Legendary boxing coach Grace Sseruwagi is dead

KAMPALA. Peter Grace Sseruwagi, the most celebrated boxing coach in Ugandan is dead.
Aged 87, Sseruwagi passed away this morning at Nsambya Hospital. According to family members, he has been battling diabetes.
Sseruwagi started his boxing career at Kyambogo College before joining the famed Kampala Boxing Club (KBC) in 1956.
In 1958, Sseruwagi handed Idi Amin Dada a crunching knockout during the National Open trials held at Nakawa. Sseruwagi was boxing for Kyambogo, while Amin was in Army Boxing Club.

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In local boxing circles, Peter Grace Sseruwagi is an icon. For a man who coached Uganda into fourth place in the world on top of producing world champions, Sseruwagi’s story is a classic

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His first major event was the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, but failed to shed 10kg to fit into the Lightweight category (then measured at 30kg).
During the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Sseruwagi knocked out all his opponents to the semi-final stage, but lost to an American.
Before the games, Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, asked to have a sparring session with Sseruwagi.

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“Ali had heard about Ugandan boxers. So he asked Coach (Tom) Kawere for a chance to train with us. When he shook my hands, he felt the power and asked to spar with me first. But he was a monster; I couldn’t keep up with him. Then he went on to George Oywello and Peter Odhiambo. Angelo Dundee, Ali’s coach, praised us for helping Ali to win the light heavyweight gold medal,” Sseruwagi told this writer in 2016.
After the Olympics, Sseruwagi retired and took up the national team coaching reigns. In 1962, he joined Kilembe Mines Boxing Club as coach.
His first taste of success as national team coach came in the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, with George Oywello, Francis Nyangweso, Kesi Odong, John Ssentongo, Peter Odhiambo and John Sentongo all winning medals.

During the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, Sseruwagi coached Uganda to bronze medals won by John Ssentongo, Mathias Ouma and Ben Ochan.
During the inaugural World Championships in Cuba, Sseruwagi was in the corner as Ayub Kalule and Joseph Nsubuga won Gold and Bronze respectively.
He would go on to lead Uganda to many medals in various tournaments across the world including the King’s Cup, All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games, Urafiki Games and many others. Burial arrangements were yet to be released by press time.

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