By Alexey Sukachev

Two leading Polish boxing promoters – KnockOut Promotions (led by Andrzej Wasilewski and Piotr Werner) unified their efforts to produce a boxing event yesterday in Mezdyzdroje, highlighted however by a very familiar name.

Kassim Ouma, once a world champion (IBF light middleweight) and a very tough competitor in two weight classes (154 lbs and 160 lbs), continued his transition into a gatekeeper. Now 37 and his best days far behind, Ouma has severe legal issues, which arguably prevent his return to the States.

The Ugandan, who has fought all but four of his last fights in the US, is charged with a felony drug possession case, and was also jailed for battery two years before that. 

Ouma took on previously undefeated Polish stylist Kamil Szeremeta, who is fighting under the guidance of Fyodor Lapin. Szeremeta applied a smart approach, trying not to lose energy against a much more experienced opponent, fighting in measured pace, not risking a lot. Ouma, clearly out of shape, tried to prolong the bout for as much as he could but did little to overturn the flow of the fight. The Ugandan was cut after a head-butt in round ten but lasted the distance nevertheless.

Final scores were: 100-90, 99-92, and 98-92 – for the Pole who improves to 14-0, with 2 KOs. Ouma is just 3-8 over the last ten years. He was last seen against a recognizable opponent in June 2011, losing on the tenth-round TKO to Gennady Golovkin. He has fought sporadically ever since – once in 2013 and once in 2015 (a unanimous decision loss to the Russian up-and-comer Igor Selivanov). Ouma has got as far as to fight in Rwanda (his latest win), which is hardly recognizable as a boxing hotbed. Kassim is now 29-10-1, 18 KOs to his name.

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Fighting for the first time out of his native land, Filipino Elmo Traya (11-2, 8 KOs) gave hell to the unbeaten Pole Przemyslaw Runowski (12-0, 2 KOs) but his effort wasn’t enough to distract the crafty European, who has fought, and most importantly, boxed his way out of danger.

Runowski, 22, topped Traya with a vast unanimous decision in his toughest fight to date: 100-90, 99-91, and 99-92. The Pole acquired a vacant WBC Youth I/C super lightweight crown.

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Light welterweight Kamil Mlodzinski (8-0-2, 5 KOs) was very lucky being awarded with a majority decision draw in a fight, which has been seen as a clear win for his opponent Krzysztof Szot (19-18-2, 5 KOs) by majority of the experts and spectators. Final scores were: unrealistic 58-56 – for Mlodzinsky, and 57-57 (twice) – for majority draw.

Other results:

Przemyslaw Zysk (2-0, 1 KOs) UD 6 Tomasz Piatek (1-1-1)

Piotr Gudel (5-1-1) MD 3 Krzysztof Rogowski (10-20, 5 KOs)

Sergej Werwejko (2-0) UD 4 Artiom Charnikevich (2-13, 2 KOs)