Pakistani boxers. In the 1970's he was declared "Best Boxer of Asia." He joined the army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also coached the Pakistani's Army Boxing as well as National teams. Samad Amir passed away in May 2009.
In the finals, Musoke would face Kenya's longstanding boxing legend Philip Waruinge whose boxing accolades include multiple medals at both the Commonwealth and the Olympic Games. Deogratias Musoke, defeated on points in the finals on July 24th, was awarded the featherweight boxing silver medal.
The preliminary lightweight bout on July 18th, between Uganda's teenager Joseph Nsubuga and Olympian Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia, resulted in an early farewell for Nsubuga who was defeated by points.
Mohamed Muruli, one of Uganda's master boxers, had as a lightweight been placed fifth overall at the Olympics of 1968 in Mexico City. This time, Muruli would represent Uganda as a light welterweight. There were twelve competitors in this division and Muruli was lucky to be drawn into the quarter-finals and therefore forego fighting in the preliminaries of July 17th. In the quarter-finals, held on July 20th, Muruli outpointed Reginald Forde of Guyana. Forde remains one of the most famous Guyanese boxers. On September 14th 1978, Reggie Forde was as a professional fighter knocked out in the fifth round by famed Uganda boxer Ayub Kalule, in the quest for the British Empire Commonwealth title.
On July 22nd, in the semi-finals, hard-hitting Muruli defeated future Olympian Odartey Lawson of Ghana when the referee stopped the fight in the first round. Muruli moved on to win the gold for Uganda after outpointing Dave Davis of Wales on July 24th.
The welterweight division witnessed Uganda's Olympian Andrew Kajjo eliminate Hugo Chansa of Zambia by points on July 17th 1970. The next year Chansa would turn professional and in April 1974 he would die from brain injuries soon after being knocked out by Scotland's Don McMillan in a middleweight bout. On June 20th, Emma Ankudey of Ghana would mar Kajjo's quest for a medal by beating him by points in the quarter-finals. Ankudey would eventually win the gold medal and also represent Ghana at the Olympics of 1972 in Montreal.
Uganda's biracial light-middleweight boxing champion David Jackson was drawn to start fighting in the quarter-finals, and not fight among the eight competitors in the preliminaries. As a teenager Jackson was placed fifth overall in among the light-middleweight competitors at the Olympics of 1968 in Mexico City. This time in Edinburgh, Jackson did not go far, given that on July 20th the referee halted the bout in the first round in favor of Tom Imrie of Scotland. Imrie had won the Commonwealth silver medal at the previous venue of Kingston in Jamaica and he remains a famous Scottish boxer. Imrie would be the eventual gold medal winner this time in Edinburgh, and thereafter move on to professional fighting. His record as a professional pugilist was mediocre. David Jackson would again fight for Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics (1972) in Montreal, and be placed 9th overall in the welterweight division.
The teenager John Opio moved on to the quarter-finals, after defeating future professional boxer Billy May of Wales, by points on July 20th in the preliminary rounds of the middleweight division. But in the quarter-finals, against Samuel Kasongo of Zambia, Opio was eliminated after the referee stopped the contest in the third round. Opio would represent Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics in Munich.
The preliminaries of the light heavyweight division involved the second-round disqualification of Commonwealth bronze medallist and 2-time Olympian George Mathias Ouma at the hands of Johnny Banham of England on July 18th.
Because there were only seven contestants in the heavyweight division, and six were placed in the quarter-finals. It was Uganda's Benson Masanda, among the seven boxers, who hit the jackpot by automatically being placed in the next level--the semi-finals! The quarter-finals took place on July 20th. In the semi-finals on July 22nd, Masanda defeated Canada's Jack Meda by disqualification in round 2. In the finals, on July 24th, Masanda won gold by defeating John McKinty of Ireland by points. Compared to all Uganda's boxing participants, Masanda had won the gold in quite an easy and unconventional way. This would be Uganda's second Commonwealth Games' gold medal, following that of George Oywello in 1962 in Perth in Australia.
