Philip Waruinge clinched the newly-introduced Boxer of the Year Award in 1973
🏆 The Golden Era
▪️ He clinched the newly-introduced Boxer of the Year Award in 1973
Kenya’s most decorated boxer Philip Waruinge won the first Kenya Wine Agencies Limited-sponsored Boxer of the Year Award when it was introduced in 1973.
Waruinge, who captivated the boxing world with his exceptional talent, clinched the award for his impressive performance in the 1972 boxing season during which he won a silver medal at the Munich Olympics, becoming Kenya’s first ever boxer to make it to the finals of the Olympic Games.
In addition to his historic achievement in the Munich Olympics, Waruinge won the nod of the panellists for his discipline and exemplary behaviour in and out of the ring, his influence on the Kenyan youth and his interest in coaching youngsters.
Despite being robbed of victory in the Olympic Games final against Russia’s Boris Kousnetsov, Waruinge remained calm and showed sportsmanship spirit.
He trained for only three months for the Games after coming out of semi-retirement.
“It was such an unfair decision, deep in my heart I knew I had won on points because I always calculated my punches in the ring and knew I was leading on points, the gold was mine,” the late Waruinge told me in the several interviews I’ve had with him in Nakuru where he learnt his trade under Irish coach Maxie McCullough at the famous Madison Square Garden Gym.
He suffered a similar biased decision at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, dropping a highly disputed points defeat to Mexico’s Antonio Roldan in the semi-finals. As if to make up for their glaring mistake, the organisers consoled Waruinge with the Val Barker Trophy normally awarded to Olympic Games gold medallists.
The shocking result was vehemently disputed by Kenyan officials who accused the judges of racism.
“I remember coach (Peter Mwarangu) telling me not to shake hands with the Mexican but I ignored him, this is sports and no matter the decision I took it as a sportsman,” said Waruinge in our interview as we sipped cold drinks at the Merica Hotel in Nakuru aka NaxVegas.
Waruinge received the trophy for the newly-introduced Boxer of The Year Award from KWAL Chairman Matu Wamae. The panellists comprised of Patrick Orr, Dick Bierman, sports journalists Guy Spencer, Saude George and Philip Ndoo.
Fast-rising, the late Dick “Tiger” Murunga, took the runners-up award for winning bronze in Munich in his Olympic Games debut.
The southpaw Murunga, who had a stinging snappy left punch that left some boxers shedding tears in the ring, said he was delighted for being named the runners-up to Waruinge. He had by then fully recovered from a shoulder injury and was looking forward to represent the national team in the 1973 African Games in Lagos, Nigeria.
📸 Legendary Philip Waruinge (right) receives the 1972 Boxer of the Year Award trophy from Matu Wamae, the chairman of the sponsors, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL). Waruinge became Kenya’s first boxer to win the newly-introduced award aimed at inspiring Kenyan boxers.
NENEZ MEDIA SERVICES