Franco Wanyama

Last updated

Franco Wanyama
Franco and his students in 2013 2013-10-03 22-35.jpg
Franco and his students in 2013
Statistics
Real nameFranco Wanyama
Nickname(s)Thunderbird
Weight(s) Middleweight

Cruiserweight

Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
Nationality Ugandan
Born(1968-02-07)7 February 1968
Kampala, Uganda
Died21 March 2019(2019-03-21) (aged 51)
Rugby, Warwickshire
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins20
Wins by KO7
Losses7
Draws2

Franco "Thunderbird" Wanyama (7 February 1968 - 21 March 2019 [1] ) in Kampala, was a Ugandan amateur middleweight and professional cruiser/heavyweight boxer of the 1980s, '90s and 2000s. He was an amateur representative of Uganda at middleweight in the Boxing at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, losing to eventual bronze medal winner Chris Sande of Kenya, and as a professional won the BeNeLux heavyweight title, BeNeLux cruiserweight title, Commonwealth cruiserweight title, and World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight title, and was a challenger for the Commonwealth cruiserweight title against Chris Okoh, his professional fighting weight varied from 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb), i.e. cruiserweight to 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb), i.e. heavyweight. Wanyama defeated notable fighters such as Jimmy Thunder, Carl Thompson and Johnny Nelson and was sparring partner to Vitali Klitschko & Wladimir Klitschko. He lived his last years in Rugby, Warwickshire, England and had 3 children, Shannon Wanyama, Nellie Wanyama and Wanga Wanyama. [2]

Contents

Early life

Franco started boxing around the age of 6 after becoming curious of what was inside a local boxing gym.

Professional career

Franco made his professional debut on 25 December 1989 against Dutch fighter John Held (7-13-2) it ended a 6-round points draw. In 1990 he beat future world title holder Carl Thompson on points. In 1993 he won a bout against another future world champion, Johnny Nelson, who was disqualified for repeated holding. In 1995 he was matched with former world champion Thomas Hearns but the fight was called off at the last minute and Hearns was replaced by ranked Heavyweight Jimmy Thunder, Wanyama and gave away a 30 pounds in weight but still came away with a points victory.


Later years

After his retirement Franco worked as a sparring partner, notably with the Klitschko brothers. From 2007 he became a youth worker and boxing coach in Rugby, taking classes for the youth service whilst also being a coach at a local amateur boxing gym. On the 21st of March 2019 Franco died at his home in Rugby. [3]

Professional boxing record

29 fights20 wins7 losses
By knockout75
By decision132
Draws2
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Win20–7–2 Flag of Hungary.svg Csaba OlahTKO3 (6)2000-06-16 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ghent, Belgium
28Win19–7–2 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Daniel JerlingPTS61999-10-15 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ghent, Belgium
27Win18–7–2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Geert BlieckMD61999-04-05 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ghent, Belgium
26Win17–7–2 Flag of Uganda.svg Abdul KadouPTS101997-12-25 Flag of Uganda.svg Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda
25Loss16–7–2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dirk WallynTKO5 (8)1996-12-25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Izegem, Belgium
24Loss16–6–2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dirk WallynTKO7 (8)1996-11-01 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Izegem, Belgium
23Loss16–5–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Garry Delaney PTS61996-02-06 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Festival Hall, Basildon, England
22Loss16–4–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Okoh TKO8 (12)1995-09-29 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg York Hall, Bethnal Green, EnglandFor vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Cruiserweight title.
21Win16–3–2 Flag of New Zealand.svg James Thunder SD101995-07-16 Flag of the United States.svg Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
20Draw15–3–2 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Kalin StoyanovPTS81994-04-02 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg De Haan, Belgium
19Win15–3–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony BoothTKO2 (12)1994-01-28 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, BelgiumWon vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Cruiserweight title.
18Win14–3–1 Flag of Jamaica.svg Bobbie Joe EdwardsPTS81993-12-25 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Izegem, Belgium
17Win13–3–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny Nelson DQ10 (12)1993-10-01 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, BelgiumWon WBF (Federation) Cruiserweight title.
Nelson disqualified for repeated fouls.
16Win12–3–1 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Daniel KrumovTD2 (6)1993-04-23 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, Belgium
15Win11–3–1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg John HeldUD101993-01-29 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, BelgiumWon BeNeLux Cruiserweight title.
14Win10–3–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony BoothPTS61992-12-25 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Izegem, Belgium
13Win9–3–1 Flag of Colombia.svg Faustino GonzalezTKO3 (6)1992-11-01 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Izegem, Belgium
12Win8–3–1 Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir DyukarevTKO1 (6)1992-10-02 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, Belgium
11Loss7–3–1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg John EmmenKO10 (10)1991-06-24 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Weenahal, Rotterdam, NetherlandsFor BeNeLux Heavyweight title.
10Win7–2–1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ramon VoornPTS101991-02-18 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Sportcentrum Valkencourt, Valkenswaard, Netherlands
9Win6–2–1 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Boubakar SanogoPTS81990-12-25 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Izegem, Belgium
8Loss5–2–1 Flag of France.svg Norbert EkassiKO2 (8)1990-10-13 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ghent, Belgium
7Win5–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian BullochTKO5 (6)1990-05-12 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waasmunster, Belgium
6Win4–1–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Thompson PTS61990-04-21 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sint-Amandsberg, Belgium
5Win3–1–1 Flag of Algeria.svg Mohamed ZaouiTKO3 (6)1990-04-07 Flag of France.svg Carvin, France
4Loss2–1–1 Flag of France.svg Christophe Girard PTS81990-03-16 Flag of France.svg Blois, France
3Win2–0–1 Flag of France.svg Serge BolivardPTS61990-02-10 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roeselare, Belgium
2Win1–0–1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Abner BlackstockTKO4 (6)1990-01-12 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Waregem, Belgium
1Draw0–0–1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg John HeldPTS61989-12-25 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Izegem, BelgiumProfessional debut

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References

  1. "Crowdfunding has to grant Freddy De Kerpel's former pupil a worthy burial (Google translated into English)". Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. "Statistics at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  3. "The life & death of Franco Wanyama: Another proud man who deserved more help than he ever received". The Independent. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.