NSC mourns legendary boxer Nwankpa “Golden gloves”
The National Sports Commission (NSC), has described the death of boxing legend, Obisia “Golden gloves” Nwankpa, as a monumental loss to the country’s sports. The death of the former Commonwealth Games champion who passed away at 75 years was confirmed by his immediate family on Wednesday. The statement by Mr. Kola Daniel, the Special Assistant […]
National Sports Commission
The National Sports Commission (NSC), has described the death of boxing legend, Obisia “Golden gloves” Nwankpa, as a monumental loss to the country’s sports.
The death of the former Commonwealth Games champion who passed away at 75 years was confirmed by his immediate family on Wednesday.
The statement by Mr. Kola Daniel, the Special Assistant on Media to the Director General of the NSC, described Nwankpa as a true patriot of Nigerian sports who practically gave his entire life to the growth of Nigerian boxing – from his days as an athlete to his time as a national coach.
Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, was quoted as saying Nigeria has lost a legend in Obisia ‘Golden gloves’ Nwankpa.
On his part, the NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who was a big boxing fan said Nwankpa has left big footprints in the game of boxing in Nigeria and his legacies will forever be remembered.
“Some of the achievements Nigeria is enjoying in boxing today are as a result of the foundation legends like Obisia had laid in the past”.
Obisia Nwakpa had an impressive record of 23 wins and 6 losses from 29 fights and represented Nigeria at the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972, the All Africa Games in 1973 and the Commonwealth games in 1974 in New Zealand.
He later became a national boxing coach for Team Nigeria at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the Beijing Games in 2008.