by Kelly Eric Ehor | Oct 31, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, International, Nigeria, Other Sports
Jarrell Miller, a controversial heavyweight boxer, claims that British-Nigerian star Anthony Joshua will suffer another knockout loss if he goes ahead with a planned rematch against Daniel Dubois in 2025. In an interview with Boxing Scene, Miller bluntly predicted a repeat of the fifth-round knockout that Joshua suffered at Wembley Stadium last month.
Miller, who was set to face Joshua in 2019 before failing a drug test, insists that Joshua should take on him before contemplating a rematch with Dubois or considering retirement. He criticized Joshua’s abilities, claiming, “He ain’t got no chin; he ain’t got no heart.”
The defeat to Dubois marked Joshua’s fourth professional loss and sparked a wave of calls for his retirement. Boxing icon Prince Naseem Hamed is among those urging Joshua to leave the sport gracefully, while Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, suggested they may pursue a different path—perhaps a mega-fight with Tyson Fury next summer.
The decisive victory over Joshua has elevated Dubois, putting the 25-year-old heavyweight in line for even bigger fights as he rises within the division’s elite.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Oct 30, 2024 | Africa, International, Nigeria, Other Sports
Nigeria is set to make a historic entry into the 2024 World Sambo Championships, held from November 6 to 10 in Astana, Kazakhstan. This will be Nigeria’s first appearance at the global tournament, following an impressive performance at the African Beach Sambo Championships in Morocco.
Led by visually impaired sambist Samuel Oladele Kekere, Nigeria’s team will join competitors from 79 nations at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace. Alongside Kekere, the team features African women’s champion Charity Jatau, James Chegwam, and Alani Balogun, all under the guidance of Lagos State coach Gbenga Montana.
Sheriff Hammed, Vice President and General Secretary of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, called this participation a significant milestone, especially with Kekere representing Africa as the only blind competitor in the event.
“It’s inspiring to see athletes, regardless of their challenges, given a chance to showcase their skills and make a living,” Hammed shared with PUNCH Sports Extra.
The championship will feature men’s and women’s sport sambo, combat sambo, and the first inclusion of men’s SVI-1 blind sambo, specifically for totally blind athletes, with a total of 31 medals at stake. Roman Novikov, Chairman of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities, confirmed Kekere’s eligibility, emphasizing that he meets the international classification criteria for the SVI-1 class.
This event will also serve as a qualifying round for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. However, Hammed highlighted the financial challenges faced, noting that team members are currently self-funding their participation, and he urged support from the government and private organizations.
Lagos State Public Works has committed its support to the team. The President of the International Sambo Federation, Vasily Shestakov, praised the inclusion of blind athletes, saying, “Sambists with disabilities demonstrate remarkable resilience and a drive to compete on an equal footing.”
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Oct 30, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International, Other Sports
Former Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) President George Lamptey recently served as an International Technical Officer (ITO) at the 2024 African Elite Men and Women Boxing Championship held in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Lamptey highlighted the importance of African countries participating in international competitions to expose their boxers and officials to new trends, techniques, and strategies, as well as to foster relationships within the global boxing community.
The championship, hosted from October 19 to October 26 at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa, saw substantial success, providing a valuable platform for African boxing talent. Lamptey encouraged the Ghana Boxing Federation to leverage such opportunities to develop Ghanaian boxers and emphasized the need for sponsorship to support Ghana’s amateur teams, including the Black Bombers, Black Hitters, and Black Rockets. He urged the GBF to actively participate in all initiatives by the African continental boxing body.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Oct 30, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Other Sports
The El-Wak Wings Ladies Volleyball Club is set to face the Ghana Air Force team in the highly anticipated Greater Accra Super Champions Cup final on November 3 at the Borteyman Sports Complex. This thrilling match, scheduled for 1 pm at the complex’s volleyball dome, will determine the ultimate champion between the winners of the season’s league and the Top Eight tournament.
El-Wak Wings, who emerged victorious in the Top Eight, will challenge the Ghana Air Force, the season’s league champions, for the coveted Super Champions Cup trophy and additional prizes. In the men’s final, an all-military contest will feature Ghana Air Force against Ghana Army at 4 pm, following Army’s recent win over El-Wak Wings’ men’s team in the Top Eight final.
El-Wak Wings Ladies achieved an impressive run to secure their spot, defeating Osu Youth, Ghana Navy, and Ghana Immigration Service in the Top Eight group stages. In the semifinals, they overcame Air Force with a 3-1 victory and clinched the title in a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ghana Immigration Service.
Divine Edem Dotse, manager of El-Wak Wings, expressed pride in his team, which became the first civilian club to win the Top Eight tournament and previously made history by winning the league title two seasons ago. Dotse appealed to corporate sponsors for support in enabling the team’s participation in upcoming African club tournaments.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Oct 30, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Other Sports
The 2nd Annual “Big Mo” Invitational Tennis Tournament, organized by the Donkor Tennis and Education Foundation (DTEF), recently filled Ayi Mensah with the vibrant energy of young talent and community spirit. Over four days, players aged 10 to 21 competed for a share of the $5,000 prize pool, with the event supported by sponsors such as Lisa O’Connor and the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC).
Michelle Donkor, co-founder of DTEF, shared her pride in the progress of the young athletes. “The improvement this year has been phenomenal,” she remarked, observing how players have grown in skill and confidence.
While some adjustments, like age-specific categories, sparked discussion among families, Michelle sees these changes as vital to fostering fair play. “We want the kids to compete with integrity,” she noted, emphasizing the Foundation’s mission to set new standards for youth tennis in Ghana.
Foundation founder and former Davis Cup star Isaac Donkor views the tournament as a crucial opportunity for young athletes in Ghana, where tennis resources are scarce. By introducing prize money, he hopes to help players cover essentials such as racquets and transportation. “The prize fund inspires a new level of competition,” he said, noting how players’ performance has soared since last year.
Beyond the court, the Foundation is committed to supporting education. Plans are in place to build an on-site classroom where players can study before training, reflecting the belief that tennis instills life lessons. “Education and parental involvement are key,” Michelle added, stressing the importance of holistic development for the youth.
Looking ahead, Isaac and Michelle envision a future where the Foundation hosts more tournaments and clinics, with dreams of seeing a player from their program compete in a Grand Slam someday.
