36 Facts About Lottie Mwale

Lottie Mwale was a Zambian male Light Heavyweight-class boxer who was Commonwealth and African Boxing Union champion for a period of six years.

Lottie Mwale was born in Kitwe, Zambia on 14 April 1952.

Lottie Mwale grew up in Wusakile and went to Ndeke Primary School.

Lottie Mwale lived close to Scrivener Stadium, the home of Rhokana United and had a keen interest in football, playing as a goalkeeper in neighbourhood matches.

Lottie Mwale exhibited musical ability by playing drums in his early teens, and harboured ambitions of making it in mainstream music.

Lottie Mwale's brother-in-law was professional boxer Jackson Mambwe who played a role in luring Mwale into the boxing ring, giving him his initial coaching and encouraging him to continue with the sport.

Lottie Mwale's mother was not happy with his chosen path but when she realized he had set his heart on a career in boxing, she gave in and started supporting him.

Lottie Mwale began his career at Rhokana Amateur Boxing Club in Kitwe and first entered the ring when he was 16.

Lottie Mwale soon fell in love with the sport and by the time he joined Zambia Army-sponsored Green Buffaloes Boxing Club, he was already a formidable amateur boxer.

Lottie Mwale reigned as middleweight champion in East and Central Africa and was appointed captain of the Zambia national boxing team in 1973.

In January 1974, Lottie Mwale was part of Zambia's contingent to the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand as a light middleweight.

Lottie Mwale powered his way into the quarter-finals with a 102-second knockout over Cook Islander Nio Mare after which team Manager Archie Phiri said he was delighted with Mwale's performance but he would have liked the contest to last a bit longer in order to give Mwale 'a better work-out.

An x-ray revealed that the injury was a slight sprain and this brought a sigh of relief to the Zambian camp, paving the way for the clash with Scottish champion Alexander 'Cy' Harrison, a bout which Lottie Mwale predicted would be 'too easy.

Many fight-goers predicted that Lottie Mwale had the potential and class to do well as a professional if he ever felt like dropping his amateur status but he took his time before taking this step.

In May 1975, he won a gold medal during the East and Central African Amateur Boxing Championship in Lusaka, and the following year, Zambia dethroned world champions the United States in the International Council of Military Sports Games and Lottie Mwale, fighting as a middleweight, was voted boxer of the tournament.

Lottie Mwale then talked of turning professional but shelved his plans due to his contract with the National Defence Force which was only due to end the following year.

Lottie Mwale turned professional in April 1977 under Scorpio Promotions, turning down a five-year contract in the United States of America saying he wanted to fight for the Commonwealth and African titles before thinking of something bigger, and hoped to move from middleweight to heavyweight division.

The charismatic Lottie Mwale won over a lot of admirers and inspired young Zambian sportsmen to succeed.

Lottie Mwale knocked out Luipa in the 6th round in Lusaka and two years later knocked out Commonwealth champion Gary Summerhays of Canada in the 10th round in Lusaka.

Two months later, Lottie Mwale had the opportunity to spar with his idol Muhammad Ali in an exhibition bout at the Royal Albert Hall in London, to mark Ali's final retirement after which Ali predicted a great future for the Zambian.

In December 1981, Lottie Mwale was a victim of police brutality when he was detained and beaten up by policemen in Lusaka for allegedly splashing muddy water on people by the roadside.

Lottie Mwale was forcibly dragged out of his Range Rover by over 15 police men and detained in a police truck for nearly two hours, where they slapped him and hit him with gun butts.

Lottie Mwale later complained that he was held prisoner for no reason and that he had been molested by the police.

Lottie Mwale then won two fights against his closest Zambian challenger, Chisanda Mutti though many Zambian fans felt he was fortunate to get the decision in the second fight.

Lottie Mwale lost his Commonwealth title to Leslie Stewart of Trinidad and Tobago in Port au Spain in 1985 and soon after, the African title to Nigeria's Joe Lasisi.

Lottie Mwale then got a shot at the WBC International title when he was pitted against Ghanaian Ray Acquaye.

Lottie Mwale knew that at the age of 38, this was probably his last chance to win an international belt so he trained hard for the fight and turned back the years with an eighth-round knockout in Lusaka.

Lottie Mwale later apologized for his actions but said he expected to be honoured with the top award after winning an international title for the country.

Lottie Mwale however lost the belt in his very next fight to Virgil Hill of the United States two years later in Bismarck, North Dakota after which his promoter called Sandy Saddler, disappeared with his $55,000 purse money, leaving him stranded until the Zambian High Commission came to his aid.

Lottie Mwale won his next two fights against Wally Kafumbi and Jim Murray and then attempted to win back the Zambian light-heavyweight title which was by then held by Mike Chilambe.

Lottie Mwale immediately asked for a rematch which Chilambe granted him.

Lottie Mwale trained hard for the rematch and promised to teach Chilambe a lesson.

Lottie Mwale's career fight record was: 44 fights won, with 34 knockouts, and lost 9 fights, with 4 of these coming in his last six fights.

Lottie Mwale then went through some hard times and ended up dependent on charity, donations from well wishers and the Zambian government.

When Lottie Mwale, who was very much alive, complained that the story had led to the WBC stopping his pension, the magazine retracted the article with an apology, calling it 'an horrendous error' on their part.

On 24 April 2013, Lottie Mwale's remains were exhumed from Lusaka's Old Leopard's Hill Cemetery and reburied at Leopards Hill Memorial Park, a resting place befitting a Zambian hero.