Ramatu Claudia Tetteh, the daughter of late Ghanaian boxer Solomon “TT Lazy“ Tetteh hopes to continue her father’s dreams. Sharing her story about her struggles as a female boxer with Boxinghana.com, Claudia revealed “It’s not easy to be a female boxer, especially attending boarding school. I train a couple of months a year because boxing is not allowed in School.
Ramatu is a seventeen-year-old Senior High School student. She attends Agate Senior High School in the Volta Region. During vacation, she trains at Sea View Boxing Club.
Claudia believes boxing is beneficial to girls, but her situation can be discouraging because when she is on campus she cannot practice boxing. This prevents her from progressing as well as competing in tournaments which are already few for females in Ghana. Female fighters in Ghana mostly fight competitively during International competitions.
Claudia at her training ground at Sea View Boxing Club
In 2021, a niche tournament was created for only female fighters in Ghana (Girls Box), Claudia was unable to participate as she was in school at the time.
She said, “I wish boxing was allowed in school, so I can train throughout the year, my current training style is discouraging. This is because every time I come home, new students are far ahead of me and I often have to start from the basics again”.
The challenges Claudia faces are not unique from what other boys and girls in Ghana attending boarding school are facing, resulting in the loss of a possible boxing champion through loss of interest.
Claudia keeps her interest in the sport by focusing on the benefits of boxing. According to the young boxer, “learning boxing has made me brave, strong and confident. Because of my engagement in boxing, I can stand up for myself and my friends whenever we encounter bullies in school. I do not fight my bullies, often once I tell them I am a boxer they move away. It’s a trick that works always”.
Claudia’s boxing dream is to make her father of blessed memory proud. She hopes to become as famous as top Ghanaian boxers like Emmanuel Tagoe and Richard Commey.
During the discussion, Boxinghana.com enquired about the place of women in boxing, in response she said “Girls can box too, there is a saying that what men can do, women can do better.”
She further advised female fighters in Ghana not to listen to their peers who will discourage them from them pursuing boxing. “Females engaging in boxing should focus on their goals and when they achieve them their peers will be proud of them.”
Coach Aryee, a member of the Sea View coaching staff noted that Claudia is a special student as she works hard coming back every time from school. He also took the opportunity to advise the Ghanaian public to encourage female fighters.
In his own words “If Laila Ali can do it, our girls can too. Ghana is searching for more World Champions, the ladies can give us this one if we support them.”
Claudia is one of the upcoming boxers combining education with boxing, follow this series as we bring you more inspiring stories.