Julius LWIPA

Julius Luipa began his career in 1964 and by 1967 was considered one of Zambia’s best amateur boxers. After winning a silver medal in the welterweight division at the 1968 All-Africa Championships (losing the final to Cameroon’s Joseph Bessala), he was selected to represent his country at the 1968 Summer Olympics. There he defeated Algeria’s Rabah Labiod in one of only two bouts held in the opening round, and then received a bye in round two. He then had the bad luck of meeting Bessala once again and was defeated, ranking ninth overall, as Bessala went on to win the silver medal. Luipa switched to the light middleweight division for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games, taking home a silver medal, and was eventually selected to once again represent Zambia at the 1972 Summer Olympics, this time as a middleweight. At this tournament, he was eliminated by Bill Knight of Great Britain in the opening round.

After taking silver in the middleweight division of the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, Luipa turned professional, but his career was ended by a loss to Lottie Mwale for the Zambian light heavyweight title in 1977. Following this defeat, he sunk into depression and withdrew from boxing, never again contesting a bout. By 1982 he was completely impoverished and, while a charity drive that year attempted to improve his circumstances, he eventually faded into obscurity.