Joseph Bessala

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Requested by: Punkmorten 12:02, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
Interest of the translation: Olympic medalist
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Joseph Bessala (* 1^st of January 1941 in Douala, Cameroon) is a former welter weight boxer from Cameroon.

[edit] Amateur

In 1965 Bessala won the African Games in Brazzaville and two times the African masters in welter weight: In 1966 in Lagos (he prevailed over Eddie Blay in the final) and 1968 in Lusaka, where he prevailed in the final fight over the Sambian Julius Luipa, whom he beat again at the Olympic Games. He gained the silver medal at the Olympic Games in 1968 in Mexico City. In the final he was beaten by Manfred Wolke from GDR.

[edit] Professional

In October Bessala started his professional career with a victory in the first round, where he knocked out the Belgian Jean-Pierre Heirmann. Six victories, one drawn, and yet another five victories followed. In November 1974 the last victory over Eddie Blay from Ghana, who won the bronze medal in the class of super lightweight in 1964, gained Bessala the African title in the class of welter weight. The title was taken from him by Salem Ouedraogo from the Côte d'Ivoire in January of 1976. After a longer break Bessala gained back the African masters from his fellow countryman Bechir Boundka in June 1978. He aimed to defend this title again in his 16^th fight, but Mimoun Mohatar from Morocco knocked him out in the 12^th round in December 1978. Bessala took the consequences and retired from boxing.