Ghanaian boxing prospect Abubakar Kamoko, popularly known as "Ambitious Tilapia," has embarked on a transformative one-month training tour in the United Kingdom (UK), marking a significant step in his journey under the management of Sharaf Mahama.
The 21-year-old son of Ghanaian boxing legend Braimah "Bukom Banku" Kamoko, arrived in London last Wednesday and wasted no time in getting down to business.
By Thursday, he was already breaking a sweat at the Bronx Boxing Club in South East London—a training centre that coincidentally bears the same name as the iconic Bukom-based gym in Accra, where the youngster trains under renowned coach, Lawrence Carl Lokko.
Kamoko’s rapid rise in the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. After clinching a silver medal at the 2023 African Games—surpassing his father’s bronze-winning feat at the 1999 All-Africa Games—he turned professional last year under the banner of Legacy Rise Sports Promotions, owned by Sharaf Mahama, son of Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama.
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His pro debut in December last year saw him dispatch Daniel Addo with a fifth-round stoppage in a Legacy Rise Promotions event, attended by none other than the then President-elect John Mahama, a long-time admirer of his father.
Kamoko continued his winning streak in January, delivering a brutal first-round knockout of veteran Kwesi Tutu in Dansoman—once again with his manager, Sharaf Mahama, watching from ringside.
Sharaf, also a licensed FIFA agent, had promised Kamoko an overseas training stint to refine his skills. Staying true to his word, he ensured that Kamoko’s UK experience was fully funded by Legacy Rise Sports.
Before boarding his flight at Kotoka International Airport, an elated Kamoko shared his excitement with the Graphic Sports.
“The UK is my dream destination, and I am so grateful to Sharaf Mahama for this opportunity. I’m going to work hard, learn and come back a better fighter to make Ghana proud,” he said.
But this trip is no holiday. Kamoko has hit the ground running, braving the biting British winter to immerse himself in a world of elite training. Just days into his stay, he’s already feeling the heat—both in and out of the ring.
He quickly realised the stark differences between the boxing environment in Ghana and the UK, particularly in terms of equipment, facilities and the calibre of sparring partners.
Training alongside sparring partners who have shared the ring with giants like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, Kamoko is getting a taste of the high standards that define British boxing. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said, adding: “The equipment, the facilities, the level of competition—it’s all on another level.”
“It’s not easy here at all. The weather is freezing—I never expected it to be this bad. And the punches I’ve taken during sparring are no joke—these are seriously heavy blows,” he admitted after his first rest day.
Kamoko’s experience has sparked a passionate plea to Ghanaian authorities. “I’m appealing to our leaders to support our gyms with better equipment and facilities. It will really help us,” he urged.
“I’m sure by the time I’m done training here for one month, I will learn and improve a lot. I am very grateful to Sharaf Mahama, and I promise not to let him and Ghanaians down,” he said.
With this UK training stint, Kamoko is setting himself up for a bright future, and under the watchful eye of Sharaf Mahama, Ghana’s boxing scene may just have found its next big star.
