Seifu Mekonnen
Encyclopedia
Seifu Mekonnen was a two-time Olympic boxer from Ethiopia
. He was born in Aleltu, in the province of Showa. By the age of 12, he already showed athletic prowess as a bodybuilder. In 1971, inspired by Muhammed Ali, he became a boxer. An American coach, Edward Simon
, recognized Mekonnen's ability and welcomed Mekonnen into his classes.
Mekonnen then fought exhibition bouts in front of as many as 50,000 people at His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Stadium. In August 1972, the Ethiopian Olympic Committee chose Mekonnen for the team at the 1972 Munich Olympics as a light heavyweight.
Awarded a scholarship by the German Sports Ministry, Mekonnen went to Berlin
two months early to train in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium. While in Germany
, he fought 10 exhibition fights and finished a course of studies in exercise science.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics
, his first two opponents were no-shows; he won his third bout against George Ouma of Uganda, but he lost his fourth bout to Harald Skog of Norway on points. Mekonnen ended in an eight-way tie for ninth place out of 28 fighters in the Olympic finals.
In 1976, Mekonnen was again selected for the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
and many said he was a medal hope, but he was unable to compete because of the African boycott of the Olympics. His scheduled bout with Robert Burgess of Bermuda was listed as a walk-over (not available to compete).
Mekonnen received awards and recognition from His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
, president Jomo Kenyatta
of Kenya
, president Idi Amin
of Uganda
, and president Julius Nyerere
of Tanzania
.
After 1976, Mekonnen fought and won in Russia
and throughout Africa
, then returned to Ethiopia as a national trainer. In 1980, he moved to the United States and trained athletes in many sports, including track & field and soccer, as well as boxing. He is now a certified personal trainer. Until 2006, he hosted a weekly Ethiopian Olympic sports program on New World Radio (WUST 1120 AM).
Mekonnen leads an annual celebration of the anniversary of Abebe Bikila
's Olympic Marathon victories.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. He was born in Aleltu, in the province of Showa. By the age of 12, he already showed athletic prowess as a bodybuilder. In 1971, inspired by Muhammed Ali, he became a boxer. An American coach, Edward Simon
Edward Simon
Edward Simon is a Venezuelan jazz pianist and composer.Simon was born into a musical family; both his brothers, Marlon and Michael Simon are also noted professional musicians...
, recognized Mekonnen's ability and welcomed Mekonnen into his classes.
Mekonnen then fought exhibition bouts in front of as many as 50,000 people at His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Stadium. In August 1972, the Ethiopian Olympic Committee chose Mekonnen for the team at the 1972 Munich Olympics as a light heavyweight.
Awarded a scholarship by the German Sports Ministry, Mekonnen went to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
two months early to train in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium. While in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he fought 10 exhibition fights and finished a course of studies in exercise science.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, his first two opponents were no-shows; he won his third bout against George Ouma of Uganda, but he lost his fourth bout to Harald Skog of Norway on points. Mekonnen ended in an eight-way tie for ninth place out of 28 fighters in the Olympic finals.
In 1976, Mekonnen was again selected for the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and many said he was a medal hope, but he was unable to compete because of the African boycott of the Olympics. His scheduled bout with Robert Burgess of Bermuda was listed as a walk-over (not available to compete).
Mekonnen received awards and recognition from His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, president Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, president Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and president Julius Nyerere
Julius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
After 1976, Mekonnen fought and won in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and throughout Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, then returned to Ethiopia as a national trainer. In 1980, he moved to the United States and trained athletes in many sports, including track & field and soccer, as well as boxing. He is now a certified personal trainer. Until 2006, he hosted a weekly Ethiopian Olympic sports program on New World Radio (WUST 1120 AM).
Mekonnen leads an annual celebration of the anniversary of Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila was a two-time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. A stadium in Addis Ababa is named in his honor.-1932–1959:...
's Olympic Marathon victories.