Intro It was at the Commonwealth of

Intro

It was at the Commonwealth of Nations Video games of 1970 and 1974, that had been held in the city Edinburgh in Scotland and in Christchurch in New Zealand respectively, that Uganda's competitors have been 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 yellow metal medals (Leo Rwabwogo and Deogratias Musoke). The other medals won meant 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 honor wins in boxing, at the Earth Games held in Kingston in Discovery bay, jamaica in 1966, by Alex Odhiambo, Mathias Ouma, and Benson Ocan were indication that Uganda was basically moving up in international amateur boxing ranks. Uganda's performance at the Earth Games, four years earlier (1962) in Perth in Australia, witnessed Uganda win her first Commonwealth rare metal by way of heavyweight boxer George Oywello. Also impressive at the venue had been the boxing bronze medal is the winner by John Sentongo and forthcoming national army commander and Olympic Committee member Francis Nyangweso, as well as the silver medal won by long term national boxing trainer Kesi Odongo. To buttress Uganda's confidence in the realm of boxing were Uganda's primary and only Olympic medal wins, with 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 having racial bias and favoritism.

Edinburgh, Scotland 1970

At the 1970 Commonwealth of Nations Games, the teenager Wayne Odwori was Uganda's boxing competitor in the flyweight division. The beginning was quite easy for Odwori, given that having been not drawn among the four out of the total 10 flyweights that would fight in the preliminary rounds on Come early july 17th. Since the total numbers of competition in the very low and the very high fat divisions were relatively fewer, several were automatically placed in the next round--the quarter finals. The first flyweight quarter-finals bout was on July 20th. Odwori beat Anthony Kerr involving host-country Scotland, on points, in addition to earned his ticket to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals that involved several contenders, Odwori was again appointed to box in the first fight. By a majority points decision, Odwori impressively beat Mickey Abrams associated with England, on July 22nd together with was through to the finals! Odwori would definitely move on to beat Anthony Davis associated with Wales by points, to gain Uganda's first 1970 Commonwealth Game titles 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 or her native Kenya where he became Kenya Prisons boxing coach and later Kenya national coach.

The flyweight section 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 earliest fight as a quarter-finalist. On September 20th Leo Rwabwogo was devote the quarter-finals to fight Leon Nissen (whose identical twin Holly was also a boxer) of Quotes. The referee stopped the tournament in the second round, a technological knockout in favor of Rwabwogo, allowing Rwabwogo to move on the semi-finals. On This summer 22nd, Rwabwogo was placed in the first bantamweight semi-Final city junior bout with opponent 18 year-old David Larmour of eire who would later become an Olympian and professional boxer. Rwabwogo gained by a majority points decision. For your finals, Rwabwogo would battle with potential professional and Englishman David (Dave) Needham of Nottingham. Needham excellently outpointed Rwabwogo by 4-1, allowing Rwabwogo to settle for the silver medal. The gold medal had steer away from Rwabwogo at the Olympic Games in Mexico City where he settled for bronze; and in the forthcoming Olympics regarding 1972 that were held in Munich in Germany, Rwabwogo would again fall short of the big win after staying defeated in the finals. But famous Rwabwogo remains Uganda's only double-Olympic medallists and the only Ugandan to get captured medals at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Uganda's bantamweight contender Eridadi Mukwanga had on the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico city cemented history by starting to be the nation's first Olympic silver medallist. At these Commonwealth Games inside Edinburgh, Rwabwogo was in the very final bout of the bantamweight division timetabled to fight Joe Cooke of Canada. Mukwanga was not able to meet his fame and expectations, defeated by points by Joe Cooke of Canada on July eighteenth. Cooke would later on also be started out of medal contention, when he had been defeated by Stewart Ogilvie of Scotland, after the referee stopped typically the bout in the first round.

