| Born in Kichwamba in Kabarole, Uganda on July 14, | | | | lightweight Deogratias Musoke would for the first time |
| 1947, 5'7" tall Mohamed (Muhammad) Muruli remains | | | | establish Uganda as Commonwealth Games' boxing |
| among the most outstanding and respected of | | | | champions; therefore a world boxing power to reckon |
| Ugandan boxers. | | | | with. |
| At the African Amateur Boxing Championships, held in | | | | The next major international challenge for Muruli, came |
| Lusaka in Zambia in June 1968, Muruli ably displayed | | | | in June 1972 involving the Africa Amateur |
| international promise, though in the finals he fell to | | | | Championships held in Nairobi in Kenya. Still as a |
| legendary Kenyan Philip Waruinge of Kenya in the | | | | light-welterweight, in the finals, 25 year-old Muruli would |
| finals of the lightweight division; and therefore settled | | | | beat 22 year-old future African Games' champion and |
| for the silver medal. Waruinge had also won gold in the | | | | later Nigeria national boxing coach Obisia Nwakpa. |
| Africa Boxing Championships held in Brazzaville in | | | | Muruli, given his astonishing record, would logically be |
| Congo in 1965. Among Waruinge's other achievements | | | | included among Uganda's Olympic boxer medal hopes |
| were fighting for Kenya at three Olympic Games | | | | for the summer Olympics of 1972 that were held in |
| (1964, 1968, and 1972), the later in which he won | | | | Munich in Germany. Unfortunately, Romanian Calistrat |
| bronze and silver, respectively. Partly out of | | | | Cutov, the previous Olympic bronze-medalist, |
| disillusionment about the judging that he considered | | | | outpointed Muruli in the very first preliminary round! |
| biased, Waruinge turned professional and fought in | | | | Fortunately, again Mohamed Muruli was selected to |
| Osaka in Japan. He also won lightweight gold at the | | | | represent Uganda in the next major international |
| 1970 Commonwealth games in Edinburgh, in the finals | | | | competition. It would be the prestigious Commonwealth |
| outpointing Deogratias Musoke of Uganda. Within a | | | | Games, this time held in Christchurch in New Zealand |
| couple of years later "Deo" Musoke died, allegedly | | | | from January 24-February 2, 1974. Again Muruli had |
| from overstarving and overtraining, in his quest to | | | | moved up in weight, and this time would be |
| maintain his boxing division weight limit. | | | | representing Uganda as a welterweight at the limit of |
| Naturally, Waruinge is remembered as one of | | | | 67 kg. In the preliminary round, on January 26 1974, |
| Uganda's biggest boxing rivals. He was a common | | | | Muruli ably disposed of Caleb Okech of Kenya by |
| fixture in the frequent friendly boxing tournaments | | | | points. Similarly, in the quarter-finals, Muruli beat Carmen |
| between Uganda and Kenya. On turning professional in | | | | Rinke of Canada by majority points. Next came the |
| Japan, Philip Waruinge became known as Waruinge | | | | semi-finals, and Muruli outpointed Scottish Steven |
| Nakayama. He fought as a professional from 1973 to | | | | Cooney. The finals saw Muruli outpointing Errol |
| 1978, but his record, including losses in the quests for | | | | McKenzie of Wales; thus establishing Muruli as |
| the world title and Japanese titles is mediocre (14 wins, | | | | Uganda's only 2-time Commonwealth Games' |
| 10 losses, and 1 draw). | | | | Gold-medalist. This record, as well as Muruli's stance as |
| It was at the Olympic Games of 1968 (October 12 - | | | | one of the toughest and most renowned of Uganda's |
| October 27) in Mexico City, that 21 year-old Muruli | | | | amateur boxers, has remained intact for decades! |
| further displayed his international competence. Muruli | | | | The next major outing for Muruli was the World |
| would easily beat, by decision, the first two (South | | | | Amateur Boxing Championships held in Havana in the |
