The newly crowned West African Boxing Union (WABU) Champion has advised up coming boxers to be determined in spite of challenges.
The Ghana professional boxer who holds the Ghana National Middleweight and West African Union belts explained that given his background and hurdles in boxing he should have given up, but his determination and believe in a better future is what has brought him this far. I am grateful to my managers at Cabic promotions, my coach Ofori Asare, my family and all my supporters. You are all the reason I keep working hard and I know my breakthrough is coming.
Emmauel Quaye has been pursuing boxing for over a decade since the day he saw a crowd of young people battling it out at Chorkor Alomo Junction, Accra.
Remembering how he came into the sport, he mentioned that his first fight opportunity came when he shouted “Me! Me! Me!. The crowd hailed me winner, I was called by a man standing nearby. He said, “I will take you to my gym” This man is called Alhaji aka Zion. I was happy. He asked me would you like to be boxer?, I said yes, I started training that evening at Billy Kotey Boxing Gym in Akotolante, Accra. I trained with Billy Kotey for six months, my coaches travelled aboard and left me in the care of the Coach at Square Deal. I was under the supervision of President Jones Neequaye. This is where I began my amateur career.”
Emmanuel had a fulfilling amateur career, a member of the Greater Accra team, representing Ghana during a two-country tournament between Ghana and the Irani Police. Emmanuel was a star on the rise !
However everything changed in his last amateur fight after he sustained an injury that made him stay home for nearly 4 years.
In his own words: “I remember my last amateur fight with Dan Lad from fit Square Boxing Gym. We were both representing the Greater Accra fighting in the final bout of the middleweight division. I remember this fight because my opponent bought a milk tin in place of a water bottle, it was hilarious during Seconds Out, I spent most of my time watching the water drip out of the can to his forehead. It was a good fight, I won.
Another reason why I remember this fight is because it was my last fight as an amateur, I sustained an injury.
“In the early seconds of the first round, I saw an opportunity to claim victory, I gave my opponent an uppercut which made him fall to the ground, the crowd was chanting my name and the referee asked me to move to the neutral corner, he began the eight count and after, the fight was over, I won.”
“I was about to celebrate when I felt my left hand pulling me down. I had broken a bone with that uppercut, I think I fell then I was carried. I woke up in the hospital with my left hand in POP. It took me 3 years to return to the ring, this time as a professional boxer.”
Emmauel Quaye is currently managed by Cabic Boxing Promotions and working his way up to World Title stage.
“I believe that if my dreams are coming to pass, then yours too can come true, don’t quit just do it.” Quaye encouraged the young ones.
Emmauel Quaye’s story is truly inspiring, he continues to chase his dreams as he has resumed training after his win over the weekend.