Often, boxing champions become popular overnight and we get the illusion they just came from nowhere. However, most of them have been hibernating while preparing for their time to shine. One of such prospects that busted into popularity during the Ghana National Individual Championships 2022 is Theophilus Nii Kpakpo Allotey.
Theophilus Nii Kpakpo Allotey is the National Amateur Flyweight Champion. He was considered as one of the favorites during the tournament, he defiled all odds and came up on top after winning 5 straight fights.
Theophilus Allotey grew up around Salaga Market, Green Light area, Accra with his mother, grandmother (of blessed memory), three brothers and a sister. Coming from a family full of sportsmen (footballers), Theophilus decided to pursue boxing as an after school activity.
In his own words “I decided to become a boxer by myself. I started out in football, because my elder brothers were engaged in sports. At the age of nine, I decided to join a boxing club because I realized that I was talented in fighting.
“Before I became a boxer, there was this outdoor fighting tournament organized in my neighborhood that allowed youngsters to fight among themselves. I remember how good I was so it was easy to convert to boxing because I realized I was talented”.
Theophilus recalled when he began his boxing career at age nine (9).
“Well, at the age of nine years I tried to join a Boxing club on the High Street [Accra] and trained with Coach Adama, but he travelled and left me in the hands of Coach Issaka. However, he (Coach Issaka) was devoted to the older boxers. When I go for training, I go running around Hotcass, a Senior High School nearby. So one day my uncle (Emmanuel Adjei) came to the gym and saw that I was outside during training hours, he was not happy as he felt I was pursuing a path of truancy than learning to box and took me to Wisdom Boxing Gym and handed me over to Coach Asare. By then I was thirteen years. I have been training at Wisdom ever since.”
The elite boxer is currently a final-year student at the Presbyterian Senior High School, La. According to the champion, he combines school with boxing by managing his time.
He said, “mostly when I go to school I work hard and focus on my books, when I am at home I focus on training. I work hard to stay in school because mostly people think that boxing is a sport for truants but I want to change that notion. I know that you cannot be a boxer forever and you cannot predict how your career will play out but working hard at school provides me leverage and something to fall back on if my boxing dreams do not materialize.
“Even in boxing academics, you need skills like reading because of aspects like reading contracts, dealing with your manger and promoters.
“One of my boxing goals was to enter the national team and I am proud to have achieved this dream, but there’s more to achieve.
“When I started training at Wisdom, I was eager to start fighting in tournaments. I remember constantly asking Coach Asare when I will join the National Team. He kept telling me to learn the skills first, keep working hard and that my time will come. Well, that time came in 2017 when I partook in the Unity Games at Kumasi, I won bronze after defeating Daniel Selassie Gosh.
“In 2018, I told my coach that I think I am ready to try out for the National team. I remember before the start of the individual tournament, my coach sat me down and advised me that usually we hear how other people complain about the large number of Wisdom Boxers in the National team. He told me that I should fight well to prove beyond doubt that I deserve a spot. I still cannot remember the details of the games as mostly when I am in the ring, I focus all my attention and mind on the opponent but I won silver at the Unity Games in Accra.”
“I remember being congratulated by my seniors for fighting well after each fight. In 2019, the reigning champion in the Light flyweight division (My senior Sulemanu Tetteh) moved up. I said to myself “this is my time”, I boxed my way through and won gold, I also became the Fist of fury champion. 2022 has been different, I was at the top and everyone was coming for me. However in every fight, I remember the words of my coach, “prove beyond doubt you deserve the spot”. I am now a 3X National Champion and everyone see clearly I deserve it.”
Theophilus, who is now a three-time National Flyweight Champion has been on the boxing scene for over 10 years, the affable champion is nick named “Rich Lopez Junior”.
Prior to winning the 2022 tournament, he was the 2019 Fist of Fury Champion and Ghana National Champion (Amateur), Theophilus has qualified to the national team for 4 consecutive cycles (Since 2017).
Over the years, his dedication and talent has brought him close to elite Ghanaian boxers including sparring with former world champion Joseph Agbeko and African champion Patrick Allotey ho continue to mentor him.
According to Theophilus, his relationship with his seniors has helped him learn from them,
“I am learning a lot from my Gym mates and they advise me a lot. Those that advise me a lot are Patrick Allotey, Patrick Aryee, Abdul Wahid Omar, Issah Samir and Habib Ahmed. Allotey advises me a lot, I remember during the Semi – finals of the 2019 Fist of Fury, he came to my corner and told me to keep my eye on the price. When it comes to learning. I have been observing them a lot, I’ve learnt the left and right movements from watching Allotey, how to handle heavy punches from Patrick Aryee and defensive moves from Abdul Wahid Omar.
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to be mentored by 2-time world champion Joseph Agbeko and even spar with him.”
The affable Champion’s dream is to be remembered in boxing and wishes to become a unified world Champion.
In his own words
“I aspire to be like Lomachenko, Mayweather and Ike Quartey. I want to be like these boxers because they have speed, very efficient with their punches and hard working. I believe if I work hard like them, I will be able to achieve my boxing dreams. I particularly like Loma because I am both an orthodox boxer and southpaw also, so observing him and imitating his skills will get me far.”
Education is also important to the champion. According to Theophilus,
“Boxing I believe is not only about power, it’s more of mind games, and schooling will help me develop my mind. There are times that you have to fight with power but even if you meet a stronger opponent, you can box him little by little focusing on target points and you will come out victorious.”
Theophilus is being nurtured by coach Ofori Asare since his formative years and the relationship between the two have grown into a father – son bond.
Speaking about coach Asare, Theophilus mentioned that,
“I am really inspired by Coach [Asare] because of his selflessness, he always looks out for the interest of those around him first before his own.”
The believe in his own abilities is not something only Theophilus himself shares, Coach Asare, Coach Adjei, Joseph Agbeko and several Ghanaian Coaches have tipped the young man for greatness.
Theophilus Allotey has a very active fun base, who often show up for his fights with banners and are ready to chant songs behind him for victory. His fans are always ready to sing praises on their champion.
Theophilus maintains an active Instagram page, a platform he uses to connect with his fans, sharing before and after fight time scenes with the world.
He concluded by showing appreciation to his coaches
“I am grateful to Coach Ofori Asare for all he’s been doing for me. I would also like to thank Coach Adama, Coach Issaka, Coach Amarley Tuckson, Coach Frank Asante Addo, Coach Pakistan, my uncle Coach Emmanuel Agyei and all my seniors at Wisdom Boxing Gym. I am particularly grateful to Joseph Agbeko for occasionally giving me boxing training kits.”