Legendary boxer Obisia Nwakpa dies at 75, NBB of C pledges support to family
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nigeria’s legendary world class Boxer and Coach, Obisia Nwakpa has died. Known as ‘Golden Gloves’, for his hard punches in his hey days, the iconic pugilist died in Lagos at the age of 75.
According to reports, the late boxer had stroke and dementia that he could not remember his days when he fell men with his hard knocks in the squared ropes.
According to Patmos Media, Nwankpa’s wife was full of tears at about 6am Wednesday morning when she broke the news of the passing away of the passing away of the former Commonwealth Champion to the Secretary of the Boxing Referees/Judges Association of Nigeria, Babatunde Laguda.
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Obisia who fought in the 70s; 80s and 90s had 29 fights with 23 wins of which 16 were on technical knockouts (TKO); he lost six bouts and was himself knockout three times in his career. Obisia’s successes in the rings, earned him the admiration of the Second republic governor of Imo State, Dr. Sam Mbakwe who gifted him a Peugeot 504 Car.
Obisia lost at the Germany 1972 Summer Olympics to Laudiel Negron of Puerto Rico. He won the 1973 All Africa Games Light Welter Weight Gold defeating Issaka Dabore of Niger Republic and also won the New Zealand Commonwealth Gold in that category when he beat Anthony Martey of Ghana and was No 1 Contender of the World Boxing Council in that category before hanging his gloves.
The Boxing legend was Nigeria’s head coach to the Country’s Boxing team at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
Babatunde Laguda said the Nigeria Boxing Association was waiting for his family to announce his burial rites before they would know where to assist. The Association however quickly rallied the family to take his corpse to the mortuary Wednesday morning.
Boxing Coaches, Administrators and Referees lamented the passing away of the Boxing icon on their Boxing platform on Wednesday saying a great Boxing Motivator and teacher is gone.
President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C,) said the late boxer is deserving of a place in the country’s Sports Hall of Fame. According to Ladipo, Obisia’s death is another big loss to the Boxing fraternity in Nigeria and beyond.
“This is another big blow for us… Obisia deserves to be immortalised in this country because he gave his all to boxing” Mr Ladipo stated. He assured that the NBB of C will be glad to work with the family and offer support in the best way possible.
“The family has not gotten across to us, but if they get across to us, we will do what is expected of us” Ladipo assured.
Nwankpa’s death came few days after 22 athletes from Kano State lost their lives while returning from the 22 National Sports Festival held in Ogun State.
