Following our publication of an article on Ghana’s emergence as a new hub fueling African Boxing dreams, we have been speaking to some African boxers who are based in Ghana either permanently or temporarily to gain insights on how living in Ghana is beneficial to boxers.
John Koudeha, a Togolese boxer confessed that he was always under the impression that, he was living in the most peaceful country in West Africa in Togo until he came to Ghana.
The professional boxer with a fight record of 18 wins and 1 loss first came to Ghana in 2013 on holidays. However, he first fought in Ghana in 2016, a platform through which he caught the eye of a match maker he will later work with.
In his own words Koudeha said “I came to Ghana professionally in 2016 after an exhibition fight in Aflao where I participated to the satisfaction of a match maker called Akoo Michael who led me to Accra”.
John returned to his homeland representing his country at the African Olympic qualifiers to Rio 2016 Olympics Games. The exposure of training in Ghana has led to the opportunity to interact with several top boxers that I would not have met if I was based only in Togo, for instance I’ve been able to interact with Isaac Dogboe.
Another reason Ghana is conducive for boxers was described by Adam Hab-deen Salanon is the frequency of fights. The Béninois who is participating in the Deluxy Professional Boxing League revealed that, back home in Benin, he could stay without getting a fight opportunity for over 1 year and 6months. But since he came to Ghana in 2021, he has fought 7 times already.
The welcome of boxers from the sub region does not only benefit these boxers, this is because it projects Ghana boxing to various countries where fans of these boxers are following their careers.
People around the world will also get to experience Ghana Boxing because of foreign boxers.
In conclusion, John advised boxers across the African continent to come to Ghana, because “Ghana is a home for African Boxers for growth and effective career realization”
Read our next article as more foreign based boxers share their experience here.