Kassim Ouma

Kassim Ouma (born 12 December 1978) is a Ugandan professional boxer. He held the IBF junior middleweight title from 2004 to 2005, and has challenged twice for a world middleweight title in 2006 and 2011.

Kassim Ouma
Ouma in 2010
Statistics
Nickname(s)The Dream
Weight(s)
NationalityUgandan
Born (1978-12-12) 12 December 1978
Kampala, Uganda
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights42
Wins29
Wins by KO18
Losses11
Draws1
No contests1

Early life

Born into poverty, at the age of six he was kidnapped and forced to join the National Resistance Army and consequently did not see his family for five years. Ouma is the 7th of 13 children, which include 7 brothers and 5 sisters. Only 4 brothers are still alive.

Amateur career

Upon leaving the army, Ouma started boxing and amassed an amateur record of 62 wins and 3 losses. He made the Ugandan national boxing team and was selected to fight at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, but did not attend due to financial difficulties.

Professional career

On a Ugandan national amateur team trip to the United States, Ouma decided to stay to undertake a career as a professional boxer to support his family in Uganda. Ouma later won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Middleweight world title.

Ouma is a former champion and top-level contender in the Light Middleweight division. He has quality wins against Jason Papillion, Juan Carlos Candelo, and Verno Phillips, his second win against whom earned him the IBF Light Middleweight title. Ouma successfully defended his championship with a twelve-round unanimous decision against Kofi Jantuah of Ghana. Ouma later lost this title in a unanimous decision defeat against Roman Karmazin, a bout in which Ouma was put to the canvas twice. It was only the second defeat of his career.

Since the Karmazin bout, Ouma has remained active in the Light Middleweight division, earning three wins, two by knockout. On May 6, 2006 Ouma defeated Marco Antonio Rubio by split decision despite being knocked down in the first round.

Ouma returned to the ring with an impressive win over undefeated fellow southpaw Sechew Powell August 5, 2006. Powell is from Brooklyn, NY and the fight took place at the Theatre of Madison Square Garden. The official scorecards were 90-100, 93-97, and 94-96 all in favor of Kassim Ouma by unanimous decision.

Ouma lost the middleweight title shot against Jermain Taylor on Dec. 9, 2006. Taylor's power and well-timed clenches kept Ouma from throwing as many punches as he usually does. Despite absorbing a large number of extremely hard shots, Ouma did not go down. The fight went the full 12 rounds, and Ouma lost by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113 for Taylor who was at home in Little Rock, Arkansas.

After the Taylor fight Ouma lost back to back close decisions to Saul Roman in October 2007 and Cornelius Bundrage in March 2008.

On September 25, 2010, Ouma stopped Joey Gilbert in the 6th round of their 10-round bout for the vacant NABA middleweight title at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.

