TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with KASSIM OUMA
WED July 13, BRIAN SKJOLD - On the evening of Thursday July 14th HBO Latino subscribers will have the privilege of witnessing Africa’s own Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma defend his IBF light middleweight title against the rugged Roman Kazmazin of St. Petersburg, Russia. Just a few months into his new promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions, the highly regarded Ouma looks to garner some new fans in his HBO Latino debut.
“This is my first fight with them. I’m gonna make it happen, hopefully. They got good connection on the T.V. and now I’m on HBO Latino. To all my fans worldwide, and to all my Latino fans I’m coming on your channel and I’m gonna be speaking a whole lot of Spanish!”
‘The Dream’ is making the 2nd defense of his IBF title and will be squaring off against a tough veteran. For Kazmazin, this is his second world title shot, having lost a decision to ‘former’ WBC champ Javier Castillejo. Roman is a tough fighter who will undoubtedly give Kassim and the fans a good fight.
“I know he’s gonna try and knock my head off. He’s gonna try and chop me down because he’s a tough cookie. He has 21 knockouts and I only have 21 wins, so that’s a tough cookie I’m fighting.”
The 26 year old Kassim Ouma is a young fighter but is much more mature than his years show. Through his life and his career he has never had the luxury of taking the easy road. Kassim has persevered many times in his life which has helped create a very confident and poised fighter.
“I never get excited before a fight. I get the excitement when I get in the ring, because that’s when I get to do my business. Right now, I’m just ready.”
Another thing Kassim is ready and eager to do is to unify the junior middleweight division. This division has been shaken up in the wake of former undisputed champ Winky Wright moving up to the middleweight limit.
“If there is an opportunity for me to unify the title, and if I have the chance to be the first African to be undisputed champion of the world, I’ll make it happen.”
Ouma pulls no punches when it comes to his desire to become the undisputed champ, but he also has an agenda and a timeline for his career and is not going to be nearly as patient as undisputed champ Bernard Hopkins has been over the years.
“You got to understand I’ve been fighting all the tough guys out there. I’ve been fighting tough guys from the beginning of my career. I always fight those tough guys. I’m the Africian Kid! I represent for my whole country. I would like to unify the belts. If I don’t unify by the end of this year, I’m going to middleweight.”
The next obvious question would be “How will Kassim Ouma fair at a higher weight?” Kassim himself sums it up beautifully.
“From 154 to 160, whatever comes I’m ready.”
Ever since the first gladiators met in the coliseum to do battle, combatants have been fighting for someone or something. And, Kassim Ouma is no different. He takes great pride in himself and the people of Africa and uses that fuel as the driving force behind ‘The Dream’. When asked what he thinks he does best in the ring, this was his reply.
“I do everything. I fight for all of Africa because I’m the only champion coming out of Africa right now. I fight for my whole country. I fight for my young brothers who are orphans. I fight for my cousins who are orphans, and I fight for those kids who cannot help themselves in Africa. And I fight for those people who don’t have clean water all over the world. Kassim Ouma keeps winning his fights, keeps doing good. I’m going to retire in four years. I’m gonna go to Hollywood. And I’m fighting so hard for my African people. “
It seems at times that Kassim Ouma views the world and his talents on a much larger scale than most of today’s fighters. Ouma fights for a reason, and conversely he wins for a reason. Kassim is a unique Champion and seems to have everything in perspective.
“I’m the people’s champion, and you can’t be the champion without them.”
If every thing goes according to plan, Kassim may soon be not only the people’s champ, but the true Undisputed Champion of the world.
Questions? Comments? E-mail me: bskjold@talkingboxing.com
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