Courtesy of the final tally of gold medals won by James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, and Benson Masanda; and silver medals won by Leo Rwabwogo and Deogratias Musoke Uganda had convincingly emerged as Commonwealth of Nations' boxing championships. This was the first collective international victory for Uganda, and the nation rejoicingly looked forward to more triumphs at the international level. The rest of Uganda's medals were just two: the silver medal won by William "Bill" Koskei in the 400 meters-hurdles, and the bronze medal won by Judith Ayaa in the 400 meters-sprint. The total of three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal placed Uganda as ninth overall at this Commonwealth tournament with 7 medals. How would Uganda's boxers fare in the next Commonwealth venue that would be Christchurch in New Zealand in 1974? There had been a military coup in Uganda, commander Idi Amin became president, the regime became notorious for killings and disappearances of nationals and even foreigners. Anxiety loomed as to whether unfavorable social and political factors would translate to disappointing performances in the realm of sports. And yes, many aspects of sports deteriorated during the regime of Idi Amin, and the pool of potential and current athletes was reduced. But how would Uganda fare in Christchurch, two years to the day into the regime of Idi Amin?
Christchurch, New Zealand 1974
Christchurch hosted the Commonwealth of Nations' Games from January 24th to February 2nd, 1974. The boxing flyweight division saw the returning of the gold medallist James Odwori of Uganda. In the quarter-finals, on January 28th, Odwori knocked out Tanzanian Olympian Bakari Selemani (Seleman) in the second round. The semi-finals, held on January 31st witnessed Odwori defeat Singapore's Syed Abdul Kadir by points. Kadir remains one of Singapore's most renowned fighters, and was named "Sportsman of the Year" after his Commonwealth Games' bronze medal win.
The finals of the light flyweight division were held of February 1st. This time, Odwori would be pitted against Kenyan Stephen Muchoki who remains one of Kenya's most famous boxers. The relatively shorter Muchoki outpointed the champion Odwori, leaving Odwori to settle for silver. Muchoki would successfully defend his Commonwealth gold at the forthcoming venue Edmonton in Canada, in 1978. His illustrious career also included the silver medal win at the World Amateur Championships in Havana in 1974, and later the gold in the tournament which was hosted by Belgrade in Yugoslavia in 1978. Muchoki would thereafter move into the professional ranks and even become Africa Boxing Union champion. But he failed in his quest for the European title and the World Boxing Association title, and he retired from boxing during the late 1980's.
In the quarter-finals of the flyweight division, on January 29th, Ugandan John Byaruhanga knocked-out John Lawless of Scotland in the second round. But in the semi-finals, January 31st, Byaruhanga was defeated on points by Olympian Chandra Narayanan of India. Byaruhanga hence settled with the bronze medal.
Uganda's bantamweight Ali Rojo was drawn as a quarter-finalist to fight Olympian Habibu (Habib) Kinyogoli of Tanzania on January 28th. Rojo won by points and moved on to the semi-finals. Kinyogoli remains one of the most renowned of Tanzania's boxer and he is a boxing trainer.
The January 31st bantamweight semi-final was in favor of Rojo, by points, leaving Kenyan Isaac Kuria Maina to go home with the bronze. in the finals, on February 1st, Patrick "Pat" Cowdell of England killed Ali Rojo's quest for the gold by winning by points. Rojo had won the second boxing medal for Uganda. A famous British boxer, Cowdell would build an impressive boxing career during which he became a European Union champion. But he failed to win in his fighting for a world title.
Uganda's featherweight competitor was Shadrack (Shadrah? Shadrach?) Odhiambo. On January 29th, in the quarter-finals, young future Olympian and long-time fighter Odhiambo outpointed Colin Flinn of England. Odhiambo would later as a light welterweight fight for Sweden and win her a bronze medal at the World Amateur Championships in 1982 in Munich. Odhiambo also fought for Sweden in the 1980 (Moscow) and 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympics. He did not win any Olympic medals.
