Mohamed Missouri ( ar, محمد ميسوري; 7 December 1947 – 29 June 2015) was an Algerian

amateur boxer Amateur boxing is a variant of boxing practiced at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as many associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration, comprising three rounds of three ...

and

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

Early life

Missouri was born in 1947 in the village of Merchicha within the

Col des Beni Aïcha In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding c ...

region, in the east of the

Khachna Massif The Khachna Range ( ar, جبال الخشنة, ''Jibal Khashna''; Berber ''Adrar n Kheshna'') is a mountain range of the Tell Atlas, part of the Atlas Mountain System. It is located in Kabylie, Algeria. Geography The ''Khachna'' is a massif m ...

and in the south of the town of

Thénia Thénia (), sometimes written as ''Thenia'', with around 40,000 inhabitants, is the chief town in the daïra of the same name, in the wilaya of Boumerdès, in northern Algeria. Historically, the name is a contraction of ''Theniet Beni Aicha'' (ث� ...

before the

Algerian independence An independence referendum was held in French Algeria on 1 July 1962. It followed French approval of the Évian Accords in an April referendum. Voters were asked whether Algeria should become an independent state, co-operating with France; 99.72 ...

. He lived his young age in the mountainous and wooded region near the course of

Oued Meraldene The Oued Meraldene or Oued Merabtene, also called Oued Bourdine, is a river of Algeria located in Kabylia within the framework of the Province of Boumerdès. Presentation The ''Meraldène'' stream is one of the main tributaries of the Boumerd ...

and its

Meraldene Dam The Meraldene Dam, or Barrage Meraldene, is an embankment dam on the Meraldene River, located at southwest of Thénia in Boumerdès Province within Kabylia in Algeria. Construction The design of this project was entrusted to the engineer-arc ...

, and not far from the

Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki ( ar, زاوية سيدي إبراهيم البوسحاقي) or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria. Construction The za ...

in the aftermath of the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and in the period preceding the outbreak of the

Algerian Revolution The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...

. He completed his primary studies in the midst of the independence war in the boys' school (french: École de Garçons) in Thénia (former Ménerville), which was renamed Mohamed Farhi school after 1962.

Career

Missouri enlisted in his youth in the military body of the

Gendarmerie Nationale Gendarmerie Nationale most commonly refers to: * Gendarmerie Nationale (France) * Gendarmerie Nationale (Belgium), merged with Belgian police in 2001 Gendarmerie Nationale may also refer to: *Gendarmerie Nationale (Algeria) * Gendarmerie National ...

, then distinguished himself in

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

and

military sports Military sports are sports practiced by the military. They are the subject of international competitions, such as the Military World Games, with an objective relating to the physical training of military. Particular sports may be chosen to improve ...

. Missouri perfected in the discipline of boxing in the

USM El Harrach Union Sportive de la Médina d'El Harrach ( ar, الإتحاد الرياضي لمدينة الحراش), known as USM El Harrach or simply USMH for short, is an Algerian football club based in El Harrach, Algiers. The club was founded in 1935 ...

team with trainer Abdelkader Kossaïri, then opted for the

CR Belouizdad Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad S.s.p.a (Classical Arabic: الشّباب الرّياضيّ لبلوزداد, English Translation: Sporting Club of Belouizdad), known as ''Chabab Belouizdad'' or ''CR Belouizdad'' or simply ''CRB'' for short, is a ...

team where he was supported by trainer Brahim Bouafia, former boxing champion and national trainer, who welcomed him with open arms. Bouafia passed on his knowledge to his foal Missouri from 1969 and introduced him to focusing well in boxing which is a wonderful sport that can become dangerous if it is not practiced with all the seriousness required. After his selection as a professional boxer, Missouri was thus framed in his future exploits by Bouafia who was then assisted by his two assistants, the Polish Granichec and the Algerian Akli Kebbab. Bouafia managed the young boxer Missouri well during the national interligue tournament in

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

in July 1969 which was held in the Nedjma cinema, and this allowed him to win the heavyweight title. During the various national boxing competitions in which he participated, Missouri won the title of champion of Algeria 9 times. He was Maghrebian champion in 1973 in

Agadir Agadir ( ar, أݣادير, ʾagādīr; shi, ⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔ) is a major city in Morocco, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Souss River flows into the ocean, and south ...

, then Arab champion in 1976 in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, and then gold medalist at the Mediterranean Games of

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

in 1975, at the

Hacène Harcha Arena Harcha Hassan Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Algiers, Algeria. The capacity of the arena is 8,000 spectators. It hosts indoor sporting events such as Handball, Basketball, Volleyball and hosts the home matches of GS Pétroliers. ...