Personal life

While in Uganda he was never shot despite being in the army. However, after having moved to America he was shot twice in Florida in December 2002. According to Ouma, his father was beaten to death by the Ugandan army in retaliation for his leaving of the country.[1][2] A documentary entitled Kassim the Dream was made in 2008. It was an official selection at several film festivals.[3]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
42 fights 29 wins 11 losses
By knockout 18 2
By decision 11 9
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
42 Loss 29–11–1 (1) Ilias Essaoudi UD 8 3 Dec 2017 Hamburg, Germany
41 Loss 29–10–1 (1) Kamil Szeremeta UD 10 20 Aug 2016 Amfiteatr, Misdroy, Poland
40 Win 29–9–1 (1) Adam Katumwa TKO 6 (8) 22 Apr 2016 Okapi Hotel Kigali, Rwanda
39 Loss 28–9–1 (1) Igor Selivanov UD 8 29 Nov 2015 Club A2, Saint Petersburg, Russia
38 Win 28–8–1 (1) Rahman Mustafa Yusubov UD 6 11 Dec 2013 EconoLodge, Allentown, Pennsylvania, US
37 Loss 27–8–1 (1) Gennady Golovkin TKO 10 (12), 1:57 17 Jun 2011 Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, Panama For WBA (Regular) middleweight title
36 Win 27–7–1 (1) Joey Gilbert TKO 6 (10), 0:59 25 Sep 2010 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, US Won vacant WBANABA middleweight title
35 Loss 26–7–1 (1) Vanes Martirosyan UD 10 16 Jan 2010 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, US For WBO–NABO and NABF light middleweight titles
34 Loss 26–6–1 (1) Gabriel Rosado SD 10 24 Apr 2009 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US
33 Win 26–5–1 (1) Martinus Clay TKO 6 (10), 1:38 4 Oct 2008 32nd Street Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
32 Loss 25–5–1 (1) Cornelius Bundrage UD 10 28 Mar 2008 Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca, New York, US
31 Loss 25–4–1 (1) Saúl Román SD 10 2 Nov 2007 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, US
30 Loss 25–3–1 (1) Jermain Taylor UD 12 9 Dec 2006 Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, Arkansas, US For WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles
29 Win 25–2–1 (1) Sechew Powell UD 10 5 Aug 2006 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
28 Win 24–2–1 (1) Marco Antonio Rubio SD 12 6 May 2006 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBO–NABO light middleweight title
27 Win 23–2–1 (1) Francisco Antonio Mora TKO 8 (12), 2:34 27 Jan 2006 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, US Won vacant WBONABO light middleweight title
26 Win 22–2–1 (1) Alfredo Cuevas RTD 4 (10), 3:00 13 Oct 2005 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
25 Loss 21–2–1 (1) Roman Karmazin UD 12 14 Jul 2005 The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, US Lost IBF light middleweight title
24 Win 21–1–1 (1) Kofi Jantuah UD 12 29 Jan 2005 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US Retained IBF light middleweight title
23 Win 20–1–1 (1) Verno Phillips UD 12 2 Oct 2004 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US Won IBF light middleweight title
22 Win 19–1–1 (1) Juan Carlos Candelo TKO 10 (12), 0:15 3 Jan 2004 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
21 Win 18–1–1 (1) Carlos Bojorquez TKO 8 (10), 0:35 22 Aug 2003 Silver Star Hotel & Casino, Choctaw, Mississippi, US
20 Win 17–1–1 (1) Ángel Hernández SD 12 30 May 2003 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US Won vacant USBA light middleweight title
19 NC 16–1–1 (1) Darrell Woods TKO 11 (12), 0:25 4 Oct 2002 Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, US USBA light middleweight title at stake;
Originally a TKO win for Ouma, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
18 Win 16–1–1 Jason Papillion RTD 8 (12), 3:00 10 May 2002 Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, US Won vacant USBA light middleweight title
17 Win 15–1–1 Michael Lerma UD 10 15 Feb 2002 Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
16 Win 14–1–1 Pedro Ortega RTD 4 (10), 3:00 13 Dec 2001 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US
15 Win 13–1–1 Verno Phillips UD 10 29 Jun 2001 Magic Casino, Hankinson, North Dakota, US
14 Win 12–1–1 Tony Marshall UD 10 29 Jun 2001 Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, US
13 Draw 11–1–1 James Coker TD 2 (12), 1:46 26 Apr 2001 Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas, US For vacant WBC Continental Americas light middleweight title;
TD after Coker was cut from an accidental head clash
12 Win 11–1 Quvonchbek Toygonbayev UD 6 13 Oct 2000 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
11 Win 10–1 Alex Bunema RTD 4 (8), 3:00 4 May 2000 Dallas, Texas, US
10 Loss 9–1 Agustin Silva TKO 1 (4) 20 Nov 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, US
9 Win 9–0 Angel Villegas TKO 8 (8) 18 Jun 1999 Robert and Mary Montgomery Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, US
8 Win 8–0 Emiliano Valdez PTS 6 30 Jan 1999 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, US
7 Win 7–0 Victor Ramos TKO 5 (12), 2:50 15 Jan 1999 Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US Won vacant Florida light middleweight title
6 Win 6–0 Jerry Smith TKO 3 (8), 2:37 20 Nov 1998 Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, Ocala, Florida, US
5 Win 5–0 Rodney Weston KO 1 (6), 2:54 7 Nov 1998 Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US
4 Win 4–0 Renan Reyes KO 1 (6), 1:44 16 Oct 1998 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
3 Win 3–0 Joseph Ragusa KO 1 (4), 0:27 12 Sep 1998 Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US
2 Win 2–0 Alton Madison TKO 3 (4), 2:19 27 Jul 1998 Order Sons of Italy, Lake Worth, Florida, US
1 Win 1–0 Napoleon Middlebrooks TKO 1 (4), 1:20 10 Jul 1998 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

References

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Johnny Gutierrez
Florida light middleweight champion
15 January 1999 – April 2001
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Inka Laleye
Vacant
Title last held by
Winky Wright
USBA light middleweight champion
10 May 2002 – October 2002
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Himself
Vacant
Title last held by
Himself
USBA light middleweight champion
30 May 2003 – June 2003
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Tybius Flowers
Vacant
Title last held by
Joe Wyatt
WBONABO
light middleweight champion

27 January 2006 – December 2006
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Charles Whittaker
Vacant
Title last held by
Renan St Juste
WBANABA
light middleweight champion

25 September 2010 – May 2011
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Andy Lee
World boxing titles
Preceded by
Verno Phillips
IBF light middleweight champion
2 October 2004 – 14 July 2005
Succeeded by
Roman Karmazin
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