In the Christchurch Commonwealth games semi-final, Odhiambo ably defeated Dale Anderson of Canada by points on January 31st. However, the finals, on February 1st witnessed experienced Commonwealth Games' champion Eddie Ndukwu of Nigeria win the gold medal on a points decision. Odhiambo had won Uganda's third boxing silver medal! Ndukwu would soon turn professional and even reign as British Empire (Commonwealth) featherweight champion. Ndukwu remains among the more formidable names among Nigerian boxers.
On January 27th, in the preliminaries, a locally popular and heavily promising 20 year-old lightweight lad Ayub Kalule climbed into the ring to challenge Tanzanian William Lyimo who was the same age as Kalule. Kalule won, by points. In 1980, Lyimo aged 27 would fight at the Olympic Games held in Moscow. He commendably passed the second round, but was in the quarter-finals knocked out in the third round by 20 year-old Anthony Willis of Great Britain. He would thus settle for 5th position in the welterweight division. Many African countries boycotted the Olympic venue of Moscow. Heaney later became a professional boxer, but he would soon retire without an acclaimed boxing record.
In the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games' lightweight boxing fight in Christchurch, on January 28th 1974, Ayub Kalule ably out-boxed and bloodily facially disfigured 22 year-old Irishman "Sugar" Ray Heaney. The fight is featured on You-Tube whereby Heaney was allotted two mandatory counts given the formidable punishing from the fast and hard-punching Kalule.
In the semi-finals, Kalule was set to face New Zealand teenager Robert Charles Colley. The outcome involved Colley being outpointed and settling for the bronze medal.
At the quarter finals, Kalule was pitted against 19 year-old New Zealander Robert Charles Colley. Colley would be outpointed (and settle for the bronze), allowing Kalule to move on to the final stage. After being eliminated by Russian Valery Limasov in the first round at the Olympic Games of 1976 held in Montreal (Canada), Colley would turn professional. Though Colley's professional record is impressive, it is mediocre insofar as his fights were confined to New Zealand and Australia, and Colley retired quite early in life...in 1980. At the finals of these Commonwealth Games, Kalule would outpoint Kayin Amah of Nigeria and therefore win the gold. Kayin Amah, who had in the preliminaries lost to legendary Philip Waruinge of Kenya in the previous Commonwealth Games (1970), would this time be happier with taking home a silver.
Perhaps Ayub Kalule's most prestigious amateur encounter, would be the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships that were held in Havana in Cuba in August 17-30. Here, Kalule, a light welterweight, defeated Bulgarian Vladmir Kolev to win the gold. In November of the same year, Kalule still as a light welterweight, won another gold medal for Uganda. This was at the African Amateur Boxing Championships that were held in Kampala on Kalule's soil. The next year Kalule turned professional in Denmark, rose rapidly through the ranks. He could go on to become Uganda's first professional world boxing champion (WBA junior middleweight). His accolades included becoming a European Boxing Union Champion, and battling such renowned boxers as "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Sumbu Kalambay, Mike McCallum, Lindell Holmes, and Herol Graham. Kalule fought in what many regard as the golden era of junior middleweight champions. Kalule is still Uganda's most famous boxer. In March 2011, Kalule was contracted to coach top junior Danish boxers.
Joseph Nsubuga had been eliminated on points by Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia right at the beginning of the preliminaries at the previous Commonwealth Games venue Edinburgh. There Nsubuga had represented Uganda as a lightweight. Nsubuga, still a teenager, was now back at the Commonwealth Games to fight as a light welterweight. This time, the preliminary first round on January 27 witnessed Nsubuga quickly overwhelm his opponent. The fight did not go far. The referee halted the contest in the first round, dashing the hopes of Philip Sapak of Papua New Guinea. However, two days later in the quarter-finals, James Douglas of Scotland defeated Nsubuga by points and thereby halted Nsubuga's quest for a medal.
