Mohamed Muruli

Mohamed Muruli

Personal information
Born	13 July 1947 Kabarole, Uganda
Died	1995
Medal record Men's Boxing Representing  Uganda Commonwealth Games 1970 Edinburgh Light Welterweight 1974 Christchurch Welterweight

Mohamed Muruli (13 July 1947 – 1995)^[1] was a Ugandan boxer. He was born in Kichwamba, Kabarole District, Uganda, and died in 1995 in Fort Portal in Kabarole District. Muruli competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where he reached the quarterfinal in the lightweight class, and in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, as a light welterweight.^[2]

At the African Amateur Boxing Championships held in Lusaka in Zambia in June 1968, Muruli reached the lightweight division finals, but lost to Philip Waruinge of Kenya and settled for the silver medal. Waruinge had won gold in the Africa Boxing Championships held in Brazzaville in Congo in 1965.

At the Olympic Games of 1968 (October 12 – October 27) in Mexico City, the 21 year-old Muruli beat his first two opponents by decision – Luis Munoz of Chile by 4-1, and Armando Mendoza of Venezuela by 5-0. Muruli’s next encounter, with Ronald Woodson “Ronnie” (“Mazel”) Harris of the USA was not successful. Harris, who was skillful and at 5’10” quite tall for a lightweight, thoroughly outpointed Muruli (5-0) on his way to eventually winning the gold medal. Muruli settled for 5th place.

By the next major international contest, the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, from July 17 to 24, 1970, Muruli represented Uganda as a light-welterweight. In the quarterfinals, he outpointed Guyanese Reginald Forde. In the semifinals the hard-punching Muruli caused the referee to stop his bout with Ghanaian Odartey Lawson in the first round. In the finals, Muruli beat Welshman Dave Davies by 3-2. Eventually, Muruli’s gold, together with golds by light-flyweight James Odwori and heavyweight Benson Masanda; together with silver medal wins by flyweight Leo Rwabwogo and lightweight Deogratias Musoke established Uganda as Commonwealth Games’ boxing champions.

At the dual tournament between Uganda and the Soviet Union in December 1970 in Kampala, Muruli was disqualified in the second round during the bout with Alexander Zaytsev, and the Ugandans were defeated 6-4. The others that fell to the Soviets were James Odwori, Eridadi Mukwanga, Deogratias Musoke, Mathias Ouma, and Benson Masanda. The Uganda victors were Peter Odhiambo (who beat future Olympic gold medalist Boris Kuznetsov), Leo Rwabwogo, Andrew Kajjo, and Abdalla.

The next major international challenge for Muruli came in June 1972 at the Africa Amateur Championships, held in Nairobi, Kenya. Still as a light-welterweight, 25 year-old Muruli beat 22 year-old future African Games’ champion and later Nigeria national boxing coach Obisia Nwakpa in the finals.

Considering his record, Muruli was among Uganda’s Olympic boxer medal hopes for the summer Olympics of 1972 that were held in Munich, Germany. However, Romanian Calistrat Cutov, the previous Olympic bronze medalist, outpointed Muruli in the very first preliminary round.

Muruli was selected to represent Uganda again in the next major international competition, at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, from January 24 to February 2, 1974. Muruli had again moved up in weight, and this time represented Uganda as a welterweight at the limit of 67 kg. In the preliminary round, on January 26, 1974, he beat Caleb Okech of Kenya on points. In the quarter-finals, Muruli beat Carmen Rinke of Canada by majority points. Next came the semi-finals, and Muruli outpointed Steven Cooney of Scotland. The finals saw Muruli outpointing Errol McKenzie of Wales, establishing him as Uganda’s only two-time Commonwealth Games’ gold-medalist. This record, as well as Muruli’s stance as one of the toughest and most renowned of Uganda’s amateur boxers, has remained intact for decades.

The next major outing for Muruli was the World Amateur Boxing Championships held in Havana in the last two weeks of August 1974. Muruli did not fare well in this event. In the preliminary match he was knocked out in the third round by Kalevi Kosunen of Finland. Counterparts Ayub Kalule (gold medal winner) and Joseph Nsubuga (bronze medal winner) were the Ugandan trophy winners in the tournament.

At the African amateur Championships held in Kampala in Uganda in November 1974, Muruli represented Uganda as a light-middleweight. After advancing through the earlier rounds, he knocked out Ndom of Cameroon in the finals. Additional gold medals won by Ugandans James Odwori, Ayub Kalule, Vitalis Bbege, and Mustapha Wasajja, which cemented Uganda as the African amateur king. Thereafter, Muruli boxed sporadically, and became a Uganda Army boxing team coach. He is not listed in the team that was scheduled to represent Uganda at the Olympics of 1976 which were held in Montreal, Canada, but boycotted for political reasons by Uganda and many other countries. Muruli did not join the professional ranks, but many renowned or promising Uganda boxers such as John Baker Muwanga, Ayub Kalule, Mustapha Wasajja, Cornelius Bbosa (Boza-Edwards), Joseph Nsubuga moved to Europe to do so.

Muruli’s son in London, Muhamad Muruli Jr., confirmed that the Uganda boxer died in 1995 in Fort Portal in Kabarole District.

References