Within the featherweight division Uganda's Deogratias Musoke strutted his feathers. At the preliminaries, on July 18th, Musoke had been pitted against unheralded G. Marisa of Tanzania. The bout proceeded to go in favor of Musoke after the referee stopped the contest in the second circular. 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 has been scheduled to meet with Pakistan's Abdul Samad Mir. The fight failed to materialize because Samad Mir had been unable to fight. It became an easy walkover in favor of Musoke. The consolation to get Pakistan was that Mir's bronze honor was the sole one for the nation at this Commonwealth Games' venue. Furthermore, Samad Mir remains one of the most prominent of Pakistani boxers. In the 70's he was declared "Best Boxer associated with Asia. " He joined the army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also coached typically the Pakistani's Army Boxing as well as Countrywide teams. Samad Amir passed away in May 2009.

In the finals, Musoke would face Kenya's longstanding boxing tale Philip Waruinge whose boxing understanding include multiple medals at the two Commonwealth and the Olympic Games. Deogratias Musoke, defeated on points in the titles on July 24th, was awarded the featherweight boxing silver medal.

The preliminary lightweight bout in July 18th, between Uganda's teen Joseph Nsubuga and Olympian Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia, resulted in an earlier farewell for Nsubuga who was conquered by points.

Mohamed Muruli, considered one of Uganda's master boxers, had as being a lightweight been placed fifth overall at the Olympics of 1968 throughout Mexico City. This time, Muruli would most likely represent Uganda as a light welterweight. There were twelve competitors in this division and Muruli was lucky for being drawn into the quarter-finals and therefore postpone fighting in the preliminaries of September 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 bumped out in the fifth round simply by famed Uganda boxer Ayub Kalule, in the quest for the British Empire Earth title.

On July 22nd, within the semi-finals, hard-hitting Muruli defeated potential future Olympian Odartey Lawson of Ghana when the referee stopped the fight in the first round. Muruli moved on to win the gold to get Uganda after outpointing Dave Davis of Wales on July twenty fourth.

The welterweight division witnessed Uganda's Olympian Andrew Kajjo eliminate Hugo Chansa of Zambia by things on July 17th 1970. The following year Chansa would turn specialist and in April 1974 he would pass on from brain injuries soon after getting knocked out by Scotland's Wear McMillan in a middleweight bout. Upon June 20th, Emma Ankudey of Ghana would mar Kajjo's quest for a medal by beating him or her by points in the quarter-finals. Ankudey would eventually win the magic medal and also represent Ghana with the Olympics of 1972 in Montreal.

Uganda's biracial light-middleweight boxing champion David Jackson was drawn to start out fighting in the quarter-finals, and not fight among the eight competitors in the preliminaries. As a teenager Jackson was installed fifth overall in among the light-middleweight competitors at the Olympics of late 1960s in Mexico City. This time within Edinburgh, Jackson did not go far, given that on July 20th typically the referee halted the bout inside the first round in favor of Tom Imrie of Scotland. Imrie had won the Commonwealth silver medal at the earlier venue of Kingston in Jamaica and he remains a famous Scottish boxer. Imrie would be the eventual golden medal winner this time in Edinburgh, and thereafter move on to professional fighting. His record as a professional pugilist was mediocre. David Jackson would definitely again fight for Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics (1972) in Montreal, and become placed 9th overall in the welterweight division.

The teenager John Opio moved on to the quarter-finals, after busting future professional boxer Billy May well of Wales, by points upon July 20th in the preliminary times of the middleweight division. But in typically the quarter-finals, against Samuel Kasongo associated with Zambia, Opio was eliminated following your referee stopped the contest in the third round. Opio would work for Uganda at the forthcoming Olympics in Munich.

The preliminaries of the lumination heavyweight division involved the second-round disqualification of Commonwealth bronze medallist and 2-time Olympian George Mathias Ouma at the hands of Johnny Banham associated with England on July 18th.

