Philip Waruinge

Philip Waruinge was a Kenyan boxer who won medals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, silver at Mexico City and bronze at München. In 1968 he was awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the best technical boxer at the Olympics.

Waruinge won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1966 and 1970 and won the featherweight title at the 1965 All-African Games. He turned professional in 1973, usually fighting as a super-bantamweight, and mostly fought in Japan, where he was nicknamed Nakayama.

He struggled as a pro, although in 1976 he had a title bout for the WBC bantamweight crown against Carlos Zarate, but Waruinge was knocked out in the fourth round. He retired at the end of 1978, with a professional record of 14 wins, 10 losses, and 1 draw.

While in Japan Waruinge ran a hotel and worked in the hospitality business. On returning to Kenya he coached young boxers, although he had poor health during the last years of his life.