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Pugilist John Munduga, a Lugbara of northwestern Uganda ancestry was one of many nation’s high boxers throughout his newbie profession of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He was conspicuous for his lean construct and tallness. Although he was within the decrease weight courses, he was barely over 6 ft tall. He has been thought to be some of the skillful of Ugandan boxers. He would dabble as captain of the Uganda boxing crew as he represented Uganda in a number of regional tournaments. Munduga competed on the summer season Olympics that have been held in Moscow in 1980, and he was there the nationwide captain. As knowledgeable, he fought in Europe and the USA the place he brawled with a number of well-known and high boxers. Munduga had a really excessive knockout ratio, and he remained undefeated for a comparatively very long time. He now resides in his native Uganda (in Naguru the place he was born) the place he’s a highschool coach and trainer–notably at Kololo Excessive Faculty close to Kampala. Throughout 2000, he was the nationwide coach of the Rwanda boxing crew.
Munduga was born on January fifteenth 1961 in Naguru close to Kampala in Uganda the place he studied at St. Jude Major Faculty the place he performed soccer. However he, early in life, grew to become fascinated with boxing when he hang around on the Naguru Neighborhood Middle close to Kampala. He grew to become a college boxing champion for a number of years, after which a nationwide junior champion at age 11.
In 1977, Munduga represented Uganda on the annual Kenya vs. Uganda Urafiki Event. He received within the struggle. He was summoned by nationwide coach Grace Sseruwagi to get into residential coaching with the novices. Munduga excelled by beating his opponents then he was chosen because the youngest on the crew of Ugandan boxers to Thailand to struggle within the worldwide King’s Cup. Munduga impressively received a bronze medal.
In January 1978, at a Uganda vs. Poland match in Kampala, Munduga defeated Roman Gotfryd after the bout was stopped.
On the All-Africa Video games of 1978, held in Algiers, Munduga misplaced within the second spherical to Kenyan Steve Muchoki who’s famend to have previously overwhelmed James Odwori, and having turn into am newbie world Champion. He tehrefore failed to maneuver into the medal bracket.
Munduga represented Uganda on the Feliks Stamm Memorial Invitational that was held in Warsaw from November 9/11 in 1978. Within the quarter-finals, the Ugandan defeated Jose Luis Rios of Cuba by 4:1. Within the semi-finals Munduga beat Yuriy Prokhorov of the Soviet Union by 3:2. Within the finals Munduga triumphed by beating Leszek Kosedowski (Poland) by 4:1. Right here once more, he received the gold. Out of the 5 Ugandan boxers at this venue, solely Munduga was victorious.
On the Poland vs. Uganda Twin of February 1979, held in Warsaw, Munduga triumphed over the Pole Kazimierz Adach. Right here boxers like Mugabi, Odwori, Butambeki, and Siryakibe have been defeated.
Nonetheless in February 1979, Munduga was triumphant within the city Schwerin in German Democratic Republic the place a twin match was held towards Uganda. Munduga right here defeated Lutz Kaesebier. Of the opposite Ugandan boxers, solely Adroni Butambeki was triumphant.
Munduga was a 19 year-old when on the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow he was pitted towards 25 year-old Nelson Jose Rodriguez of Venezuela within the first preliminary spherical of the light-welterweight contest. At simply 5’5″, Rodriguez was about half a foot shorter than Munduga. The Ugandan triumphed on this July 21st 1980 by winning on points.
Munduga’s next Olympic battle would happen on July 26th, and here in the second preliminary he would box against Farouk Chanchoun Jawad of Iraq. Though much shorter, 25 year-old Chanchoun who was more experienced, would knock out Munduga in the second minute of the first round. The Ugandan claims that he started well, but then was unfairly punched in the neck and fell unconscious. Chanchoun is famously known to have been the Asia champion thrice. Munduga would take the position of 9th overall in the light-welterweight division.
