by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, International, Nigeria
Anthony Joshua has kept quiet following Tyson Fury’s shocking announcement of retirement from boxing. The “Gypsy King” declared his departure from the sport after suffering a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month, leaving fans disappointed about the potential £150 million superfight between Joshua and Fury, which now seems unlikely to happen.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Joshua hasn’t reacted to Fury’s announcement, indicating the former heavyweight champion is focused on rebuilding his career after his loss to Daniel Dubois in September. Hearn speculated Fury’s announcement might be a strategic move rather than a genuine retirement.
“My gut feeling is we’ll still see AJ vs. Fury this summer,” Hearn said. “But if Fury truly isn’t enjoying boxing anymore, then retirement might be real.”
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
Rising lightweight star Derrick Quaye, also known as “Show Love,” has been ranked among Ghana’s top 10 pound-for-pound boxers as of January 2025. The talented fighter, who boasts an impressive record of 6-0-1, gained widespread recognition after delivering a spectacular knockout against Michael Ansah, aka “One Bullet,” in a thrilling bout organized by Box Office Promotions at the Bukom Boxing Arena. Quaye’s exceptional skills and potential make him a key figure in the future of Ghanaian boxing.
Kudos also go to Daniel Selassi Gorsh, who has maintained the top spot on the pound-for-pound list for three consecutive months. Other notable names in the rankings include John “Expensive Boxer” Laryea, Stanley Nyantekyi (“Ashanti Warrior”), Holy Dogbetoraka Jaw Breaker, and Faisal “Poncho Power” Abubakar. Completing the top 10 are Seth Gyimah (“Freezy Macbones”), Jacob Tetteh Laryea (“The Chorkor Fire”), and Sheriff Quaye (“One Time”).
Boxing Ghana determines its rankings based on key factors such as activeness, performance, discipline, media appeal, and commitment.
The Boxing Ghana Awards ceremony, recognizing the best contributors to Ghanaian boxing—including boxers, coaches, referees, promoters, and more—will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Stay tuned for updates on this highly anticipated event.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
The welterweight division in Ghana continues to spark debates among boxing fans and analysts. On November 24, 2025, Sampson Segbedzi (9-0) from Ashaiman claimed the national welterweight title after Isaac Commey of Chorkor was disqualified for headbutting. Following the bout, Commey faced sanctions from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
Since winning the title, Segbedzi has received numerous challenges from top contenders. Currently, Henry Malm (9-0), who represented Ghana at the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers and the 2023 African Games, leads the BoxRec rankings as the best welterweight boxer in Ghana, with Segbedzi closely trailing in second place.
Other top-ranked contenders include Habib Kehinde Giwa (3rd), Maxwell Awuku (4th), Fred Lawson (5th), Jessie Lartey (6th), Thompson Fosu (7th), Philip Quartey (8th), and Abdul Aziz Quartey (9th).
Fans are eagerly calling for a showdown between Segbedzi and Malm to settle the debate on who the true king of the welterweight division is. In response, Segbedzi expressed his readiness to face Malm if the financial terms are right. “I am the king of the welterweights, and I don’t fear anyone. If the money is good, we have a fight,” he stated.
The stage is set for a potential blockbuster fight that could define the future of Ghanaian boxing.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 17, 2025 | Boxing, Ghana
As the 2025 elections for sports federations approach, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) faces a pivotal moment in determining its leadership. Will incumbent Abraham Kotei Neequaye seek another term, or will a new face emerge to take the reins?
For the past four years, conflicts and misunderstandings among GBA stakeholders—boxers, coaches, promoters, and spectators—have highlighted the need for strong and visionary leadership to restore order and drive progress.
One candidate leading the charge for change is Alex Ntiamoah Boakye, head of Box Office Promotions. Boakye, who has over 25 years of experience in boxing promotion, has demonstrated his ability to elevate local fighters to continental and international recognition. His promotional efforts have propelled boxers like John Laryea, Daniel Gorsh, Holy Dorgbetor, and Sheriff Quaye to continental WBO Africa titles, sparking hopes of future world championships.
Boakye’s reputation extends beyond staging celebrated bouts, such as Bukom Banku vs. Ayitey Powers and Michael Ansah vs. Derrick Quaye, which garnered massive public attention. His leadership of Box Office Promotions earned the outfit the “Best Promotions” award at the 2024 Boxing Ghana Awards.
Announcing his candidacy for GBA President, Boakye has outlined a bold vision to transform Ghanaian boxing. Key points of his agenda include:
Establishing committees to develop innovative strategies for global recognition by major boxing organizations like WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF.
Prioritizing security at boxing events to ensure a safe environment for fans.
Strengthening collaborations with corporate sponsors and the Sports Ministry to boost investment in boxing.
Enhancing media engagement to increase visibility and support for the sport.
Boakye has also pledged to provide more opportunities for amateur boxers and work closely with the Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association.
With other candidates, such as Roger Barnor and Emmanuel Addo (aka Mosquito), also expressing interest in the GBA presidency, the election promises to be a significant turning point for Ghana boxing.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Jan 14, 2025 | Nigeria, Other Sports
Former Super Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie, has expressed his dream of seeing Nigeria compete in golf at the Olympics as he advances in his career as a professional golfer. The 43-year-old, who turned professional in 2019 and graduated from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) school in June 2024, hopes to put Nigerian golf on the global map.
Odemwingie began playing golf during his time at West Brom in the English Premier League and sees immense potential for Nigeria in the sport, especially with golf reintroduced to the Olympics in 2016. While he aspires to be part of an Olympic golf team, he is also committed to nurturing the next generation of Nigerian golfers.
“If I cannot play as a golfer, I can at least be in the team of a golfer who will play there,” Odemwingie told BBC Sport Africa.
The Olympic silver medalist from Beijing 2008 emphasized the prestige of winning at the Olympics and hopes to use this passion to attract support for developing golf in Nigeria. His plans include meeting government officials and corporations, building a golf academy in Benin City, and increasing awareness about the sport.
Beyond the Olympics, Odemwingie envisions Nigerian representation on the European Tour or PGA Tour and believes early exposure to golf can provide life-changing opportunities for young Nigerians.
“I want to introduce people to the game and build a generation of golfers, from Nigeria in particular, that will participate in the Olympics,” he added.
Odemwingie, who retired from football in 2018, has plans to further his coaching career in golf. He is currently focused on professional development and aims to pursue an honours degree in golf studies at the University of Birmingham in 2025.
The ex-footballer enjoyed a successful football career, playing for Bendel Insurance, several European clubs, and earning 65 caps for the Super Eagles, scoring 11 goals. He remains determined to inspire the next wave of Nigerian athletes through his transition to golf.
