Ayub Kalule Documentary - The Rise of "Mr Nobody"

A look back at the career of former WBA Junior Middleweight champion Ayub Kalule.

[@KOKINGWAYNE]

Ayub Kalule was much more than a ‘Mr nobody’ ‘which he was once called before the Ray Leonard fight’ a Commenwealth game’s and world champion as an amateur then winning the WBA Lightmiddle weight title and defending it four times, not flashy just got on with his job. but he is only remembered for his loosing and brave battle against the great Sugar Ray Leonard, when he himself was 36-0 and with a career ending record of 46 wins in 50 fights only getting beaten by the best Light middles and middles in the world he deserves a lot more respect and recognition. Another good watch on KZbin’s Rich the Fight Historian channel

[@bajaborracho9139]

Great choice for 2024's first bio. Ayub Kalule was a super talented fighter. People don't know that boxing is the national sport in his adopted country of Denmark. Boxing is huge there. I fought for Mogens Palle twice in Denmark. They have photos of Kalule in every boxing gym.🥊

[@vector8310]

Your comment was great. I didn't know that boxing was Denmark's national sport.

[@VictorAHunter]

@@vector8310 I'm half danish and lived there for three years so far, and no one speaks about boxing. like at all. So idk where he's been in DK but I've met more people who play handball, football, American football, BJJ and MMA combined than those who've boxed.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Baja. Yeah, he paved the way for Kessler and the Bredahl brothers.

[@bajaborracho9139]

@@VictorAHunter Well Victor i fought there twice and i know Denmark has a world class amateur boxing program that places its boxers at the top in international tournaments. If you do just a little research you might learn something. The Danish also drink like Germans and love their beer. I was there for two weeks each time so I spent more than a few days there. Of course this was thirty years ago so things may have changed but when i was there boxing was everywhere and the arenas were sold out.

[@bajaborracho9139]

@@RichtheFightHistorian I know Johnny and Jimmy bredahl. Both great guys and very talented fighters who fought everyone. They headlined the cards I fought on.

[@michaellaursen3256]

Great upload to get 2024 underway. Kalule is a hero in his adopted Home country Denmark, in which he built his carreer. A true boxing purist with a great dedication, which fueled a lot of other inspired young boxers to give it a go. He founded - along with famous promoter Mogens Palle - a golden age in Danish boxing. Ayub I salute you and wish you well

[@mathewsotieno1422]

Ayub had a Gym in Nairobi ( late eighties along ngong road .

[@curtismcneil8695]

Hope to see you do one on Cornelius Boza-Edwards one day. He has a very interesting story. He was a really solid fighter as well and was featured in a lot of weekend afternoon fights on all 3 of the networks in his day.

[@paulallen3011]

A favourite of mine boza Edwards. Met him at Mayweathers gym a few years ago, lovely fella and a brilliant little fighter back in the day. Classic old British style on him but what a warrior 👍👍

[@curtismcneil8695]

@@paulallen3011 I use to love watching his fights. He always gave his all and never backed up. So glad he won World Title even though just for a little while but still a Champion.

[@paolomonzio972]

I agree too. Cornelius is one of the "four ferocious"...i love watching his fights, he gave it all❤...i don't know much about his life, and those of Rich are always interesting docs👍

[@paulallen3011]

Yeah lads , some fighter wasn't he . His fights with Bobby chacon and bazooka limon were some of the best I've seen. Never say die spirit and an a real gentleman from what I've seen

[@mozfonky]

Good fighter in an era stacked with good fighters at 135 or five pound one way or the other.

[@towers950]

great start to 2024 Rich thanks

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, Kim.

[@jamescook4116]

Kalule was an interesting fighter with an unusual journey to professionalism. He looked very strong physically but without a heavy punch. He made the most from what he had. A lefty with a somewhat awkward style. His lack of speed cost him against Leonard, McCallum, Moore, and Graham. Amazing that he pulled out a decision over Kalambay in Italy.

[@John.Flower.Productions]

He always came up short against top-tier fighters, which you already named.

[@jedclampett6466]

Good assessment....

[@straightouttayelm3882]

Watched him fight Leonard live and he gave Ray a better scrap than most did.

[@billyward9519]

Happy New year Rich. Your channel never fails to raise the bar with each and every video. By far the best boxing channel on KZbin.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks so much, Billy. Happy New Year to you.

[@GTSpeac]

Quality episode and learnt a lot more of the champion Ayub Kalule.

