Amateur Boxing: Talents explode at National Individual Championships
Handlers of Ghana’s national amateur boxing team, the Black Bombers, have been left highly encouraged by the depth of talent on display at the 2026 National Individual Amateur Boxing Championships, held over the weekend in Accra.
With boxing royalty in attendance, including three-time world champion Azumah Nelson and ex-world IBF welterweight titlist Joshua Clottey, the Ga-Mashie Hall inside the Bukom
Boxing Arena crackled with intensity as young fighters traded leather with grit, pride and ambition.
At stake was more than medals. For many, the championships represented a direct pathway into the national team ahead of key international assignments, including the Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic qualifiers.
Spread of talents
The scale of participation underlined a healthy resurgence in amateur boxing nationwide. A total of 145 boxers, drawn from clubs in the Volta, Ashanti, Central, Upper West and Northern regions—alongside two Northern teams—took on the traditionally strong Accra contingent across 13 weight divisions in two bruising days of competition.
Significantly, juvenile bouts were also woven into the programme, with selectors keeping a keen eye on prospects ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games qualifiers in Thailand later this year.
“I am excited by the numbers and the quality exhibited by the boxers. It looks very promising,” national team head trainer Ofori Asare told Graphic Sports.
“Our target is to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, and from what we’ve seen here, we seem to be on the right track.
“I am also happy with the strong regional participation. There is so much talent outside Accra, and it is important that we invest in these areas for the benefit of Ghana,” he added.
The action began last Friday afternoon after registration and mandatory medical checks were completed the previous day. A total of 61 bouts were staged on the opening day, spanning the preliminary rounds through to the round of 16.
Last Saturday delivered another punishing schedule of 61 fights from the quarter-final stage, as boxers battled their way towards the finals.
After two days of intense exchanges, finalists emerged in all weight categories, except the heavily subscribed 67kg (welterweight) division, where semi-final bouts are yet to be completed.
Outstanding boxers
Among the standout names to reach the finals—and earn automatic places in the provisional national team—are 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist and 2016 Olympian Abdul Wahid Omar (63.5kg); 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Accra 2023 African Games gold winner Amadu Mohammed (57kg); and Ebenezer Ankrah (60kg), who featured at the 2025 IBA World Boxing Championships.
Also advancing are the Black Rockets’ gold medal trio from the 2025 African Youth Boxing Championships—Mathias Ashitey (54kg), George Dowuona (51kg) and Desmond Pappoe (75kg)—as well as Zakari Kamoko, son of former Black Bomber and cult figure Bukom Banku.
The finalists cut across a wide range of Accra-based gyms, led by Wisdom Boxing Gym with five qualifiers, followed by Sea View (four), Black Panthers (three), Charles Quartey
Foundation (two) and Jamestown (two). Sonia, Fit Square, Will Power and Akotoku each produced one finalist.
