By Helga Gokah
The National Boxing Championship opens at Bukom Boxing Arena as elite amateur boxers compete for selection into the national team, the Black Bombers.
The championship runs through Sunday and serves as a key selection platform for athletes aiming to represent Ghana at upcoming international competitions.
A total of 145 boxers have entered this year’s tournament, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of amateur boxing in the country. Selectors will closely monitor performances across all weight categories as the competition progresses.
Championship statistics
- Total participants: 145
- Featherweight division: 25 boxers (highest entry)
- Heavyweight division: 1 boxer (lowest entry)
- Redraws: 14 bouts affected due to weight and technical issues
Regional representation
Competitors have been drawn from eight of Ghana’s 16 regions, with the following breakdown:
- Greater Accra: 122
- Ashanti Region: 5
- Upper West Region: 5
- Northern Region (Tamale): 5
- Central Region: 4
- Volta Region: 3
- North Tongu: 1
Boxers from Ghana’s security services are also participating, including teams from the Army and Prisons Service, reinforcing boxing’s long-standing role in discipline and national service.
Clubs and major contenders
Greater Accra dominates club participation, with 12 active boxing clubs represented. Among the largest contingents are Wisdom Boxing Gym, Black Panthers Boxing Foundation and Seaview Boxing Gym, all expected to play key roles in the competition.
Boxers to watch
Several decorated amateurs are expected to attract attention during the championship:
- Amadu Mohammed, Commonwealth Games silver medallist
- Mathias Ashitey, SWAG Boxer of the Year
- Desmond Pappoe, Boxing Ghana Amateur Boxer of the Year
- Abdul Wahid Omar, two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
Call for fair play and security
Speaking on Omashie TV, former Ghanaian boxing champion Dauda Fuseini called on officials to be fair and impartial, stressing that integrity remains central to the growth of amateur boxing in Ghana.
He urged referees, judges and technical officials to ensure that bouts are decided strictly on merit. Fuseini also disclosed that the newly constituted boxing board has introduced enhanced security measures at the Bukom Boxing Arena to curb misconduct and improve safety for boxers, officials and spectators.
As the championship continues, the Bukom Boxing Arena once again becomes the centre of Ghanaian boxing, with national pride and future international representation at stake.