, after his victory in the final against the Egyptian Khalil Ali Khalti. Indeed, it was then the trainer Kouider Ayad who supervised Missouri in the national A boxing team in 1975 when he participated in the Mediterranean Games and that he collected with his colleagues Hocine Nini and Siad the count of seven medals including two in gold. During the decade of 1969 and 1979, he played 154 national and international fights, winning 139, losing 13 and drawing twice.

Coach

After retiring from the military, Missouri took internships to earn his boxing coaching degrees to teach this noble art to younger generations. He created a boxing school for gendarmes and sailors, he launched a new professional dynamic for the training and maintenance of the physical fitness of Algerian military personnel. By converting to coaching for a period of 25 years, he notably led the boxing team of the

and that of the

Algerian National Navy , image = Algerian Naval badge.svg , image_size = 220px , caption = Algerian Naval badge , dates = 1516–18271963–present , country ...

. Missouri's efforts were seeking to contribute to building a modern sport and a brilliant elite capable of honoring national colors in international forums and responding to the tremendous sacrifices made by the

Algerian people This article is about the demographic features of the population of Algeria, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Ninety-on ...

in order to emancipate from the yoke of

French colonialism The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that existe ...

. He also holds two diplomas, one as a teacher of physical education and sports, and the other as a professional boxing trainer of class III. He also led the National Military Boxing Team which competed in the

1995 Military World Games The 1995 Military World Games, the first edition of the Military World Games, were held in Rome, Italy from 4 September to 16 September. Sports * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Medal table See also *Track and field a ...

organized in

Rome, Italy , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...

Awards

Missouri won several fights in national and international championships and then received trophies and medals, including: * medal at the

1978 All-Africa Games The 3rd All-Africa Games – Algiers 1978 was a multi-sport event played from July 13, 1978, to July 28, 1978, in Algiers, Algeria. 45 countries from 49 independent African countries participated in twelve sports. At the closing ceremonies the ...

, Algeria (middleweight) * medal at the 1975 Mediterranean Games in

, Algeria (middleweight) * medal at the 1976 Pan Arab Games in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, Syria (middleweight) * medal at the 1973 All-Africa Games in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, Nigeria (middleweight) * medal at the 1973 Maghreb Athletics Championships in

, Morocco (middleweight) * medal at the Algerian championships 9 times in

, Algeria (middleweight)

Books

Missouri has written several books during a long sporting career, including: * (2004) Boxing Through the Ages ( ar, الملاكمة عبر العصور). * (2009) Boxing giants: Professionalism in the Twentieth Century ( ar, عمالقة الملاكمة: الاحتراف في القرن العشرين). * (2014) Boxing is an art of nobility ( ar, الملاكمة فن النبلاء). * Boxing is life and exercise ( ar, الملاكمة حياة وممارسة). * How to practice the art of boxing ( ar, كيف نمارس فن الملاكمة).

Disciples

Missouri has coached several boxers who have won medals and awards in international games on the National Military Team, including: *

Mohamed Allalou Mohamed Allalou (born September 28, 1973) is an Algerian boxer (From Thénia in kabylia). He competed in the Men's Light Welterweight division at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal. He also twice participated in the Summer Olympic ...

(born 1973)

Death

Monday, 29 June 2015 Missouri died at the age of 68, following a long illness. He had been hospitalized at the Aïn Naâdja military hospital in the

Algiers Province Algiers Province ( ar, ولاية الجزائر, ', ; french: wilaya d'Alger or ) is a province (wilayah) in Algeria, named after its capital, Algiers, which is also the national capital. It is adopted from the old French department of Algiers a ...

. He was buried on Tuesday, 30 June 2015 after the

Zuhr prayer The Zuhr prayer ( ar, صَلَاة ٱلظُّهْر ', "noon prayer") is one of the five mandatory salah (Islamic prayer). As an Islamic day starts at sunset, the Zuhr prayer is technically the fourth prayer of the day.Sidi Garidi Cemetery within the commune of Kouba in

, in the presence of a large crowd of his family and friends.

External links

Bibliography

* * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Missouri, Mohamed 1947 births Algerian people People from Thénia People from Thénia District People from Boumerdès Province Kabyle people 2015 deaths Deaths in Algeria Algerian military personnel Military of Algeria Algerian sportspeople Algerian sports coaches Algerian male boxers Middleweight boxers Competitors at the 1973 All-Africa Games Boxers at the 1973 All-Africa Games African Games bronze medalists for Algeria Competitors at the 1975 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games gold medalists for Algeria Mediterranean Games medalists in boxing African Games medalists in boxing 21st-century Algerian people