Joel Ajayi
National Sports Commission has described the death of boxing legend Obisia Nwakpa “Golden gloves” as an irreplaceable loss to the Country’s Sports.
The news of Nwakpa’s demise filtered in on wednesday when his family confirmed that he gave up the ghost on Tuesday.
The NSC described Nwakpa 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 National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said Nigeria has lost a legend in Obisia ‘Golden gloves’ Nwakpa.
” Obisia Nwakpa represents every example any top athlete should emulate – from his dedication, patriotism and discipline during his days in the ring”.
” Everywhere he goes he represents the resilient Nigerian spirit that made him a dominant force on the continent in the lightweight division in the 70s and 80s”.
The Director General of the NSC Hon Bukola Olopade, who is personally a big boxing fan said Obisia Nwakpa has left a big footprint in the pugilist sport in Nigeria and his legacies will forever be remembered.
” Some of the achievements Nigeria is enjoying in boxing today is as a result of the foundations legends like Obisia Nwakpa had laid in the past”.
” We are surely with his family at this challenging time and we will be in touch with them to render the Commission’s full support and assistance”, he said.
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 Olympic games in 2004 in Athens and the Beijing Games in 2008.