[@vector8310]

This was a heckuva scrap. Such a pleasure rewatching Ray from this era. Such great instincts. I remember how completely ignored and undervalued Kalule was in the lead up. No one cared to even ask what kind of fighter he was, and those were the decades before KZbin so you couldn't research fighters prior to fights.

[@olethorhermansen5696]

Thanks for this video. Like all danes who were around in the 1970's and 80's I remember Ayub Kalule very well, he was very popular and one of the biggest names in Danish sports at the time. A modest, likeable man and the first Denmark based boxer to win a world title. So nice to hear that he seems to be doing well.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, Ole.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the amazing video Rich ❤

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Sure thing, John.

[@staceyskinner666]

Great video as always ...Kalule very good fighter...to win a World Amateur Title in the years of the Eastern Bloc and Cuba is a tremendous achievement.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you, Stacey.

[@cycletouringoz5760]

A cracking fighter is Ayub. Gave a peak Leonard a hard fight. Music to my ears hearing the late Great Marvin Hagler commentating The usual Great Doco by RTFH 🥊🥊💥💥🥊🥊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you, C T O

[@jeremysipes44]

Underrated legitimate & lineal 154lb.Champion.

[@brucekielty8180]

Rarely seen footage and interesting storylines make Rich the Fight Historian #1

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks so much, Bruce.

[@bh1422]

What an absolute pleasure seeing this on one of Africa's leading icons. Thank you.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, BH

[@nicholasjones8572]

Another fabulous biography Rich. I remember Kalule fighting on ITV and stopping the unbeaten Liverpudlian Jimmy Price.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Nicholas.

[@jessearias2863]

A great job rich, way to start the new year. He was just proof back then you could not mess with sugar ray 😊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Jesse.

[@M.P.R.76-ch8rn]

Good fighter I like his style good video 💯

[@B-Rai87]

Never knew about Ayub Kalule but he was a very good fighter. 👍

[@soprano4ny]

Another Boxing masterpiece by Rich TH. I am seeing fights I missed and they have been bright to life in such a dramatic way. No one does it quite like this. I would love to know what happened to these fighters after they retired. Maybe most don’t want to know but I do. I feel an emotional connection to fighters since few of us are. These guys sacrificed ever for our benefit. They deserve being brought to the stage in such a manner. Well done once again. I will always look for your videos 🐜

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you very much, soprano4ny.

[@garrisonthad]

Rich, you’ve done it again! Thank you!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, Thad, thanks.

[@mozfonky]

That was actually one of Leonards rougher fights in those years. If he was "an advanced amateur" he shouldn't have been catching Leonard with those types of shots. That fight had to factor into why Ray wasn't chomping at the bit to fight Hagler in those years.

[@jeremysipes44]

Leonard chose to fight that style vs.Kalule and has 0 to due with Hagler.Benitez,Duran twice, Kalule ,Hearns and everyone else in the universe wanted a shot.Pryor,Hagler, Hell, everyone from 135-160 wanted $ and at a shot at Leonard.

[@mozfonky]

@@jeremysipes44 so, fighting a bigger southpaw had nothing to do with Hagler? Ok. If you say so.

[@Scrapiron-jq2cz]

First Ring Magazine i read was in 1980 so i read about his initial title defenses, i knew him well by the SRR fight and though he would perform well

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

Firstly, Happy new year to you Rich, all the best for you and your family for 2024. 🙏 💜 ☮️ Another great episode, and another fighter that’s new to me, it’s always good to be learning more and more about the history of this sport, and you certainly bring that element to the table. And for that I once again thank you for your time and efforts. 💯🔥💪

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Always a pleasure, techno mick, Happy New Year to you as well.

[@AlamoCityCello]

Great documentary! Thanks Rich

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Sure thing, John.

[@stevenmurray5715]

Great as usual Rich!..

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you, Steven.

[@brianseneca3546]

Great one Rich! I never saw the Kalamby fight! Sumbu was one tough dude! Suprised to see Ayub giving it to him. I man Sumbu gave McCallum his first loss and beat a always dangerous Iran Barkley. Only the Nunn fight (one punch ko from Nunn of all people) was he ever really dominated. Good win for Kalule

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Brian. Yeah, the Kalule-Kalambay fight looked really close...surprised Kalule beat him.

[@Nada11488]

All your content is great, but these are the types of vids I really love. Thanks Rich, Happy New Year 👍

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Nada. Happy New Year to you.

[@brettpaterson8042]

Great warrior, enjoyed this one Rich, some nice footage.👍🥊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Brett.

