Journey to 2025 IBA Women's World Championship: Black Hitters selection begins with tourney

The hunt for Ghana's top female boxers kicks off in Accra this week, as the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) partners with the SM Boxing Foundation to stage a tournament aimed at selecting fighters for the national team, the Black Hitters.

Set to take place on Tuesday, December 24, at Akoto Lante Junction inside Bukom —Ghana’s heart of boxing—the event will see selected fighters form the core of the Black Hitters team.

They will then begin immediate preparations for the prestigious world championship in March 2025.

Initially scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan this year, the 14th edition of the biennial tournament was postponed due to a congested international calendar.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) decided to move the event to 2025 and change the host country to ensure athletes have an equal opportunity to succeed, as explained by IBA Secretary General and CEO, Chris Roberts OBE.

For Team Ghana, the postponement offers a golden opportunity to recruit new talent and strengthen the squad. Under the guidance of experienced trainer Abdul Rasheed William (also known as Believer), the team has been preparing for the original 2024 event.

The team will compete across six weight categories: light-flyweight, flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, light-welterweight, and heavyweight.

This will mark Ghana’s first participation in the Women’s World Boxing Championships, following the Black Rockets’ debut at the IBA World Youth Championships in Montenegro last month.

Leading the charge for a spot on the team is Janet Acquah, who made history by becoming the first Ghanaian boxer to win an African Games medal—a bronze—in Accra early this year.

Other hopefuls include Anatu Mohammed, who also competed in the 13th African Games, alongside Trudy Manteau and Elizabeth Darko.
Ghana Boxing Federation 2nd Vice-President, Solomon Otoo Lartey, is confident in the team's potential.

"Our girls have been performing exceptionally well, and we believe this competition will only help them improve further," he said. "This world championship presents a tremendous opportunity for them to become world champions. We are confident they can win medals."