Ghanaian boxing icon Azumah Nelson has urged for a more committed and professional approach to boxing in Ghana, saying the country is brimming with talent that needs the right support to shine on the global stage.
In an exclusive interview with British broadcaster Talk Sport, the former world champion spoke passionately about the state of boxing in his homeland and the urgent need for better training and structures to nurture young fighters.
Nelson, affectionately known as “The Professor” for his sharp tactical mind in the ring, was in Accra as a special guest at the ‘Battle of the Beasts’ boxing event, held at the Bukom Boxing Arena. The high-profile night saw American fighter Andrew Tabiti defeat Ghana’s Jacob Dickson to claim the WBC Bridgerweight title.
The event drew major international attention, with former British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, among the notable figures in attendance. It was co-organized by former world champion Amir Khan’s AK Promotions and Sharaf Mahama’s Legacy Rise Sports.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Nelson welcomed the growing interest in African boxing but emphasized the need for serious long-term investment.
“It’s wonderful; I hope it can continue,” he said. “I’ve been telling people that in this country, we have a lot of world champions. But we need people who are serious. I always talk about our trainers, we need people to polish them so they can polish their boxers, and then we’ll see a lot more champions coming from here.”
Nelson’s comments come at a time when Ghana is working to revive its historic boxing culture, once famed for producing world-class fighters like David “Poison” Kotey and Ike Quartey.
During his visit, Azumah Nelson joined Anthony Joshua in leading a delegation to the Jubilee House, where they met Ghana’s President John Mahama. The visit was part of ongoing efforts to attract investment into boxing infrastructure and to build stronger partnerships with global boxing networks.
