Said Skouma

"Freddy" Said Skouma, born on August 28, 1958, in Casablanca, Morocco, forged a notable career in the super-welterweight division while representing France. His journey, spanning from 1981 to 1993, showcased his determination and skill against some of the top names of his era.

Turning professional on November 6, 1981, at the Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan in Levallois-Perret, Skouma immediately stopped Jacques Devaux in the second round, setting the stage for a career defined by resilience and ambition.

Skouma rose to prominence on the French boxing scene in the early stages of his career. On November 26, 1983, he captured the French Super Welterweight title with a hard-fought 12-round decision victory over Richard Rodriguez. This achievement solidified his reputation domestically and opened the door for bigger opportunities on the European stage.

On May 25, 1984, Skouma challenged for the vacant EBU European Super Welterweight title against Britain's Jimmy Cable. The fight in Saint-Denis, France, was gruelling, but Skouma ultimately fell short, losing via an 11th-round technical knockout. Despite the setback, his performance demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level.

Skouma rebounded strongly on March 22, 1985, reclaiming the French Super Welterweight title with a fifth-round TKO victory over Germain Lemaitre. The win reaffirmed his standing as one of France's top fighters and set the stage for further international opportunities.

His most significant world-level tests came against elite opponents. On October 25, 1986, Skouma challenged the undefeated Mike McCallum for the WBA Super Welterweight title at the Zenith Palais in Paris. Skouma was stopped in the ninth round despite a valiant effort, marking his first attempt at world championship glory. Less than a year later, on March 27, 1987, he faced Buster Drayton for the IBF World Super Welterweight title in London. Once again, Skouma fought bravely but was stopped in the 10th round by the hard-hitting Drayton.

Skouma's career concluded on December 11, 1993, at Espace Maurice-Herzog in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France, where he lost a 10-round decision to Robert Lajoya. This marked the end of a career that saw him amass 34 wins, 10 losses, and 2 draws, with 23 of his victories coming by knockout.