Today our topic on SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST page will focus on BOXING. (Amateur Boxing).
Amateur Boxing in Ghana started as far back as the
beginning of the 20th Century (1900) when indigenous Amateur boxing fights were
organized. This was done with the bare knuckle fist fighting in either single
combats or inter-clan-for-all fights. (Asafo Atsere).
In 1926, an expatriate District Commissioner called
Williams in Accra staged boxing fights at the back of his bungalow. He later
teamed up with Lt. Col. Banford, a colonial police commissioner, to organize
amateur boxing championships at the Nsawam Cadbury and Fry yard.
Currently in Ghana, there are over fifty (50) boxing
clubs, with majority of them in the Accra metropolis.
Now lets have a little feel of a WARRIOR FROM THE PAST!
BARIMAH AZUMAH NELSON
Nelson's professional boxing debut, in 1979.
He beat Billy Kwame in Accra by a decision in eight to mark
his professional debut and later fought the likes of Henry Sadler, Joe Skipper;
his fight against Bozzou Aziza of Togo in 1981 was his first fight abroad and
later Miguel Ruiz, Brian Roberts.
He lost by a knockout in round 15, to Salvador Sanchez on 21
July 1982 at the Madison Square Garden in New York in a WBC featherweight
championship and despite him losing that fight, the Ghanaian rose to higher
heights and in his next fight, Nelson knocked out his opponent, contender
Irving Mitchell in eight rounds.
This illustrious son of the black race, is forever remembered
for retaining the WBC Super Featherweight Title six (6) times on the roll.
On 8 January, 2004 Barima Azumah Nelson was selected into
the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was inducted 13 June 2004.
He is also a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Hope you really enjoyed this piece and catch you another time reading this blog.
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