But though Mugabi would win Uganda’s sole medal at the Olympics in Moscow, Munduga clearly stands out as the Uganda amateur pugilist that triumphed most for Uganda during the late 1970’s. He comes to mind as a very hardworking, skillful, dedicated and disciplined during a time when Uganda’s significance in boxing was quickly slipping down.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings of July 24th 1987 ranked two Ugandan “Johns,” who had also represented Uganda at the Olympics, as among the top ten contenders for the world Super welterweight crown. Lupe Aquino of Mexico was the champion, John “the Beast” Mugabi was the top contender, while John Munduga was ranked as the sixth top contender. Apart from theoretically being rivals for the crown, the two were probably sparring partners given that they were both managed by Mickey Duff in Tampa in Florida. Mugabi, as a welterweight had won Uganda’s only medal haul at the Moscow Olympics–a silver in the welterweight division. On the world professional scene, Munduga would get to be nicknamed, “the Matador.” Munduga would talk of his boyhood friend Mugabi as one who “had a giant punch early… at 9, 10 years, he used to knock boys out… was the one one which age who might” (Berger 1986).
Munduga started boxing as a professional in Germany, in November 1981, where he fought the first fourteen of his professional fights. Here he fought a cross-section of boxers from near and far, and he established an 85% record in these fights from 1981 to early 1984.
Thereafter he started competing in the United States whereby his first battle here was with Tommy Rogers in Tampa. He knocked out Rogers, then continued with his typical trend of knocking out most of his opponents up to when he battled Leland Hart whom he beat by points in Atlantic City in May 1986. At this stage, Munduga had a clean and imposing record of 24 wins, 0 losses, with 18 knockouts.
The next fight would be a scheduled 10-rounder with renowned American Mark Breland, a very 6’2.5″ welterweight who had received Olympic gold on the Olympics held in Los Angeles in 1984. He was two inches taller than Munduga. A very fashionable determine, 23 year-old Breland dabbled as an actor, and he had a really spectacular streak as USA newbie champion. On June twenty first 1986, Breland was pitted towards the Ugandan. This occurred on the Sands On line casino Lodge in Atlantic Metropolis in New Jersey. Munduga was then ranked as ninth on the record of contenders for the welterweight crown, by the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA), and sixth on the record of junior middle-weight contenders, by the WBC.
Munduga believed that it could be advantageous for him to land punches on Breland as a result of the 2 have been about equal in peak. Munduga added that Breland had by no means fought an opponent as skillful as himself and he added that this was a giant struggle for which he had educated exhausting for. Breland, stating that he had fought many tall fighters throughout his newbie days, most of whom he had stopped, opined that it was harder to struggle quick boxers. He needed to bend decrease to struggle them, and bend even decrease after they duck. Breland additionally regarded Munduga as the standard European fighter who wouldn’t be a lot of an issue, one who stands erect and comes proper at you. Based on Breland, Munduga had an excellent jab and looping proper, however he was not a lot of an excellent puncher. Breland fought his first skilled struggle, solely two months after he had received the gold medal on the Olympics in Los Angeles. He was touted to be “the next Sugar Ray Leonard,” a picture that he would ultimately not measure as much as.
The primary spherical revealed that each have been right-handed, typical type boxers. The taller and longer-armed Breland used these too his benefit of retaining Munduga at bay with these benefits although Munduga retains attacking. Within the first spherical the 2 have been primarily feeling one another out for the sample, the spherical was roughly even, however Breland makes use of the arm benefit to win.
Within the second spherical, Munduga is rocked with a tough punch within the first few seconds, and he stumbles. Breland may be very conscious of it and he regularly strikes in to try a knockout punch. Munduga has slowed down and he’s certainly barely damage. However Munduga retains attacking whereas the opponent’s typical attain retains him away from scoring a lot. Breland’s peak, slenderness, stance, and rocking blows remind one in all a youthful Thomas “Hitman” Hearns.
In spherical three, Invoice Cosby, Muhammad Ali, Don King, and Jesse Jackson are seen within the excessive capability 15000-audience that has come to see an Olympic superstar field. Right now Breland was undefeated in 12 fights, however his knockout ratio was far much less spectacular than that of Munduga. On this third spherical, Munduga is perplexed as to what ways to make use of, however he courageously retains going after Breland although he retains working into the long-range punches of Breland.