[@grbbbc]

Great video again Richie, had the pleasure of seeing Kalule live beating Jimmy Price at Alexandra Palace London in one round, Prices team thought he was finished big mistake.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you, GR

[@nickharmer3049]

Fantastic work Rich. I'm so disappointed I haven't had the notifications for your terrific uploads. I knew the big fights of Kalule, but little else. Appreciate this work. Thank you Bless 👊

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Nick. KZbin is a bit temperamental with sending out my notifications.

[@bennylevine387]

Nice video. Good to see something on Kalule. Moore vs. Kalule is one of those fights that I must have just blocked out for some reason. I was all over it in these years and literally can't recall that one to save my life.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Benny. Moore-Kalule was a good scrap.

[@chriskroell6956]

Liked him in the great 80s, he and Davey Moore similar careers

[@jaydee0187]

Another Great video Sir

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Jaydee.

[@boundsgreenboy8354]

Happy New Year Rich, great content as always, thanks again for your time and energy put into these videos God bless you and your family Man 🙏

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Hey thanks, Bounds. Happy New Year to you as well.

[@marquismorris1548]

Kalule a warrior, only beaten by the elites

[@gareth1974barrington]

Another excellent boxing documentary

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thank you, Gareth.

[@whitehurstcomic]

Happy new year everyone, and thanks Rich!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Sure thing, whitehurstcojmic

[@triplejunction7073]

With his all around skills and toughness, Kalule really would have been a handful if he had possessed punching power In the doc , we see Kalule repeatedly nail both Sugar Ray and Davey Moore with flush punches to the face. They don’t even blink.

[@johndonny443]

Great channel, love the fighter bio's. How bout a Michael Carbajal bio?

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, John. He's on the to do list.

[@gianca60]

It was said when Kalule fought hard hitting Marijan Benes, that bigger than usual gloves were used to avoid any problem for the champion who was fighting in his hometurf.

[@christopherbellore3511]

Thanks Rich.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, Christopher.

[@LetitGolazziter-uk9xi]

I am no man’s fan, but I recognize skill and as much as I disliked SR, he was good.

[@bentejallow5272]

amazing fighter

[@Abuhamza-abdullah]

🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬 Ayub Kalule John “The Beast” Mugabe Justin “the Destroyer” Juko Cornelius Boza Edwards Kassim “The Dream” Ouma

[@2383Scorpio]

Great job Rich for starting 2024 with a tribute to former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Ayub Kalule, who will be turning 70 later this month. Kalule was truly talented back then and keep it up. Anyways, Happy New Year Rich!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Scorpio, Happy New Year to you as well.

[@2383Scorpio]

@@RichtheFightHistorian You're welcome and keep uploading the fighters from the past that new age fans never heard of.

[@MrT-ev4dq]

Happy New year Rich.🎉 No surprise that you give us another great chapter of boxing. Looking forward to all you do for us in 2024. Cheers

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Happy New Year, Mr T, it'll be a good one.

[@asheru9254]

Happy New Year Rich.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Happy New Year to you as well, Asheru.

[@paulbroderick4217]

Good fighter.Only seemed to get beaten by top liners!!Good video Rich.Thanks

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

My pleasure, Paul.

[@kc1973able]

I remember watching the Kalule fight in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 on the tv 📺 against our own Errol Graham and Graham got the good win but was criticized because Ayub was over the Hill. Kalule vs Hope would have been a very interesting unification bought but I think Ayub would have gotten the better out of Hope I really do. Plus I think Kalule was the first guy to a have damaged young Davey Moores armour as that was a very hard fight for young Davey before Duran one year later would blow Moore’s armour completely off 🥊

[@yentamoon1808]

Amazing video as always rich! Quick question, have you ever thought about doing a video on Marvin "pops" Johnson? I always remember him as a blood & guts fighter, a far cry from the "tricky southpaw" archetype. He was always a crowd pleaser!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Yenta. Yes, Johnson is on the to do list.

[@kincamell2]

Gratitude

[@michaelh.117]

Thanks for another great entry in this vast, comprehensive history you're compiling, Rich. Two of my favorite fighters of the era showed up here: Mike McCallum and Sumbu Kalambay. How about features on those guys?

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

McCallum is on the list...I did a brief profile on Kalambay back in the early days of the channel.

[@peterlawrence7851]

Excellent

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Peter.

[@ronofficial5958]

Good choice to get things started in 2024!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Ron.

[@randquadrozzi1280]

Moore was a gutsy fighter who had bad management.To put him in with duran with so little experience was just stupid and it ruined him.

[@IMBATMANANDIMCOOL]

He beat a NZ legend in Monty Betham in the 70's that's how I know him. Kalule was faster in his younger days but against SRL he was a bit gun shy - understandably. Great fighter though.