Months later, in August, Nsubuga would win a bronze medal for Uganda at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana. Nsubuga had moved up to the middleweight division. Quite a skillful boxer, Nsubuga would turn professional and move to Norway, and he would mostly fight in Europe. Nsubuga stopped competing in 1981 when he was knocked out by famous future world champion Davey Moore. Perhaps Nsubuga's most notable professional fight was his spirited gladiator battle (non-title bout) with legendary Panamanian Roberto Duran. Though Duran seemed to be tiring, Joseph "Stoneface" Nsubuga was knocked out at the end of the fourth round. This fight is available on You-Tube.
Welterweight Mohamed Muruli had won Uganda a gold medal at the previous Commonwealth of Nations Games' venue Edinburgh. There in 1970, Muruli had boxed as a lightweight. Here in Christchurch, Muruli was representing Uganda as a welterweight. The preliminary round witnessed Muruli outpunch Caleb Okech of Kenya, on January 26th. On January 29th, during the quarter-finals, Muruli beat future Olympian Carmen Rinke of Canada by points. The semi-finals involved Muruli beating Steven Cooney of Scotland, by points on January 31st. On February 1st, Muruli became the first Ugandan to ever win two Commonwealth Games' gold medals by outpointing Welsh Errol McKenzie in the finals. McKenzie would turn professional during 1975, but he retired after an unimpressive boxing record. Muruli is among Uganda's outstanding boxers, and he twice represented Uganda at the Olympics.
Uganda's light middleweight John Langol was rescued by the referee who stopped the preliminaries match-up of January 27th 1974 against Lance Revill of New Zealand. The fight was stopped in the second round. In 1981, Langol moved to Birmingham in England to fight professionally. His professional tenure would last only four years and it would involve an unimpressive record of 6 wins and 8 losses. Revill would fight professionally in Australia and New Zealand, but his boxing record would be average.
On January 29th of 1974, in a quarter-final, Uganda's middleweight champion Mustapha Wasajja was knocked out in the first round by Les Rackley of New Zealand. At the inaugural World Boxing Championships held on August 1974 in Havana, Wasajja was eliminated by points in the quarter-finals. In November, Wasajja would become Africa amateur champion at the regional tournament held in Kampala. In a pre-Olympic international tournament held in Montreal at the end of November 1975, Wasajja won Uganda's only gold at the venue. Wasajja is notable for having become the premier WBA light heavyweight contender after he turned professional. He lost the mandatory championship fight to Michael Spinks, in February 1982. Wasajja mostly fought in Europe and his boxing record is quite impressive. After Spinks, Wasajja lost his next two fights and thereafter retired from boxing. Wasajja is one of Uganda's greatest boxers.
Just as had happened in the previous Commonwealth Games, the reigning heavyweight champion Benson Masanda of Uganda was directly placed in the quarter-finals because there were not many contenders in the class. On January 28th Masanda outpointed Fisi Brown of New Zealand. In the semi-finals, the referee stopped the bout in favor of legendary Nigerian Fatai Ayinla, an Olympian who had won the light heavyweight gold at the previous Commonwealth Games. Masanda was hence made to step down for the bronze medal. In turn, the referee would stop the bout in favor of Neville Meade, in the finals. Fatai Ayinla-Adekunle's accolades include the heavyweight gold medal at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, and a bronze medal at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana. He boxed for Nigeria for many years.
Uganda's other medals were won on the track. Uganda's Silver Ayoo (46.07), narrowly beaten by Kenyan legendary Olympic gold medallist Charles Asati (46.04), won the silver medal in the 400 meters. Uganda's 4 x 400m relay team won the bronze medal, behind Kenya (gold) and England. The relay competitors were William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo, Silver Ayoo, and John Kakonge.
