He stands out from the crowd in the history of Nigerian, African and Commonwealth boxing. Obisia Nwankpa’s tale of glory started on an unusual note.
Obisia’s dream was to pursue a professional career when he was growing up. Law, medicine and engineering were the most popular courses then. But Obisia cannot remember wanting to be either a lawyer or a doctor.
“My dream was to have a university degree but I can’t remember in which discipline,” he said.
Obisia returned from school from one day to discover that his ex-soldier father had fled their Idi Olowo, Lagos home along with his mother and siblings to the East. That was in the buildup to the civil war when Igbo were being attacked in parts of the country after the July 29, 1966 counter-coup.
He said, “Soldiers were after Igbo adults and not children. When I couldn’t find my parents, neigbours hid me in until the Federal Government decided to take care of abandoned Igbo children.
“I joined other Igbo children at the Federal Ministry of Labour where I learned boxing.
“I don’t think my parents would’ve supported me if they were around. When I began to win titles after the civil war they had no choice but to support me.”
He was an amateur boxer for 13 years. He was a Commonwealth champion, and only denied a chance to become a world champion after losing to Saoul Mamby in the World Boxing Council lightweight fight at the National Stadium, Lagos on December 12, 1981.
He never recovered from the disappointment of losing to the American. However, he struggled on with life until he called it quits with the game in 1992 to become a coach.
Obisia was born at a period when the late Hogan Bassey bestrode Nigerian boxing like colossus. Although Obisia was only six years old when Hogan Bassey was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) following his world title win in 1958, he was one of the kids in Lagos enamoured by the feat.
And after Hogan Bassey hung up his gloves to become the national coach the late Richard Ihetu popularly called Dick Tiger took over the stage. Dick Tiger’s popularity increased when he lost only five times in 19 fights between 1963 and 1970.
Like Hogan Bassey, Dick Tiger fought the majority of his fights in the US and young Obisia was among the millions of Nigerians who monitored the fights back home.
Before he was sent to the labour ministry at 15, after his parents had fled Lagos, he had developed an interest in boxing. The development proved a turning point in his career.
Obisia was also good at football, athletics and table tennis. But he decided to give boxing 100 per cent attention when his coach discovered the youngster to be a talent.
“I was learning how to box in 1965 but I started real boxing in 1966,” the ex-southpaw boxer told our correspondent in Lagos during the week.
“I became popular when I began to win club competitions in the state. I worked very hard and in 1969 I beat one Amar to become the Lagos State lightweight champion.
“I became a national champion after beating the 1970 Commonwealth Games lightweight gold medallist Abayomi Adeyemi.
“I was motivated by Muhammmad Ali’s style of boxing. I learnt a lot from him and it helped me. He’s the greatest boxer ever.”
Defeating a Commonwealth Games gold medallist boosted Obisia’s confidence and he never looked back in his amateur career.
He won gold at the 2nd All Africa Games in Lagos in 1973 and confirmed his class with gold in his category at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand. He proceeded to win gold at the Commonwealth versus US Games after the Christchurch Games. The following year, Obisia won gold at the CISM World Boxing Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. He repeated the success in Ghana in 1976.
Obisia dumped the amateur ranks to become a professional boxer in December 1977 winning his first fight in Lagos.
The highlight of his professional career was defeating Derek McKenzie to win the Commonwealth welterweight title on November 11, 1980.
After losing the African Boxing Union light welterweight title fight against Nazaire Kpadonou in Lagos, Obisia decided to call time on his career.
The just retired pugilist was a shell of his former self while his behaviour came under scrutiny.
He said, “I suffered a breakdown in strength and power between 1993 and 1994. Things were really difficult for me.
“Despite the problems I went through, I never gave up. I went through a lot of temptations and there were many obstacles. While the temptations were lessons, the obstacles motivated me. I kept pushing until I became the national coach.”
He dismissed the reports that he was frittering away his fortune on flashy cars and fast women.
The former African champion said, “Yes, I made a lof of money while I was fighting. But it’s not true I frittered away my hard-earned cash in my heyday. I didn’t waste money on women but rather I spent my money to have a good life then. I went clubbing to enjoy myself and Fela was my favourite musician.
“I travelled to many parts of the world to update my knowledge of boxing.
“I couldn’t venture into business because I lacked guidance. Perhaps the situation could’ve been different if my parents hadn’t died early.
“I’m Igbo but not all Igbo are good businessmen or women. Most Igbo are into buying and selling. I had no time for that because I was boxing. I would say I was not just a good investor. Businessmen are born and not made.
“I thank God I’m not begging for food. I’m comfortable and my children are doing very well. I have six children and four are in the university.”
But Obisia’s tenure as national coach was shortened by the appointment of Idika Nsofor as the Nigeria Boxing Federation head coach by the National Sports Commission three years ago. Ever since Obisia has become just an employee of the NBF and he is not happy about the situation.
“I’ve no regrets becoming a boxer or a boxing coach,” he said.
“Boxing made me who I’m today. I have dined with presidents, ministers and other personalities.
“I believe the country is wasting my talent. I think I still have a lot to offer the country. I don’t want to die without imparting my knowledge of the game to the younger generation.
“It’s a shame the country has no regard for performace or achievements.
“In practical boxing, I learnt so much from Hogan Bassey, who was my coach at the national team. On the administrative and promotional side, I learnt from the respected American Don King, who at a time was my manager.”
Obisia frowned upon emphasis on paper qualification in making important appointments by the government, saying the situation has led to the underdevelopment of the country.
He said, ”The day you start boxing is the day you start learning to be a teacher. It’s like any other job.
“A boxing coach must be able to define the basics, concepts and the principles of the game. If you can’t do this, you are not a coach.
“You only learn these in your heyday. I challenge any boxing coach to prove me wrong. How many of our coaches can draw up a training programme?
“It’s a pity Nigeria doesn’t make use of its talents but rather those who come with questionable coaching records.
“America is where great things are happening in sports because it makes use of its best hands.”
Obisia, who lamented the state of boxing in the country, blamed bad administration for the problems of Nigerian sports.
“The problem of Nigerian sports is administrative and not technical,” he said.
“Under Patrick Ekeji everything went down and he should be blamed for our failures at major international competitions in recent times.
“Ekeji is not a good administrator and we no longer need people like him.
“Nigerian sports need people who are honest to run them properly.
“It takes four years to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and the World Cup but Nigeria prepare its athletes for two or six weeks and expect them to win medals.
“In my days, preparations for major competitions began with grass roots tournaments before national championships.
“Sadly, the situation is different these days. The government should scrutinise those they appoint to manage sports.”
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