READING

1 Read the text and find the following information.

Dewey Bozella is a boxer from the USA. He fought and won his first and last
professional fight at the age of 52. Before the fight began, President Obama
called him. He told Bozella that he admired him for his actions and he wished
him luck. People all over the United States felt the same way. What was so
special about Dewey Bozella? Before the fight, he spent 26 years in prison for a
crime he didn’t commit.
The story began in 1977. Bozella was 18 years old at the time. He was riding
his bicycle near an old woman’s apartment. Someone broke into the apartment
and killed the woman. The police thought it was Bozella, and they arrested him.
Bozella said he wasn’t a murderer, but no one believed him. However, there
wasn’t enough evidence, so they released him. Six years later, two prisoners
said they had information about Bozella. The information was used to arrest him
again. This time, the court decided on a verdict of guilty, and Bozella received a
life sentence.
Bozella didn’t give up, and he went back to court in 1990. This time he was told
that he could go free – on one condition. He had to say he really was guilty of
the crime. Bozella refused. He said he would stay in prison before he would say
that. So the judge sent him back to his prison cell.
During this time, an organisation called The Innocence Project arranged for
lawyers to represent Bozella. The lawyers uncovered new evidence and in
2009, a judge told Bozella that he was releasing him.
Bozella told reporters that he would open a gym in the future. Right now, he is
teaching boxing to children and enjoying his new life as a free man.

1. Bozella’s age at the time of his conversation with President Obama: 52 years old.
2. The length of his time in prison: 26 years.
3. The crime: Broke into the apartment and killed the woman.
4. The reason for Bozella’s second arrest: He had to say he really was guilty of
the crime and Bozella refused.
5. The reason he was released in 2009: The Innocence Project arranged lawyers to represent
Bozella. The lawyers uncovered new evidence and a judge told Bozella that he was releasing him.

2 Answer the questions.

1. What was the result of Bozella’s fight? He won.

2. How old was Bozella at the time of his first arrest? 18 years old.
3. Why did the police release him the first time? Bozella said he wasn’t a murderer, but no one believed
him. However, there wasn’t enough evidence, so they released him.

4. What did the judge want him to do in 1990? He had to say he really was guilty of the crime.

5. What are his plans for the future? Bozella told reporters that he would open a gym in the future. Right
now, he is teaching boxing to children.