The Final Tally
At Commonwealth Games of 1970, held in Edinburgh, Uganda's three boxing gold medals were won by light flyweight James Odwori, light welterweight Mohamed Muruli, and heavyweight Benson Masanda; and the two silver medals were won by flyweight Leo Rwabwogo, and featherweight Deogratias Musoke. Uganda did not win any bronze medals here.
In 1974 in Christchurch, the two gold medals were won by lightweight Ayub Kalule and light welterweight Mohamed Muruli; the three silver medals were won by light flyweight James Odwori, bantamweight Ali Rojo, and featherweight Shadrach Odhiambo; and the two bronze medals were won by flyweight John Byaruhanga and heavyweight Benson Masanda.
Hence, while Uganda won slightly more boxing medals in 1974, the medals in 1970 subtly carried "more weight." For those eight years, Uganda had the best amateur boxers amongst the Nations of the British Commonwealth. Additionally, at each of the Commonwealth Games venues, Ugandan track athletes finished second and third (William Koskei--400 meter-hurdles and Judith Ayaa--400m, respectively in 1970, and Silver Ayoo--400m and Silver Ayoo, William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo and John Kakonge--the 4 x 400m relay, respectively in 1974). In 1970 Uganda finished 12th overall in track and field athletics; Australia, England, and Scotland were the top three countries. Similarly, in 1974 Uganda finished 12th overall in track and field athletics; but England, Australia, and Kenya were the top three countries. The overall performances of Uganda at each of the Commonwealth Games venues were hence strikingly similar. Uganda has never performed better than that at the Commonwealth Games, ever since those 1970's.
Jonathan Musere
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Methods of Online and Offline Searching and Researching, including Google
INTRODUCTION
Gathering information entails skill, practice, patience, and perseverance. It is the Google Search Mechanism, which is the most universally popular and most accessed search engine, that will be mainly referred to here, but the search methods apply to countless levels of obtaining information. The Internet has undoubtedly revolutionized searching for information whereby tapping information is easier and faster than in the past traditional library search era. Google search tools include the general Web pages, Book pages, Blog pages, Scholar pages, News pages, Image pages, Video pages, and additional ("More") pages, etc.
WEB PAGES
When searching, on the web pages, placing the plus (+) sign at the beginning of the term you are searching for, helps yield more specific results. For example, if you are researching on Sargeant Shriver, entering "+Sargeant +Shriver" will, for example, deliver more specific information on this person than entering "Sargeant Shriver" or "+Sargeant Shriver" "Shriver" or "+Shriver." Certainly, many people carry the names Sargeant and Shriver, the plus signs at the beginning of the word or term reduce on the time and effort on your search. If you are searching for a much less common word or term like "Lugolugenyi," you need not go into specifying the term using a plus sign. But terms like, "John," "Charles," "Kennedy," "wilderness," "Carter," "environment," "pressure," "Churchill," etc. are so common that the search ought to employ ways to gather more specific results. Certainly, a good researcher cultivates a highly creative mind. The more complex and less common the word or term, the higher the likelihood of achieving accurate hits. Also, keep in mind that many terms that may yield valuable information may have been misspelt. For example, the name John Akii-Bua has sometimes been misspelled as John Akii-Buwa, John Aki-Bua, or John Aki-Buwa. Logically, one should search all these terms, and also discover other terms that will yield more information about the person. Some literature lists "Charles" as one of his names. A good researcher hence ought to be imaginative and flexible, in addition to being creative.
Also, continue searching. The end of an academic program or a written article is not really the end. You ought to keep harvesting the ongoing changes and the new information that continuously appears. Keep reading and updating, and latch on to new and more efficient methods of harvesting information. The world is one of new discoveries made, and more information uncovered on and off the Internet, every minute. This is not a static gloomy world! Reading what you have written gives others the opportunity to review, correct, or provide additional information that is to your advantage. Continuously reading broadens your horizon as regards knowledge, vocabulary and grammar; enabling you to continuously efficiently express yourself in faster and more accurate ways. As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect."