Simply because there were only seven contestants inside the heavyweight division, and six had been placed in the quarter-finals. It was Uganda's Benson Masanda, among the seven boxers, who hit the jackpot simply by automatically being placed in the next level--the semi-finals! The quarter-finals took place on July 20th. In the semi-finals about July 22nd, Masanda defeated Canada's Jack Meda by disqualification throughout round 2. In the finals, about July 24th, Masanda won precious metal by defeating John McKinty of eire by points. Compared to all Uganda's boxing participants, Masanda had won the particular gold in quite an easy and non-traditional way. This would be Uganda's second Earth Games' gold medal, following that of George Oywello in 1962 throughout Perth in Australia.

Courtesy of the final tally of gold medals won by James Odwori, Mohamed Muruli, together with Benson Masanda; and silver medals won by Leo Rwabwogo and even Deogratias Musoke Uganda had sure 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 simply by Judith Ayaa in the 400 meters-sprint. The total of three gold, about three silver, and one bronze medal placed Uganda as ninth overall around this Commonwealth tournament with 7 medals. How would Uganda's boxers do in the next Commonwealth venue that would be Christchurch in New Zealand in mid 1970s? There had been a military vicissitude in Uganda, commander Idi Amin became president, the regime started to be notorious for killings and disappearances of nationals and even foreigners. Nervousness loomed as to whether unfavorable social in addition to political factors would translate to be able to disappointing performances in the realm of sporting. And yes, many aspects of sporting activities deteriorated during the regime of Idi Amin, and the pool of prospective and current athletes was lowered. But how would Uganda fare in Christchurch, two years to the moment into the regime of Idi Amin?

Christchurch, New Zealand 1974

Christchurch hosted the Commonwealth of Nations' Games from January 24th to be able to February 2nd, 1974. The boxing flyweight division saw the revisiting of the gold medallist James Odwori of Uganda. In the quarter-finals, in January 28th, Odwori knocked out and about 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 to be one of Singapore's most renowned fighters, plus was named "Sportsman of the Year" after his Commonwealth Games' bronze medal win.

The finals of your light flyweight division were held involving February 1st. This time, Odwori would be pitted against Kenyan Stephen Muchoki who remains one of Kenya's most well-known boxers. The relatively shorter Muchoki outpointed the champion Odwori, departing Odwori to settle for silver. Muchoki would successfully defend his Commonwealth gold at the forthcoming venue Edmonton in Canada, in 1978. His illustrious profession also included the silver medal win at the World Amateur Championships inside Havana in 1974, and later the particular gold in the tournament which was organised by Belgrade in Yugoslavia in the late 70s. Muchoki would thereafter move into typically the professional ranks and even become The african continent Boxing Union champion. But he failed in his quest for the American title and the World Boxing Acquaintance 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 within the second round. But in the semi-finals, January 31st, Byaruhanga was conquered 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 received by points and moved on to the semi-finals. Kinyogoli remains one of the most recognized of Tanzania's boxer and he is really a boxing trainer.

The January thirty first bantamweight semi-final was in favor regarding Rojo, by points, leaving Kenyan Isaac Kuria Maina to go house with the bronze. in the finals, in February 1st, Patrick "Pat" Cowdell of England killed Ali Rojo's quest for the gold by winning by points. Rojo had won the other boxing medal for Uganda. Some sort of famous British boxer, Cowdell would most likely build an impressive boxing career where he became a European Union winner. 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 gentle welterweight fight for Sweden and succeed her a bronze medal on the World Amateur Championships in 1982 within Munich. Odhiambo also fought designed for Sweden in the 1980 (Moscow) and even 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympics. They 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 ultimes, on February 1st witnessed knowledgeable Commonwealth Games' champion Eddie Ndukwu of Nigeria win the your old watches medal on a points decision. Odhiambo had won Uganda's third boxing magical medal! Ndukwu would soon change professional and even reign as British Empire (Commonwealth) featherweight champion. Ndukwu remains to be among the more formidable names amongst Nigerian boxers.

