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Kassim Ouma – Ready for Anyone! *********
August 4, 2006
By Marc Lichtenfeld
For years, Kassim Ouma was avoided like a kid in the schoolyard with a disgusting habit. No boxers would mention his name, much less fight him. He begged Winky Wright to give him a chance, countless times, only to be told there were greener pastures elsewhere.
During that time, Ouma would announce to anyone who would listen that he would fight anyone at any time. And he did. Ouma fought tough Angel Hernandez, in a title eliminator, just months after being shot three times outside a West Palm Beach, FL, restaurant.
While waiting for his title opportunity, he took on Carlos Bojorquez and J.C. Candelo. He defended his belt against Kofi Jantuah and lost it to Roman Karmazin. One thing you’ll notice about most of those names is that at the time, no one was lining up to fight them either.
Ouma rebounded from his loss to Karmazin with three wins in a row including his last against Marco Antonio Rubio. With a title shot seemingly one fight away, why would he risk his position against 20-0 (12) prospect Sechew Powell? “He’s a tough guy and I want to fight tough guys,” Ouma said.
Promoter Lou DiBella once told me on my radio show Through the Ropes, that Powell is the boxer in his stable that he is most confident will become a world champion. Jaime Palma, a lightweight boxer and long time friend of Ouma’s said Kassim is always looking for challenges. “He wants to be the first to beat this kid.”
Ouma is training in Philadelphia and said that camp is going well. For the first time in years, his chief trainer is Fred Mutweta, who worked with him when he was a child soldier in Uganda.
Ouma has been through a few trainers in his rise to the top. After longtime trainer Johnny Bumphus left due to an illness, Randy Shields was brought in for the past few fights. But Mutweta, who has always been a part of Team Ouma, now has the primary responsibility of getting his charge ready. He is clearly someone that Ouma is comfortable with. “I’ve known Fred a long time. He’s a great trainer.”
Ouma claims he took the fight to “stay busy” but the money was likely a motivating factor. It’s no secret that the fighter has sent tens of thousands of dollars back home to Uganda to support his family and put his siblings through school.
But if the pressure of supporting his family in Africa as well as in Florida is getting to him, you’d never know. Ouma is a walking definition of the word “cool.” He said he knows pretty much nothing about his opponent for Saturday night other than that he’s a southpaw – and he doesn’t seem particularly worried. In fact, you never see Ouma panic. Even when seeing his title slip away round after round against Karmazin, or after he’d been knocked down and hurt in the first round against Rubio, the 24-2-1 (15) Ouma simply went back to work pressuring his opponents and keeping his hands in their faces.
That’s what he’ll have to do against Powell, who can do a lot of things well. Ouma’s M.O. has always been to throw lots of punches and wear his opponents down. His arms are constantly in motion, not caring if he connects with a chin or a shoulder. Eventually most opponents slow due to the battering. Powell, however, will likely come in to the fight in the best shape of his life, knowing that a shot at a world title could be in the near future after a win over the highly regarded Ouma.
However, Ouma, who does not always have the most intense training camp, said that WBO champ Sergei Dzinziruk is reportedly interested in fighting him. That could be the motivation he needs to come in to the fight in top shape.
If Ouma can recapture a world title, no doubt he’d love to fight for the big money. But don’t expect him to only fight the big money fights. He’ll still fight anyone. “I want to prove that I’m the best. It doesn’t matter who they are.”
August 4, 2006
By Marc Lichtenfeld
For years, Kassim Ouma was avoided like a kid in the schoolyard with a disgusting habit. No boxers would mention his name, much less fight him. He begged Winky Wright to give him a chance, countless times, only to be told there were greener pastures elsewhere.
During that time, Ouma would announce to anyone who would listen that he would fight anyone at any time. And he did. Ouma fought tough Angel Hernandez, in a title eliminator, just months after being shot three times outside a West Palm Beach, FL, restaurant.
While waiting for his title opportunity, he took on Carlos Bojorquez and J.C. Candelo. He defended his belt against Kofi Jantuah and lost it to Roman Karmazin. One thing you’ll notice about most of those names is that at the time, no one was lining up to fight them either.
Ouma rebounded from his loss to Karmazin with three wins in a row including his last against Marco Antonio Rubio. With a title shot seemingly one fight away, why would he risk his position against 20-0 (12) prospect Sechew Powell? “He’s a tough guy and I want to fight tough guys,” Ouma said.
Promoter Lou DiBella once told me on my radio show Through the Ropes, that Powell is the boxer in his stable that he is most confident will become a world champion. Jaime Palma, a lightweight boxer and long time friend of Ouma’s said Kassim is always looking for challenges. “He wants to be the first to beat this kid.”
Ouma is training in Philadelphia and said that camp is going well. For the first time in years, his chief trainer is Fred Mutweta, who worked with him when he was a child soldier in Uganda.
Ouma has been through a few trainers in his rise to the top. After longtime trainer Johnny Bumphus left due to an illness, Randy Shields was brought in for the past few fights. But Mutweta, who has always been a part of Team Ouma, now has the primary responsibility of getting his charge ready. He is clearly someone that Ouma is comfortable with. “I’ve known Fred a long time. He’s a great trainer.”
Ouma claims he took the fight to “stay busy” but the money was likely a motivating factor. It’s no secret that the fighter has sent tens of thousands of dollars back home to Uganda to support his family and put his siblings through school.
But if the pressure of supporting his family in Africa as well as in Florida is getting to him, you’d never know. Ouma is a walking definition of the word “cool.” He said he knows pretty much nothing about his opponent for Saturday night other than that he’s a southpaw – and he doesn’t seem particularly worried. In fact, you never see Ouma panic. Even when seeing his title slip away round after round against Karmazin, or after he’d been knocked down and hurt in the first round against Rubio, the 24-2-1 (15) Ouma simply went back to work pressuring his opponents and keeping his hands in their faces.
That’s what he’ll have to do against Powell, who can do a lot of things well. Ouma’s M.O. has always been to throw lots of punches and wear his opponents down. His arms are constantly in motion, not caring if he connects with a chin or a shoulder. Eventually most opponents slow due to the battering. Powell, however, will likely come in to the fight in the best shape of his life, knowing that a shot at a world title could be in the near future after a win over the highly regarded Ouma.
However, Ouma, who does not always have the most intense training camp, said that WBO champ Sergei Dzinziruk is reportedly interested in fighting him. That could be the motivation he needs to come in to the fight in top shape.
If Ouma can recapture a world title, no doubt he’d love to fight for the big money. But don’t expect him to only fight the big money fights. He’ll still fight anyone. “I want to prove that I’m the best. It doesn’t matter who they are.”
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