Having too many misspelled words in your work reduces your credibility. Misspellings are as counterproductive as poor grammar. Fortunately, spelling check boxes are ubiquitous on the Internet. They make writing much easier. However the misspelling checks only help. If you type a word "their" instead of "there," the spelling tool will not catch that mistake. The grammar check tools on the Internet also help, but they cannot be expected to be 100% accurate. But they largely help in offering suggestions and hinting at you to weigh in on and consider changing your sentence structure. In many cases both the spelling and grammar check tools are intertwined in the spell-check tool.
Beware of over quoting. It may seem that borrowing lengthy phrases from other sources gives you a lot more credibility. However, doing this dilutes the creativity and originality of your writing, it makes you look like a copy-cat. Quote just a few words or sentences from any source; quote the minimum of what is relevant to and reinforces your point; cut out the irrelevant and superfluous words from the quotes. Also, by copyright law, if you write a book that has quoted or used more than 500 words from other documents, you are required to seek approval from the author or publisher of the borrowed source. The sin of plagiarism is surely much worse than over quoting. Plagiarism involves "stealing" other people's written sources and attributing them to yourself. Putting other people's creative works under your name reduces your credibility, is unfair to the original writer, and in the worst case scenarios can be sued, stripped of your academic credentials, and even fired. In March 2011, faced with protests by academicians and the public, German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned after it was discovered that he had plagiarized passages in his doctoral dissertation.
BOOK PAGES
Many books, journals, newspapers, and magazines are printed entirely or partially in this section. The ones that are older and therefore less under intellectual property protection (e.g., 75 years or older in print) are the most likely to be readily available online. However, many quite recent texts are available, free-of-charge, in the book pages. A competent researcher ought to go beyond the general web pages, and into and beyond the book pages. This is an age of digitizing texts, and Google progressively gets better at presenting them, and progressively adds more text pages. Many of the texts in the book pages are quite old and invaluable, but are hard to and take long to obtain through the conventional library and inter-library loan system. On the google book pages, the information is readily available after just a few keyboard strokes. The researcher and the student saves quite a chunk of time and money by taking advantage of digitized book texts. Full or partial texts are also available on Amazon.com
BLOG (WEBLOG) PAGES
The blog entries can yield more valuable information beyond the web and book text pages. But the researcher ought to be judicious here given that many blog entries are plagiarized or scrambled words. Many steal other's Internet work to build up their's just for fun, to build up their credibility, or even for generating traffic for publicity and commercial gain. Look for blog entries that appear to be genuine or are contributed by regular bloggers under their author names. Notwithstanding, blogs often yield a lot of well researched entries and they offer many ideas and direction.
IMAGE AND VIDEO ENTRIES
The image and more so the video button tell a lot more of the story at visual glance. Google contains entries from such popular sites as You-Tube, many invaluable films gathered by professional or regular people. Many sports competitions are available under Google videos, such that you can tell your own story based on what you visualize. Images are invaluable in aspects like science and art, where pictures and diagrams are important. Billions of picture images are available online. Where relevant, do not forget to also click the image, and also the videos button. Some of the results yielded may not be directly relevant to what you are looking for, but might only be linked to a website that contains some of the information. Google recently added an exclusive You-Tube video website. The aphorisms, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and "the camera never lies," largely hold true. Picture and video images also enhance one's ability to tell his or her story and assess the situation in his or her unique way.
REFERENCES/ WORKS CITED
Listing these at the end of the written article, in a consistent and orderly format, gives much more credibility to your work. This is as important as correct grammar and spelling. An article that has references essentially becomes a scholarly article. Many academic and public articles can require prescribed formats. These are many, and some of the popular format styles are the APA (American Psychological Association), CSE (Council of Science Editors), Chicago, MLA (Modern Language Style), the Turabian Style, and the AAA (American Anthropological Association) styles. Listing bibliographies and references, and quoting sources in prescribed sources can be quite irritating; but after minimal practice and familiarization it will not be much of an issue. Ultimately the final product looks neat, and appears as a written piece from a credible and disciplined source.
