Nigerian Boxing Legend Nwankpa Dies At 75
Nigerian boxing legend Obisia Nwankpa, popularly known as “Golden Gloves”, died at the age of 75 in the early hours of Tuesday.
Obisia, who was a former boxer and a boxing coach, represented Nigeria in the professional light/light welterweight category.
President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Rafiu Ladipo, confirmed his death on Tuesday while calling on the government to immortalise him.
He said: “This is another big blow for us… Obisia deserves to be immortalised in this country because he gave his all to boxing.
Ladipo also confirmed that the NBB of C is ready to support the family during the period of mourning.
He said, “The family has not got across to us, but if they get across to us, we will do what is expected of us.”
Obisia Nwankpa made his debut for Nigeria at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the light-welterweight division.
He won gold at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos and also at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Nwankpa recorded 23 victories, 16 by knockout, while losing six out of his 29 bouts as a professional.
He enjoyed an illustrious career, becoming the Nigerian Lightweight Champion, African Boxing Union (ABU) Lightweight Champion, and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion.
As a coach, he led Nigeria’s boxing team to the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In his final years, Nwankpa battled with dementia and other health issues.
Nigerian Boxing Legend Nwankpa Dies At 75 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
