Nigeria’s legendary world class Boxer and Coach, Obisia “Obiclay” Nwakpa known for his hard punches in his hey days has died in Lagos Nigeria at the age of 75.
Born 19th May 1950 Obiclay the man with the golden gloves had stroke and Dementia that he could not remember his days when he fell men with his hard knocks in the squared ropes.
His wife was full of tears at about 6am Wednesday morning when she broke the news of the passing away of the passing away of the former Commonwealth Champion to the Secretary of the Boxing Referees/Judges Association of Nigeria, Babatunde Laguda who spoke to Patmos Media line also almost weeping because of his closeness to the family.
Obisia who fought in the 70s; 80s and 90s was a regular for interviews and side comments with this reporter during boxing bouts at the National Stadium, Lagos in the 80s. He had 29 fights with 23 wins of which 16 were on technical knockouts (TKO); he lost six bouts and was himself knockout three times in his career.
Obisia lost at the Germany 1972 Summer Olympics to Laudiel Negron of Puerto Rico. He won the 1973 All Africa Games Light welter Weight Gold defeating Issaka Dabore of Niger Republic and also won the New Zealand Commonwealth Gold in that category when he beat Anthony Martey of Ghana and was No 1 Contender of the World Boxing Council in that category before hanging his gloves.
The Boxing legend was Nigeria’s head coach to the Country’s Boxing team at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
The last time I spoke to Obisia Nwakpa three years ago asking him why Boxing that used to win laurels for Nigeria has slumped in getting the medals at Amateur levels and not getting us prolific Professional Boxers he said because the training programmes were inadequate but was of the opinion that Nigeria will soon provide great individuals who will excel in Pro Boxing as they were having good training outside the shores of Nigeria.
His opinion is right as Nigeria has many professional boxers outwitting their opponents in the combat sports.
Babatunde Laguda said the Nigeria Boxing Association was waiting for his family to announce his burial rites before they would know where to assist. The Association however quickly rallied the family to take his corpse to the mortuary Wednesday morning.
Boxing Coaches, Administrators and Referees lamented the passing away of the Boxing icon on their Boxing platform on Wednesday saying a great Boxing Motivator and teacher is gone.
Efforts to reach the National Sports Commission NSC who are still mourning the passing away of 22 Kano State Sports men and women who died in an auto crash 50 miles to Kano from Abeokuta, Ogun State proved abortive.
Source: Eniola Olatunji Patmos Media Line.
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