The Tragic Ending Of Super Middleweight Tarmo Uusivirta of Finland
(1957-1999)
By Teddy Stenmark
20.03 - The story of Finn Tarmo Uusivirta, one of the greatest amateur boxers ever to come out of Finland, is a tragic one. After a great stint in the amateurs that got him two silver-medals at the World championships in Belgrade 1978 and Munich 1982 and a celebrated gold at the European ditto in Cologne in 1979, Tarmo turned pro in 1982. The debut took oddly enough, place at the Finnish island of Hangö, in a last desperate attempt by former Swedish promoter Edwin Ahlqvist and a few partners, to have Edwin stay in the business that made him such a huge name in the fifties.
That show and the next one were failures and struck the final nail into Ahlqvist's career, but it got Uusivirta's career started. Tarmo outscored a novice by the name of Mick Morris in the sixth round in Hangö and scored a quick KO in Helsinki a couple of Months later (Dino Wallace KO 2). One of the Ahlqvist-partners, Olof Johansson (Now current chief-editor of the Swedish boxing magazine) took on the job to steer Tarmo's career after the Edwin Ahlqvist promotion had collapsed following those two mediocre cards. The situation wasn't optimal and Johansson's skills as a manager were quite untested at that time. Despite his lack of experience Johansson managed to get his fighter a few important bouts that would make the Finns name hot on the European scene. In only his third fight, Uusivirta boxed former European title challenger Andre Mongelema of France on the Frenchman's own backyard in Blendecques (April of 1983), France. Olof admits that they took a big chance in that fight but with Tarmo's solid amateur background it was worth the risk.
The chance paid off and Uusivirta fought his heart out, Mongelema was handed a gruelling contest and a bitter defeat on TKO (fifth round) to Tarmo in front of his own fans. This victory should have cemented Tarmo's status as a top- fighter but not long after in November of 1983 he lost an eight round decision to Dick Katende in Mannheim, Germany and was in a way forced to repair his career.
Two quick KOs did that job nicely; Martin McEwan 17th of December 1983 (KO 2) Mariehamn, Finland, and Juan Munoz Holgado (KO 3) 18th of February of 1984. Following those fine victories Uusivirta's manager, Olof Johansson figured it was time to launch Tarmo's career in the states and they took off to New York in May of 1984. They managed to get Uusivirta a suitable eight rounder at the classic Madison Square garden but although Tarmo did put up a good fight, he lost to the hometown-boxing Anthony Holt in an exciting eight-rounder. That loss was unfortunately followed by a fifth-round stoppage loss to European-rated Belgian, Jose Seys in Helsinki just a couple of weeks later. 1985 passed by with not much to fuzz about, Tarmo did what he was supposed to, just three fights but all wins and one Knockout.
1986 on the other hand was the year for Tarmo! He scored two impressive victories over Top-Brit Jimmy Cable (W10) and followed up with a rapid knockout in Denmark over an OK American by the name of Joe Cooper. In addition to that, he drew (10) with European champion Alex Blanchard from Holland and Enrico Scacchia from Switzerland (10). Both Blanchard and Scacchia were handed such tough beatings that they had to taste the canvas. The Swiss was, according to manager Johansson, on the floor for twenty seconds and should have been counted out. After a solid win over future British European champion James Cook, Uusivirta split with his Swedish manager in 1988 and took off to the US to launch his career, very much on his own. He landed at Angelo Dundee's in Florida, the training was good but no fights where made for him there, and the trip to the states was a huge disappointment!
While over there though, manager Johansson, unwilling to give up, had managed to secure a title fight with Graciano Rocchigianni for the IBF super middleweight title. He had worked out the documents with promoter Sauerland and only needed Uusivirta's signature on the contract, but Tarmo wanted no more of Johansson and turned down the offer. The Finn went home and started off a new partnership deal with countryman Simo Rantalainen and they made him work frequent. 11 bouts was registered for Uusivirta between 1988-1991 and he won all of them except for a hot rematch with Dutchman, Alex Blanchard (Helsinki) in December of 1988, that one again ended in a draw (12) the bout was for the minor IBF Intercontinental title.
The many wins and his solid performance against Blanchard once again made him a top European contender at super middleweight/light heavy, and there was no surprise that a chance to fight James Cook for the European super middleweight title occurred in October of 1991. He took the bout, which was staged in Battersea, England but it was obvious beforehand that the desire wasn't present. The Tarmo of old was gone and in the 7th round he waved it off himself, He wanted no more. One more bout was recorded for Tarmo, an eight round win over decent American journeyman Shannon Landberg, the following year but it was to be his last appearance as a fighter...
Uusivirta's life after the career sadly enough crashed to pieces. Tarmo got into some heavy alcohol-abuse that cost him his driving license and eventually his job as a fireman. That tragedy along with a tearing divorce made the brilliant Finnish fighters mind up. He took his own life in 1999 with a shotgun at the age of 42. A tragic ending for one of Finland's greatest fighters!