COUNTLESS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The traditional library will always be a powerful information powerhouse, even though the Internet has made it less relevant. Interlibrary loan services allow for books and other documents not available at the local public library to be transported from other public and college libraries in the nation. There are billions of documents that are not on the Internet. Aside from libraries, government and private agencies house countless forms of information. Oral literature and information, the spoken word that is from people themselves can be credible and relevant. Any information gathered is best credible when it is cross-checked with other sources of information. Information is endless and is eternally being created.
REFERENCES
www.google.com
www.amazon.com
Jonathan Musere
Gathering information entails skill, practice, patience, and perseverance. It is the Google Search Mechanism, which is the most universally popular and most accessed search engine, that will be mainly referred to here, but the search methods apply to countless levels of obtaining information. The Internet has undoubtedly revolutionized searching for information whereby tapping information is easier and faster than in the past traditional library search era. Google search tools include the general Web pages, Book pages, Blog pages, Scholar pages, News pages, Image pages, Video pages, and additional ("More") pages, etc.
WEB PAGES
When searching, on the web pages, placing the plus (+) sign at the beginning of the term you are searching for, helps yield more specific results. For example, if you are researching on Sargeant Shriver, entering "+Sargeant +Shriver" will, for example, deliver more specific information on this person than entering "Sargeant Shriver" or "+Sargeant Shriver" "Shriver" or "+Shriver." Certainly, many people carry the names Sargeant and Shriver, the plus signs at the beginning of the word or term reduce on the time and effort on your search. If you are searching for a much less common word or term like "Lugolugenyi," you need not go into specifying the term using a plus sign. But terms like, "John," "Charles," "Kennedy," "wilderness," "Carter," "environment," "pressure," "Churchill," etc. are so common that the search ought to employ ways to gather more specific results. Certainly, a good researcher cultivates a highly creative mind. The more complex and less common the word or term, the higher the likelihood of achieving accurate hits. Also, keep in mind that many terms that may yield valuable information may have been misspelt. For example, the name John Akii-Bua has sometimes been misspelled as John Akii-Buwa, John Aki-Bua, or John Aki-Buwa. Logically, one should search all these terms, and also discover other terms that will yield more information about the person. Some literature lists "Charles" as one of his names. A good researcher hence ought to be imaginative and flexible, in addition to being creative.
Also, continue searching. The end of an academic program or a written article is not really the end. You ought to keep harvesting the ongoing changes and the new information that continuously appears. Keep reading and updating, and latch on to new and more efficient methods of harvesting information. The world is one of new discoveries made, and more information uncovered on and off the Internet, every minute. This is not a static gloomy world! Reading what you have written gives others the opportunity to review, correct, or provide additional information that is to your advantage. Continuously reading broadens your horizon as regards knowledge, vocabulary and grammar; enabling you to continuously efficiently express yourself in faster and more accurate ways. As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect."
Having too many misspelled words in your work reduces your credibility. Misspellings are as counterproductive as poor grammar. Fortunately, spelling check boxes are ubiquitous on the Internet. They make writing much easier. However the misspelling checks only help. If you type a word "their" instead of "there," the spelling tool will not catch that mistake. The grammar check tools on the Internet also help, but they cannot be expected to be 100% accurate. But they largely help in offering suggestions and hinting at you to weigh in on and consider changing your sentence structure. In many cases both the spelling and grammar check tools are intertwined in the spell-check tool.
