Winner Lottie Mwale celebrates after defeating Carlos Marks (Photo by S&G/PA Images via Getty Images)
Lottie Mwale (14 April 1952 – 18 October 2005) was a Zambian male Light Heavyweight-class boxer.
Mwale was born in Kitwe, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) on 14 April 1952.
Mwale began his career at Rhokana Amateur Boxing Club in Kitwe and first entered the ring when he was 16.
He soon fell in love with the sport and by the time he joined Zambia Army-sponsored Green Buffaloes Boxing Club.
In January 1974, Mwale was part of Zambia’s contingent to the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand as a light middleweight.
He was a Commonwealth and African Boxing Union champion for a period of six years.
Mwale, who is Zambia’s greatest boxer, also won the World Boxing Council (WBC) International title after defeating Ray Acquaye of Ghana in eight rounds in Lusaka in December 1990.
In December 1981, 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.
Mwale went through some hard times and ended up dependent on charity, donations from well wishers and the Zambian government. In 1999, he suffered from poor co-ordination of the limbs and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Mwale died on 18 October 2005 in Lusaka, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa described him as a national hero.