Mahmood Loul is a living example of the saying, “When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade.”
To say that Mahmood’s path to his current success was strewn with seemingly insurmountable obstacles would be an understatement.
The 22-year-old native of war-torn Syria, and a former kick boxer turned boxer, said he and his family fled the country when civil war broke out.
“Actually, me and my friends left Syria. A lot of students left Syria because of the war so everybody went to different countries. I went to two different countries before I went to the United States, I am an American citizen.”
Loul, who is studying dentistry at the Texila University which is based at the Critchlow Labour College, said he along with his friend had sent applications to universities in several countries hoping that their transcripts from Syrian universities would be accepted but that was not the case.
“I have been travelling for a year. I went to Egypt, Turkey, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and UK (The United Kingdom). I was just travelling to find a university, so when I went to the States I found a university in Egypt and they accepted 40% of my credits so I just cancelled it. They were going to put me a year and a half back, because I already wasted a year. So I found Texila University and they took all my credits, it’s a good university, so I booked my ticket and came here.”
Loul, a trainee at the Dr Cheddi Jagan Dental School, said he entered the ring four days ago with support from Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry.
“He gave me a push, he said I could do it and he will support me and I said `okay’ so I have found somebody to give me a push.”
Dharry, when interviewed at the Andrew ‘Six head’ Lewis gym on Monday, said Loul has the potential to be an excellent boxer which is why he made the decision to give him a chance on his February 24 card.
Loul, however, told us, that even though he will be having his boxing debut on February 24, he has no intention of making boxing his career.