[@mider-spanman5577]

Great title and I'm sure this will be a great story! Happy new year Rich! 🎉

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Hey Happy New Year Mider Spanman

[@drewmillz1]

It’s too bad his business investments didn’t work out better. Kalule seems like an actual good guy who possessed integrity. Glad to see he’s alive and happy.

[@mathewsotieno1422]

Where is he now?

[@mathewsotieno1422]

I trained at his gym in Nairobi back in 1990

[@ethanmeans]

🫡🏆 #warrior

[@LetitGolazziter-uk9xi]

Happy NOW, Rich!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Happy New Year, LetitGo lazziter

[@bookah8787]

7:45 am watching in the van on way to work drive slower I'll finish this hehe nice one Richie mate happy new year all 🎈

[@bookah8787]

The speed of the sugar man is something else have you done that rendering thing again Richie? Very clear 👍

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Happy New Year bookah!

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Ah, that was from a master tape...no special enhancements needed.

[@bookah8787]

@@RichtheFightHistorian and you mate all the best to you and yours.

[@bookah8787]

@@RichtheFightHistorian remember that hellcat I told you about Richie my friends that I drove with one of my boys in he absolutely loved it and so did I the power is something else, I'm thinking of getting one I imagine it's a fuel guzzler though and I get stuck in mud n shit all the time all of us in one van that's like 100 stone or more with just us 4 in it , I wouldn't have that problem with one of those and it was a blast

[@4speedpony]

I didn't know Elton John was Kalule's trainer at 30.44 lol

[@boxing888great5]

Pls do len wickwar

[@danielroth8738]

That first clip. Did he make SRL brawl instead of box???

[@ernestjenitolz2153]

Can youbdo one on Bobby czyz......Doug dewitt

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Sure thing.

[@ernestjenitolz2153]

The Bobby czyz story is unreal

[@Bloxdio_God]

Another great production from Rich. I watched a podcast the other night with Gary Stretch and Michael Olajide and it was awful. There are very few good boxing channels around but this is the best. If Kalule had the power of his compatriot John Mugabi I think he would have knocked out Leonard. Kalule nailed him so often. Leonard was very disrespectful toward Kalule and acted like a punk before the fight.

[@jeremysipes44]

🙄.Leonard would have fought a different style vs.Mugabi and ko'ed him too.

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Bloxdio_God

[@SirLuciferVampiro]

I'm glad he had a good career, seems like a good guy....But....Watching him fight, I'm not very impressed. I mean, he works hard but he seems a little bit too predictable. Very zombie like in his attack. I don't know how he became champion but you gotta give the guy credit, he maximized what little natural talent he possessed and actually became champion.........

[@AgainstTheRopesWithDos]

GAVE SUGAR RAY some ROUNDS 🗿

[@johnjamele]

Kalule lost both his fights against Kalambay; was the second accidentally called a split decision for Kalule or was that a mistake made by the graphics person for the network?

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

You may be thinking of Herol Graham. Kalambay didn't fight Kalule twice.

[@richiethecee2491]

​@@RichtheFightHistorian I remember Kalambay fought Graham at least once. At the end of the fight that I saw, the referee at first raised Graham's hand by mistake.

[@slidecounter5813]

Kalule was a very strong fighter if it wasn't for Ray's ring IQ i think Kalule would of had a better chance.

[@danielroth8738]

How was he supposed to get the trophy on the plane?! Should of gived him cash.

[@KOKINGWAYNE]

I’m here when you need me Rich! 😉

[@RichtheFightHistorian]

Thanks, Champ.

[@KOKINGWAYNE]

@@RichtheFightHistorian No worries 😉

[@johnspaulding1681]

every time I see one of these videos...and Ray Leonard is involved, I lose more respect for him, it's below zero at this point and going downward....a total media creation

[@serenityinside1]

So ; ripped off by referees , cos that second last gasp stoppage was a suspicious stinker especially, and by countrymen in business. This apparently likeable east going decent man got the sh*t end of the stock didn’t he just 😯. SRL was on fire that night - still can’t abide him asa person one iota , but what a complete fighting machine he was. Good result by Dave Moore also at only 10-0. Duran burst that hype train didn’t he 😳.

[@user-ft4mu1jt2r]

I think Ayub threw the fight...

[@davidmcconnell9666]

I think that was really poor commentary in the Leonard fight, I thought Kalule landed a lot of good punches and he was exchanging on even terms. And it was definitely a premature stoppage

[@keithcampbell6806]

It definitely was a premature stoppage. He was losing yes . He had a minute to recover.