WABA to honour Azumah Nelson at Keta
Ghanaian boxing royalty will descend on Keta this Easter as the legendary Azumah Nelson is honoured with a landmark accolade in his name.
The Volta Region will host the maiden “Prof Azumah Nelson Champion Emeritus” world title on Saturday, April 4, 2026, with the iconic three-time world champion expected to be ringside as a guest of honour when the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) stages a special tournament in tribute to Africa’s most celebrated pugilist.
The historic bill, set for the Aborigines Beach Resort Hotel, will be headlined by a mouth-watering all-Ghanaian showdown as former national champion and crowd favourite Michael “One Bullet” Ansah takes on namesake Michael Pappoe for the inaugural Supreme Prof Azumah Nelson Champion Emeritus World Super Featherweight Championship.
It promises to be a fitting centrepiece to an evening designed not merely as a fight night, but also as a celebration of Nelson’s towering legacy in African boxing.
WABA President, Onesmo Alfred McBride Ngowi, described the initiative as a bold and symbolic gesture, undertaken in partnership with Mitch Gilbert Woollams, CEO of Aborigine Boxing Promotions.
“We are delighted to honour the legacy of Prof Azumah Nelson through this boxing tournament named after him and we are glad he will be with us at ringside to celebrate the occasion,” said Ngowi, a former IBF Africa president.
The Tanzanian boxing chief underlined the rarity of the honour.
“It is rare for living boxers to have tournaments or landmarks named in their honour. However, WABA and Aborigines Boxing Promotions have established a standard for others to emulate.”
Beyond the headline act, the Easter extravaganza will feature two additional world-rated WABA title fights expected to ignite the coastal town.
Ghanaians Saviour Gad and Eliasu Sulley will clash for the vacant WABA Supreme Global Super Middleweight Championship, while Ghana’s Abubakar Mubarak faces Justin Hounkpevi of Benin for the vacant WABA Supreme World Super Middleweight rown.
At least, eight undercard bouts are also set to be confirmed in the build-up to fight week, ensuring a packed programme as Keta positions itself as a growing hub for boxing and sports tourism.