On January 26th, in the preliminaries, a locally well-known and heavily promising 20 year-old lightweight lad Ayub Kalule climbed into the ring to challenge Tanzanian William Lyimo who was the same period as Kalule. Kalule won, by points. In 1980, Lyimo from ages 27 would fight at the Olympic Games held in Moscow. He commendably approved the second round, but was in the quarter-finals knocked out in the third round by simply 20 year-old Anthony Willis of big Britain. He would thus settle for 5th position in the welterweight division. Several African countries boycotted the Olympic venue of Moscow. Heaney soon after 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 within Christchurch, on January 28th mid 1970s, Ayub Kalule ably out-boxed plus bloodily facially disfigured 22 year-old Irishman "Sugar" Ray Heaney. The particular fight is featured on You-Tube whereby Heaney was allotted 2 mandatory counts given the good punishing from the fast and hard-punching Kalule.

In the semi-finals, Kalule was initially set to face New Zealand young adult Robert Charles Colley. The outcome included Colley being outpointed and deciding for the bronze medal.

At the 1 / 4 finals, Kalule was pitted against 19 year-old New Zealander Robert Charles Colley. Colley would be outpointed (and settle for the bronze), permitting Kalule to move on to the final period. After being eliminated by Ruskies Valery Limasov in the first round at the Olympic Games of 1976 saved in Montreal (Canada), Colley would move professional. Though Colley's professional report is impressive, it is mediocre insofar as his fights were limited to New Zealand and Australia, plus Colley retired quite early in life... inside 1980. At the finals of these Commonwealth Games, Kalule would outpoint Kayin Amah of Nigeria and therefore succeed the gold. Kayin Amah, who in the preliminaries lost to well-known Philip Waruinge of Kenya in the earlier Commonwealth Games (1970), would now be happier with taking residence a silver.

Perhaps Ayub Kalule's most prestigious amateur encounter, could be the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Competition that were held in Havana in Emborrachar in August 17-30. Here, Kalule, a light-weight welterweight, defeated Bulgarian Vladmir Kolev to win the gold. In November of the same year, Kalule continue to as a light welterweight, won a second gold medal for Uganda. This is at the African Amateur Boxing Competition that were held in Kampala on Kalule's soil. The next year Kalule converted professional in Denmark, rose quickly through the ranks. He could go on being Uganda's first professional world boxing champion (WBA junior middleweight). The accolades included becoming a European Boxing Union Champion, and battling this kind of renowned boxers as "Sugar" Beam Leonard, Sumbu Kalambay, Mike McCallum, Lindell Holmes, and Herol Graham. Kalule fought in what many context as the golden era of junior middleweight champions. Kalule is still Uganda's most famous boxer. In March System.Drawing.Bitmap, Kalule was contracted to coach major junior Danish boxers.

Joseph Nsubuga had been eliminated on points by simply Kenneth Mwansa of Zambia here at the beginning of the preliminaries at the past Commonwealth Games venue Edinburgh. Now there Nsubuga had represented Uganda as the lightweight. Nsubuga, still a teenager, was basically now back at the Commonwealth Online games to fight as a light welterweight. This time, the preliminary first rounded on January 27 witnessed Nsubuga quickly overwhelm his opponent. The particular fight did not go far. Typically the referee halted the contest inside the first round, dashing the desires of Philip Sapak of Papua New Guinea. However, two days eventually in the quarter-finals, James Douglas associated with Scotland defeated Nsubuga by items and thereby halted Nsubuga's pursuit of 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 fighter, Nsubuga would turn professional together with move to Norway, and he would generally fight in Europe. Nsubuga discontinued competing in 1981 when he was knocked out by famous long term future world champion Davey Moore. Perhaps Nsubuga's most notable professional fight had been his spirited gladiator battle (non-title bout) with legendary Panamanian Roberto Duran. Though Duran seemed to be exhausting, 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 the gold medal at the previous Commonwealth of Nations Games' venue Edinburgh. At this time there in 1970, Muruli had boxed as a lightweight. Here in Christchurch, Muruli was basically representing Uganda as a welterweight. Typically the preliminary round witnessed Muruli outpunch Caleb Okech of Kenya, about January 26th. On January 29th, during the quarter-finals, Muruli beat forthcoming Olympian Carmen Rinke of Nova scotia by points. The semi-finals engaged Muruli beating Steven Cooney of Scotland, by points on Jan 31st. On February 1st, Muruli became the first Ugandan to at any time win two Commonwealth Games' silver medals by outpointing Welsh Errol McKenzie in the finals. McKenzie would most likely turn professional during 1975, nevertheless he retired after an unimpressive boxing record. Muruli is among Uganda's outstanding boxers, and he twice depicted Uganda at the Olympics.

