You cannot talk African Boxing and fail to mention a place called Bukom. The shanty town ripped with dirt on the outskirts of Ghana’s capital Accra is widely regarded as the spiritual home of boxing in Africa.
Bukom is a birthplace of five world Champions, has a long-standing boxing tradition, and the sport has become deeply ingrained in the local culture.
From David Kotei to Ike Quartey and Nelson Azumah who is arguably the greatest African boxer of all time, Bukom has earned its respect as the cradleland of African Boxing.
The rich history has inspired hundreds of able-bodied young men around Accra and Ghana in general to defy the sweltering heat, hardships and perfect their craft in order to positively change their lives.
In Bukom is where you find Akotuko Boxing Academy. This has for long served as the conveyer belt of boxing in Ghana, churning out several pugilists over the years.
Founded in 1974 by the late Francis Attuquaye Clottey, the gym has produced greats like Azumah who competed between 1979 to 2008 and was twice a World Champion.
Nicknamed the Professor, Azumah won his first world title in 1984 before successfully defending it the following year.
The other legend to come out of Akotuko Boxing Academy is David Kotei AKA DK Poison, the first Ghanian to win a boxing world title in 1975.
Therefore, as boxing at the ongoing 13th African Games gets underway at Bukom Boxing Arena today, those that love the game at heart will have the satisfaction that it has returned home.
