The powerful rags to riches story of Kassim Ouma has been well publicized in print, television and most notably in a documentary feature film. Kidnapped at the age of six to be part of the National Resistance Army in Uganda, Ouma beat immeasurable odds to realize his dream of becoming a world champion at 25. Now a veteran 31-year-old, five years removed from his title reign, Ouma has set out to realize the dream a second time. His journey begins Saturday night, in an important crossroads bout against Joey Gilbert at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada.
If one were to take a quick look at the official ledger of Ouma (26-7-1, 16 KOs) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida by way of Kampala, Uganda, they may think he is a fighter on the decline. Ouma has dropped five of his last six contests and has not won a meaningful fight in over four years. But if you were to look a little deeper, you would notice that there is more to that story.
The first of those five losses was suffered at the hands of Jermain Taylor, who was defending his unified middleweight title. Ouma was coming up in weight, having never fought as a 160-pounder before, and was more or less overpowered by a larger, skilled fighter. “As you can see, since I fought Taylor he has been getting knocked down,” Ouma points out. “He has not been the same.”
Ouma’s next three losses take a little more explaining. Ouma at his best probably does not lose to Saul Roman or Gabriel Rosado, which he did in split decisions in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In his first fight after the loss to Roman, Ouma was upset by then-lightly regarded Cornelius Bundrage, who went on to claim a title from Cory Spinks earlier this year. “There were some fights that maybe I should have won, but maybe I was not prepared,” admits Ouma. “But now I am ready to do it again.”
Exhibit A that Ouma is in fact ready to do it again would be his last performance, a controversial decision defeat suffered at the hands of rising contender Vanes Martirosyan this past January. Ouma downed Martirosyan in round nine and it was the belief of many sitting ringside and watching on television that he deserved the nod on the scorecards. However, the judges gave him little credit and scored the fight wide for Martirosyan. “I have fights that I did not really lose, they were just controversial,” explains Ouma. “I don’t think they really beat me.”
For the fight against Martirosyan, his best performance in years, Ouma was trained by former world champion Livingstone Bramble, who is not training him for this fight. “We didn’t get along,” Ouma explains simply. “He was a good trainer, but we just couldn’t get along. I am with a different trainer, a different gym.” Ouma trained for this fight under the guidance of respected trainer Ruben Castanon out of the Capital Punishment Boxing Club in Riverside, California.
For this fight against Gilbert, Ouma is moving back up to the 160-pound middleweight division. The change seems to be a result of circumstance more so than a plotted path for the former IBF Light Middleweight Champion. “I was looking for fights all over everywhere,” says Ouma frustratingly. “I could not get nobody to give me a fight. Thanks to Joey for giving me this fight. This fight is big. If I win, I have decided that I am going to stay middleweight.” While making weight is not likely to be much of an issue for the career junior middleweight, Ouma did not alter his training regimen based on the elevated weight class. “It does not change my preparation,” claims Ouma. “I just train like I have been training, and just have more speed than ever.”
Much as was the case when he stepped up in weight to meet Taylor (his only other fight at middleweight), Ouma will be taking on a naturally larger opponent. Gilbert was a ranked middleweight three years ago and has been campaigning recently as a 168-pounder. In Gilbert’s last fight, he weighed in officially at 172-pounds, roughly fourteen pounds more than Ouma has ever weighed. Despite those facts, Ouma does not seem too concerned about any size or strength advantages Gilbert may have in the bout. “I don’t know [how it affects] him. I just know he has been a middleweight before, says Ouma. “It does not matter. We are just going to fight.”
Ouma has studied previous Joey Gilbert fights, but refuses to read too much into what he saw in the footage. “I think he is a tough guy, but watching him doesn’t mean he is going to bring it in the fight, because he is fighting a different cookie,” says Ouma. “When he fights me, he is not going to have the same plan.”
The outcome of Saturday’s fight, which is for the WBA-affiliated NABA Middleweight title, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the career of both fighters. “I am focused on becoming champion of the world again. That is what I want,” says Ouma. “But right now I am just focused on Gilbert and that is it.” Should Ouma move past Joey Gilbert Saturday, fight fans ringside may have witnessed the beginnings of Kassim’s second dream run. No matter the outcome, Ouma has a promise. “The people are going to see Kassim Ouma back in the ring, bringing what I always deliver and I will deliver that night.”
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
