Samir Louati

“He’s come a long way,” says head coach Joey Sandulo, as he remembers the first time he met Samir Louati. “The first time he came in here I threw him out,” admits Sandulo. “He was too young to start.” At the time Boxing Ontario had a rule that entrants had to be at least 12 years of age to join a boxing club and Louati was 5 months short. So he begrudgingly left the club, came back when he turned 12 and the rest is history.

Six years later Samir Louati, now a star with Ottawa’s Beaver Boxing Club, has an amateur record of 47 bouts and 39 wins. A gifted athlete, this wiry 18 year-old boxer-puncher brings a lot of skill to the ring. A versatile, multi-styled approach, exceptional fitness and a complete lack of fear have helped this young man become a hot prospect among Canada’s top amateurs. Louati attributes his lack of fear to his early days in his native Tunisia where he used to fight bare knuckles as a preschooler for money and lollipops. He had at least 10 unsanctioned fights per day and his older brother, Sahi, was his promoter. “He told me not to be afraid,” says Samir. “He told me I was a man.” As for the rest of his skills, they have developed during his years of training at the Beaver Boxing Club. “They’ve helped me so much,” admits Louati when he talks about his coaches and team mates. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am today.” And where he is today, is on the threshold of joining Canada’s boxing elite. Aiming for a berth on the 2004 Olympic team, Samir is just a few tournaments away from realizing his dream.

Two weeks ago Warsaw, Poland, was the site of one of those tournaments as Samir represented Canada in the (69 kg) welterweight class. His first fight was against a Polish national and Louati boxed his way to a decisive victory on points, winning easily (30-8). This vaulted him into the semi-finals where he met a larger and more experienced Lithuanian fighter. Unfortunately for Louati he came up a little short against this opponent, losing on points (12-8) and settling for a bronze medal. “He was a little bigger than me and used a classic European hit and run style,” explains Samir. “He just outpointed me and there was nothing I could do.” When asked about the people in Poland Louati admits, “They were great – very friendly everywhere we went.” Always highly visible in his team colours, he explains how the locals would wave at him and say how much they liked Canada. “It made me feel proud to be living in this country.”

Louati’s future plans include a professional boxing career and a degree in political science, even though he admits that the education may have to wait a while. As for the boxing career Samir plans to turn pro immediately following the Summer Games in Athens. “I could keep fighting as a amateur but I just don’t see the point,” explains Louati. When asked where he may be fighting he answers, wherever he can find the best offer. “But first things first,” he says, “I still have a lot of work ahead of me and right now I’m just focusing on the Olympics and after that we’ll see.” His coach echoes this sentiment and cautions Samir against looking too far ahead. “He still has a lot of work to do right now,” says Sandulo, adding that his fighter should just focus on the next tournament, take his successes one at a time and just keep winning. “If he does that there’s no telling how far this kid can go.” Louati has also become a more responsible individual over the past few years, earning the respect of his coaches and team mates. “He’s become an ambassador for the club,” says Sandulo, who recently went so far as to put Samir in charge of a group of young fighters at a local tournament.

Other accomplishments include being voted 2002 Top Boxer for the Greater Ottawa area. This annual event recognizes excellence in amateur sport and in the boxing category Samir was awarded top spot. “And this is not just for Ottawa,” adds Sandulo, “This includes about 13 clubs throughout the entire region and a lot of good fighters.”

Also of note was the Canada Winter Games in March 2003. Samir won the welterweight Gold in the Intermediate class defeating Quebec’s Martin Germain in what he called, “A real tough match.” Adding to his victory TSN’s Russ Amber voted his final bout as the fight of the tournament.