Uganda's lighting middleweight John Langol was preserved by the referee who stopped the particular preliminaries match-up of January 27th 1974 against Lance Revill of recent Zealand. The fight was halted in the second round. In 81, Langol moved to Birmingham in England to fight professionally. His professional tenure would last only four years and it would involve an unimpressive report of 6 wins and 8 losses. Revill would fight skillfully in Australia and New Zealand, although his boxing record would be ordinary.

On January 29th of 1974, in a quarter-final, Uganda's middleweight champ Mustapha Wasajja was knocked out in the first round by Les Rackley of New Zealand. At the inaugural Globe Boxing Championships held on Aug 1974 in Havana, Wasajja was eliminated by points in the quarter-finals. In November, Wasajja would grow to be Africa amateur champion at the regional tournament held in Kampala. In a pre-Olympic international tournament held in Montreal in late November 1975, Wasajja won Uganda's only gold at the venue. Wasajja is notable for having become the the best WBA light heavyweight contender following he turned professional. He missing the mandatory championship fight to Michael Spinks, in February 1982. Wasajja mostly fought in Europe great boxing record is quite impressive. Following Spinks, Wasajja lost his following two fights and thereafter retired from boxing. Wasajja is one regarding Uganda's greatest boxers.

Just as possessed happened in the previous Commonwealth Games, the particular reigning heavyweight champion Benson Masanda of Uganda was directly put in the quarter-finals because there were not various contenders in the class. On January 28th Masanda outpointed Fisi Brownish of New Zealand. In the semi-finals, the particular referee stopped the bout in favor of legendary Nigerian Fatai Ayinla, the Olympian who had won the light heavyweight gold at the previous Commonwealth Video games. Masanda was hence made to phase 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 add the heavyweight gold medal at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, together with a bronze medal at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana. He boxed for Nigeria for several years.

Uganda's other medals were achieved on the track. Uganda's Silver Ayoo (46. 07), narrowly beaten by simply Kenyan legendary Olympic gold medallist Charles Asati (46. 04), gained the silver medal in the 300 meters. Uganda's 4 x 400m relay team won the bronze medal, behind Kenya (gold) and even England. The relay competitors have been William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo, Silver Ayoo, and John Kakonge.

The Final Tally

At Commonwealth Video 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 picked up by flyweight Leo Rwabwogo, plus featherweight Deogratias Musoke. Uganda did not win any bronze medals right here.

In 1974 in Christchurch, both 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 Comunista, and featherweight Shadrach Odhiambo; and the two bronze medals were earned by flyweight John Byaruhanga together with heavyweight Benson Masanda.

Hence, although Uganda won slightly more boxing medals in 1974, the medals in 1970 subtly carried "more weight. inch For those eight years, Uganda acquired the best amateur boxers amongst the Locations of the British Commonwealth. Additionally, at each of the Commonwealth Games venues, Ugandan track athletes finished second and third (William Koskei--400 meter-hurdles plus Judith Ayaa--400m, respectively in 1970, plus Silver Ayoo--400m and Silver Ayoo, William Santino Dralu, Pius Olowo and John Kakonge--the 4 by 400m relay, respectively in 1974). In 1970 Uganda finished 12th overall in track and field athletics; Australia, England, and Scotland have been the top three countries. Similarly, inside 1974 Uganda finished 12th total in track and field athletics; but England, Australia, and Kenya were the top three countries. The complete performances of Uganda at each of the Commonwealth Games venues were therefore strikingly similar. Uganda has never executed better than that at the Commonwealth Games, from the time that those 1970's.