Within the fourth spherical Munduga turns into rather more aggressive, however he’s getting drained. Nonetheless, Breland is outwardly extra contemporary and gradual, like he’s ready for the possibility to ship the onslaught. Nonetheless, on this fourth spherical, Munduga delivers his greatest punches of the spherical, they usually appear to barely rock Breland off stability.
Within the fifth spherical, Munduga shows extra braveness and confidence. He even rocks Breland when he’s towards the ropes, and he goes on to speed up on the attacking.
Within the sixth spherical, the slugger Munduga is once more the aggressive one and he retains attacking Breland as he hopes to get by means of the opponent’s longer arms. Breland shows persistence however consciousness of his opponents rising confidence. He appears to attend for Munduga to turn into reckless and careless and go away his head open to blows. Certainly the second comes within the sixth spherical. As Munduga additional delivers highly effective blows, Breland takes the higher hand and delivers strong killer uppercut and right-left-right bows to Munduga’s head that knock him down mindless on his again. The medical crew shortly strikes into the ring to take care of Munduga whose left eye is shortly closing up. The struggle is decisively over; the referee Paul Venti didn’t trouble to depend him out. Munduga was hereby defeated for the primary time in his boxing profession. The boxing world largely remembers Munduga due to this struggle through which he displayed braveness and talent towards a famed and seasoned boxer.
Assured and victorious Breland remarked after the struggle (AP 1986: 32).
“His plan was to come forward, hit and get hit. I knew he was a good puncher, but I punch pretty good too. His game plan was taken away and you can’t adjust in the ring unless you are real smart.”
5 weeks earlier than the struggle with Munduga, simply after he had knocked out Ricky Avendano within the first minute of the primary spherical, Breland was requested about how he rated himself, and he replied (AP 1986: 19).
“I really don’t know. What I do know is that I don’t want to be rushed into a title fight. Maybe a year or a year and a half from now. I want everything to be perfect.”
Between 1987 and 1990, Mark Breland grew to become WBA welterweight champion, then he misplaced the title to Marlon Starling, then regained it, then misplaced it to Aaron Davis. Breland retired from the ring with a formidable 39 victories, 3 losses, and 1 draw.
Munduga’s head had been clobbered badly by Breland, he collapsed closely to the ground. This struggle, which is probably the most connected to Munduga, had just about desrepaired and destroyed him. It took Munduga practically six months to contest once more. he admits that after this struggle he was broken, not himself, and he considerably misplaced curiosity in boxing. As compared, Uganda’s Mustapha Wasajja was by no means the identical once more after he ws knocked out by Michael Spinks; John “the Beast Mugabi” was by no means the identical once more when he was knocked out by Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
Subsequent, in Las Vegas, he received in a mediocre struggle with Alvaro Granillo in December 1986. His final main struggle was with undefeated Darrin “Schoolboy” Van Horn who was a pupil on the College of Kentucky, and a future Worldwide Boxing Federation (IBF) world champion. In Frankfort in Kentucky, greater than a 12 months since Munduga had carried out within the ring, Van Horn knocked out Munduga within the seventh of a scheduled 10-rounder in February 1988.
Munduga fought his final three skilled fights in Germany and Belgium, and he misplaced all of them by knockout to unheralded fighters. His final recorded struggle is of November 1989. He had misplaced his luster. Munduga is recorded as having received in 25 fights through which 18 have been by knockout. Nonetheless in all of the 5 fights that he misplaced, he was knocked out in every of them. Many had anticipated a lot extra from this previously high-ranked boxer.
Between 1987 and 1990, Mark Breland grew to become WBA welterweight champion, then he misplaced the title to Marlon Starling, then regained it, then misplaced it to Aaron Davis. Breland retired from the ring with a formidable 39 victories, 3 losses, and 1 draw.
Works Cited
AP. “Breland Wins 12th Welterweight Bout.” The Index Journal. Could 16 1986.
AP. “Breland Floors Munduga in Sixth.” The Index Journal. June 22 1986.
Berger, Phil. “Mugabi: At Boxing’s Front Door.” New York Instances. March 2 1986.
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