| American) opponents that were in his path; firstly Luis | | | | last two weeks of August 1974. Welterweight Muruli |
| Munoz of Chile (by 4-1), thereafter tall Armando | | | | did not fare well in this prestigious event. In the |
| Mendoza of Venezuela (by 5-0). Muruli's next | | | | preliminary first round Muruli was knocked out in the |
| encounter, that with Ronald Woodson "Ronnie" | | | | third round by Kalevi Kosunen of Finland. Counterparts |
| ("Mazel") Harris of the USA would not be as fulfilling. | | | | Ayub Kalule (gold medal winner) and Joseph Nsubuga |
| Skillful and 5'10" (quite tall for a lightweight) Harris | | | | (bronze medal winner) were the Ugandan trophy |
| thoroughly outpointed Muruli (5-0); and in eliminating | | | | winners in the tournament. |
| Muruli allowed him to settle for a respectable 5th, just a | | | | At the African amateur Championships held in |
| breath away from bronze medal contention. | | | | Kampala in Uganda in November 1974, Muruli |
| Harris would become the eventual gold medalist, in-like | | | | represented Uganda as a light-middleweight. Muruli |
| fashion heavily outpointing his east European | | | | proved his worth and in the finals, he knocked out |
| (Romanian Calistrat Cutov [bronze], and thereafter | | | | Ndom of Cameroun. Additional gold medals won by |
| Polish Józef Grudzien [silver]) both by 5-0. | | | | Ugandans James Odwori, Ayub Kalule, Vitalis Bbege, |
| Interestingly, Gruzdien still in the same mass class as a | | | | and Mustapha Wasajja, overwhelmingly cemented |
| lightweight, had won gold as a 25-year old at the | | | | Uganda as the African amateur king! Thereafter, Muruli |
| previous 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Harris would turn | | | | boxed sporadically, even became a Uganda Army |
| professional in 1971, he remained undefeated until 1978. | | | | Boxing team coach. He is not listed in the team that |
| In 1978 he challenged Argentine Hugo Pastor Corro for | | | | was scheduled to represent Uganda at the Olympics |
| the WBC/ WBA middleweight title, but lost by decision. | | | | of 1976 that were held in Montreal in Canada. Uganda |
| Harris retired from boxing in August 1982, although he | | | | and many other countries boycotted these Games, for |
| had won his last four bouts. Harris' final tally as a | | | | political reasons. Muruli did not join the professional |
| professional is 35 wins (with 14 knockouts), 2 losses (1 | | | | ranks, but many renowned or promising Uganda |
| knockout), 1 draw. | | | | boxers such as John Baker Muwanga, Ayub Kalule, |
| At the next major international contest...the | | | | Mustapha Wasajja, Cornelius Bbosa (Boza-Edwards), |
| Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh in Scotland | | | | Joseph Nsubuga moved to Europe to join the |
| from July 17-24 1970, Muruli had blossomed to | | | | professional ranks. Some battled to become world |
| light-welterweight, the division in which he represented | | | | champions! As Africans increasingly became |
| Uganda. In the quarter finals, Muruli would outpoint | | | | professionals, and as boxing rules became increasingly |
| Guyanese Reginald Forde. Next, the semi-finals | | | | more protective of amateurs, amateur boxing would |
| involved hard-punching Muruli causing the referee to | | | | never be the same again. |
| stop the contest with Ghanaian Odartey Lawson in | | | | Nevertheless, Mohamed Muruli, one of the most skillful |
| the first round. In the finals, Muruli would beat Welsh | | | | and most dreaded of African boxers, consistently |
| Dave Davies by 3-2. Eventually, Muruli's gold, together | | | | proved his worth. Muruli won numerous gold medals in |
| with golds by light-flyweight James Odwori and | | | | both local and international bouts. And his record as the |
| heavyweight Benson Masanda; together with silver | | | | only Ugandan to win two Commonwealth Games' gold |
| medal wins by flyweight Leo Rwabwogo and | | | | medals, still stands! |