By Ted Sares:
I’ll knock him out.
John Mugabi
During the 1980’s, Uganda native John “The Beast” Mugabi entertained fans with his string of brutal stoppages many of which left his opponent unconscious. In fact, going into his title fight with World Champion Marvin Hagler on March 3, 1986, his record was 25-0 with all wins coming by way of knockout. He himself was KO’d by Marvin Hagler and then, shortly after, stopped by Duane Thomas. He quickly ran up eleven straight stoppage victories until being slaughtered by Terry Norris in 1990. After stopping two opponents, The Beast was again taken out by the great Gerald McClellan in 1991. Finally, on December 16, 1996, John beat Peter Kinsella in a fight that went ten rounds to a decision. Incredibly, up to that point, Mugabe had gone 38-4 with each fight ending before the final bell.
It was during his second streak between 1988 and 1990 that Mugabe was able to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight title with a one round blow out of Rene Jacquot in France in 1989.
However, during his first streak between 1980 and 1985, Mugabi became a staple on American television. Many of his fights were televised out of his home base of Tampa, Florida (though he clearly was a global road warrior) and his walk-ins were accompanied by chants of “Beast Beast, Beast, Beast.” Knocking out the likes of Curtiss Ramsey, Doug Demmings, Roosevelt Green, Eddie Gazo, Curtiss Parker, James Green, Nino Gonzalez, and Earl Hargrove enhanced his fearsome reputation as a legitimate one-punch KO artist.
On August 5, 1984, The Beast and Philadelphian Frank “The Animal” Fletcher met in Tampa in an affair appropriately billed as “Wild Kingdom.” Both fighters were among television’s most charismatic performers in the early 1980’s and both were known for their Saturday afternoon bloodbaths that fight fans enjoyed on NBC-TV. If the Beast had his cult-like following, The Animal, known for his life-and- death fights, had his as well. Hell, who could forget his flamboyant mother Lucille waving flags from the stage while the Sands Hotel casino in Atlantic City played its “Animal, Animal” music.
This one had the fans all pumped up because they knew it could not possibly go the distance given the all-out attack styles of both combatants. For his part, The Animal had some noteworthy notches on his belt including Ernie Singletary, Clint Jackson, Norberto Sabater, James “Hardrock” Green, William “Caveman: Lee, and Curtiss Ramsey. However, Frank had been brutally dismantled and softened up by Juan Domingo Roldan prior to his matchup with Mugabe.
The Fight
Both men exchanged heavy shots during the first three stanzas with Mugabi landing the more frequent and malefic ones but The Animal got in his licks in as well. In the middle of an all-action Round 2, The Beast began a serious assault but Frank answered with some decent left hooks. Fletcher’s left eye then ballooned grotesquely in round 3 and seemed on the verge of exploding as Mugabi smelled blood and went in for the kill as the bell ended.
Finally, in the middle of round 4, John caught The Animal with his patented straight right and then finished the job with a left and two quick rights the latter of which sent Fletcher through the ropes. A young and thin (but still bald) Joe Cortez immediately stopped the mugging. As the crowd chanted “Beast, Beast, Beast,” a celebrating Mugabi did jumping jacks in response. Though stoic before and during his fights, John would celebrate wildly in the ring after his wins. It was great theater.
The Beast would finish his career in Australia with an admirable record of 42-7-1 with 39 wins by knockout. He will be remembered for being a part of an era that many fans consider as one of the most exciting times ever in the Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight divisions—an era in which names like Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Benitez resonated. His 25 fight knockout win streak stands as one of the longest knockout streaks ever. The affable and popular Mugabe now lives in Australia where he trains fighters.
Thanks for the memories.