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Kenny Bayless preaches discipline to local boxers
American referee Kenny Bayless officiates a sparring session at KBC Gym in Kampala on Thursday. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
Boxing. The American referee will today officiate in a charity boxing event at Rez Life Church.
Kampala. Besides being the world’s top boxing referee, American Kenny Bayless, also a motivational speaker, misses no opportunity to preach discipline to his various audiences.
His pre-fight command “what I say you must obey” is popular to a million ears around the world but there is more to that catchphrase which was coined by his son.
“If your dreams are to be realised, obey your parents, teachers and coaches because they wish you well and they know much more than you do,” Bayless told the eagerly listening congregation of boxers and promoters at Rez Life Church in Lubowa on Friday. “Discipline is key to success. Imagine Floyd (Mayweather) wakes up at 2am and starts training every day, and see where hard work and discipline has put him.”
Bayless got into boxing in the 70s because of the legendary Muhammad Ali. He retold how Ali’s speech at a New York juvenile detention centre inspired young detainee Mike Tyson into boxing. By the age of 13, Tyson had been arrested 38 times but thanks to Ali’s counsel, he embraced the sport and later became the youngest world heavyweight champion.
Today, Bayless will officiate at a charity boxing event at Re Life Church on the inauguration of Beyond The Ring, a project aimed at improving the image and lives of boxers.
Bayless in brief
Born: May 4 1950 (age 64) in California, USA.
Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada
Career: Started boxing as an amateur referee in the late ‘70s before turning pro in 1991.
Refereeing: His first world title fight in 1994 and has gone on to be the third man in over 100 world title clashes around the globe.
Biggest pay: $25,000 for officiating Floyd v Manny in Fight of the Century.
Besides boxing: He is a retired college teacher for 35 years and motivational speaker while his wife Lynora is a health and wellness coach.
Notable fights
2008 -Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito
2004-Bernard Hopkins vs. De La Hoya
2007-De La Hoya vs. Mayweather
2015-Mayweathervs. Manny Pacquiao