Beware of over quoting. It may seem that borrowing lengthy phrases from other sources gives you a lot more credibility. However, doing this dilutes the creativity and originality of your writing, it makes you look like a copy-cat. Quote just a few words or sentences from any source; quote the minimum of what is relevant to and reinforces your point; cut out the irrelevant and superfluous words from the quotes. Also, by copyright law, if you write a book that has quoted or used more than 500 words from other documents, you are required to seek approval from the author or publisher of the borrowed source. The sin of plagiarism is surely much worse than over quoting. Plagiarism involves "stealing" other people's written sources and attributing them to yourself. Putting other people's creative works under your name reduces your credibility, is unfair to the original writer, and in the worst case scenarios can be sued, stripped of your academic credentials, and even fired. In March 2011, faced with protests by academicians and the public, German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned after it was discovered that he had plagiarized passages in his doctoral dissertation.
BOOK PAGES
Many books, journals, newspapers, and magazines are printed entirely or partially in this section. The ones that are older and therefore less under intellectual property protection (e.g., 75 years or older in print) are the most likely to be readily available online. However, many quite recent texts are available, free-of-charge, in the book pages. A competent researcher ought to go beyond the general web pages, and into and beyond the book pages. This is an age of digitizing texts, and Google progressively gets better at presenting them, and progressively adds more text pages. Many of the texts in the book pages are quite old and invaluable, but are hard to and take long to obtain through the conventional library and inter-library loan system. On the google book pages, the information is readily available after just a few keyboard strokes. The researcher and the student saves quite a chunk of time and money by taking advantage of digitized book texts. Full or partial texts are also available on Amazon.com
BLOG (WEBLOG) PAGES
The blog entries can yield more valuable information beyond the web and book text pages. But the researcher ought to be judicious here given that many blog entries are plagiarized or scrambled words. Many steal other's Internet work to build up their's just for fun, to build up their credibility, or even for generating traffic for publicity and commercial gain. Look for blog entries that appear to be genuine or are contributed by regular bloggers under their author names. Notwithstanding, blogs often yield a lot of well researched entries and they offer many ideas and direction.
IMAGE AND VIDEO ENTRIES
The image and more so the video button tell a lot more of the story at visual glance. Google contains entries from such popular sites as You-Tube, many invaluable films gathered by professional or regular people. Many sports competitions are available under Google videos, such that you can tell your own story based on what you visualize. Images are invaluable in aspects like science and art, where pictures and diagrams are important. Billions of picture images are available online. Where relevant, do not forget to also click the image, and also the videos button. Some of the results yielded may not be directly relevant to what you are looking for, but might only be linked to a website that contains some of the information. Google recently added an exclusive You-Tube video website. The aphorisms, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and "the camera never lies," largely hold true. Picture and video images also enhance one's ability to tell his or her story and assess the situation in his or her unique way.
REFERENCES/ WORKS CITED
Listing these at the end of the written article, in a consistent and orderly format, gives much more credibility to your work. This is as important as correct grammar and spelling. An article that has references essentially becomes a scholarly article. Many academic and public articles can require prescribed formats. These are many, and some of the popular format styles are the APA (American Psychological Association), CSE (Council of Science Editors), Chicago, MLA (Modern Language Style), the Turabian Style, and the AAA (American Anthropological Association) styles. Listing bibliographies and references, and quoting sources in prescribed sources can be quite irritating; but after minimal practice and familiarization it will not be much of an issue. Ultimately the final product looks neat, and appears as a written piece from a credible and disciplined source.
COUNTLESS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The traditional library will always be a powerful information powerhouse, even though the Internet has made it less relevant. Interlibrary loan services allow for books and other documents not available at the local public library to be transported from other public and college libraries in the nation. There are billions of documents that are not on the Internet. Aside from libraries, government and private agencies house countless forms of information. Oral literature and information, the spoken word that is from people themselves can be credible and relevant. Any information gathered is best credible when it is cross-checked with other sources of information. Information is endless and is eternally being created.
REFERENCES
www.google.com
www.amazon.com
Jonathan Musere
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