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I got on the
national team:
In
late 1992, I was part of the Kenyan national
team, and in early 1993 I was sent on my first
international assignment; The Kings Cup
tournament in Khokhoen, Thailand. I did well, but broke
my finger in the second fight. After that I was out of
action for four months!
After my break, I went to the national trials where they
selected the Federation of east, southern, central
Africa Amateur boxing Association team (fescaaba). I won
the trials, then went on to win a bronze medal at the
Championships at light welter, which was held in
Nairobi. Later the same year I boxed in a
international friendly at Mahe Sychelles and won. In
1994 I won a silver medal in the (Fecaaba)
Championships, which was held in Mauritius.
I then went to the commonwealth games in Canada, but
never got in the ring in the games, since I broke my
thumb in the camp. I won the all African games
(held In Zimbabwe) in 1995 at welterweight. I was the
Kenya Team captain in the 1995 Kings Cup (Chang Mai,
Thailand) where I lost in my third fight. The
Russian Boxer who defeated me went on to win the Gold!
In 1996 i
represented Kenya in the Atlanta Olympics, but lost
my first outing to a boxer from Uzbekistan. Later in
1996 I won the light middle weight gold in the
Commonwealth boxing championships at Mabato South
Africa. In 1997 I then boxed for Kenya Vs Uganda at
Lugogo, Uganda. I fought the long time Ugandan
Champion; James Lubwama, who is by the way now a
professional in Florida, USA. I was the captain of the
Kenyan national team in 1995 and 1997.
Turning
professional:
After
the Olympics and commonwealth Games, I thought I had had
enough of boxing. I went back to working at the harbour
where I used to work. After six months I started to miss
boxing again. I figured if I was to continue my boxing career,
it had to be outside Kenya. I had a standing offer to
turn pro in Canada from after the Olympics. I wrote the
promoter in Canada, and he wrote back telling me; that I
had to stay in Canada for three years without leaving,
before my papers would work out, and I will be able to
go back and forth between Kenya and Canada.
I
didn't want to do that! I also had contact in Denmark
where I had one amateur fight in preparation for the
Olympics Games. I Wrote to Ivor De Lima, asking if
it was possible for me to box for a Danish Club. He
wrote back, telling me that he could make the
arrangements, and check me out to see if he could get me
a pro contract. Me and my friend Omar Kasongo, a
Heavyweight, were ready to go, but he changed his mind,
and went to Canada. I Then travelled with my friend
George Odour, a Middleweight, we both had four amature
fights in Denmark. I won them all, three by knock
out, including a stoppage win over well respected Dane
Michael Rask, in his back yard Aalborg!
After my Christmas holidays in Kenya in 1997, I was
offered to come and sign a professional contract With a
new promoter in Denmark called Anders Vester, who at
that time was considered a "pirate promoter", due
to him being licensed by a new organization in Denmark which
was not recognized by the rest of Europe. But I had to
make a living, so cared less about that issue.
CHANGES:
I
had my first professional fight in late March 1998,
and also was blessed with my first born son;
Ashira Oure Jnr. I won my Debut by stopping a boxer
called Kontantin Dima in the second round. I won all my
first six fights by Knock out, and after my 9th fight
which I boxed for IBF Intercontinental Jnr.
Middleweight title, winning by 9th round
KO against Argentinean Silvio Peppino in April 1999, I
Started having problems with my then Promoter Anders
Vester, who financially was raping my career since
I had signed with him.
He
had promised things would change after the title fight,
which it didn't, and I had some regular fights
before defending my title for the first and only time in
January 2000, against American Darren Maciunski.
I made a good fight, stopping the American in the
7th round, which was credited to good training with my
then trainer Brian Mathiasen, since we had
enough time for this fight.
The rest of the fights I had to take them on a
short notice, training for at least two weeks before the
fight. I had moved back to Kenya after my title fight
due to problems with the promoter raping my
career financially, and I could not afford to live in
Denmark with the kind of money I got and still do
something for my future.
Most of my title defence kept dragging out and
getting cancelled at the eleventh hour. So I decided to
take a meeting with the promoter which didn't
happen physically but on the phone since he turned out
to be too busy for a meeting. Then I told him I could
take the last fight for him then I could go, since the
deal didn't make sense anyway. Everything was under
his terms and nothing under mine. I had to decide I was
done with such conditions and offered him the last fight
before getting out of the deal.
He tried everything to ruin me and even wrote a
letter to Danish foreigners administration trying to get
me out of the country, and cancelled my work permit,
while he owed me money from all the cancelled fights and training expenses
trying to get away with it
.
A NEW START :
My
Friend Jan Andersen (now Manager/ Advisor) came in
on my side . By then he was my sponsor, and he told he
to just keep training and he would take care
of the details. I thanked God for listening to my
prayers, and still prayed to God to get me through
this and give me my career back. I Started training
again with my old trainer Ivor Delima, and I
was offered a fight by Mogens Palle and had to move a
weight class up to middleweight, and fight his new
signing Armand Krajnc for the WBO World title and the
WBA International title.
I
took the offer, but then the old promoter; Vester, took
me to court for taking the fight. Luckly my
Friend / Manager / Advisor Jan Andersen, had
a lawyer; Michael Hammer, on my case, which
saw Vester lose the in court . and I was told I was
free to box Vester did not have
any rights on my career no more!!!
I remember getting the news in the Gym and I was down on
my knees thanking God, for his great work. Meanwhile
Krajnc had trouble with Universum Box Promotions, who he
was contracted to before, which saw him lose the case. I
was rescheduled to box for the IBA World title and
the WBA international title still, against Fredrik
Alvarez who at that time was 37-4 (25 kOs), and I
was 19-0 (10 kOs). I knocked out Alvarez in the 11th
round and won The IBA World Title and WBA international
Title!
I thanked God and asked him to bless my manager who
worked so hard, and took my career out of the
drain to the road again. I took off my hat to my
trainer Ivor Delima, who worked hard with me every
single day for the fight.
Now we all like a family in boxing, and looking at
the next level in boxing being a contender at middle
weight, and working with the world most respected
promoter Donking. I still believe my dreams of taking
one of the beigest title will come true come the
time.
God has blessed me with a beautiful wife Lene Ashira and
three Beloved Sons Ashira Oure Jnr ((9yrs), Oure Ashira
Freddy Jnr (5yrs) and Lucas Esonga Ashira (2yrs)
months .
A word to all my fans and friends; I am here for real
and me/my team we are taking this thing to the next
level and do our thing. Gods love and protection be
with everyone!
NOTES ABOUT MY FRIENDS:
My Family, Son Ashira Oure Jr.,Fredrick Ashira Oure, Lucas
Esonga Ashira and my wife Lene Ashira;
Are always there for me in all conditions.
Jan
Andersen
- (Now my manager. Always advises on what to do ,encourages me
and makes me see life at a different angle. Assists me and
always has time for me, no matter what the situation is.)
Ivor
De Lima
– (Been Fatherly figure to me, and
encourages me to do the best ,and make sure I know what I
want. Do it for myself! Always says Fatherly things like - if
you work genuinely, you get the portion of luck you need for
your life.)
My
Uncle, Owiso Oure
– (brought me up from when I was young, with strong
personality, strong spirit and self confidence.)
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