By Mark Ogagan
Family sources have confirmed the death of legendary Nigerian boxer, Obisia Nwankpa, who passed on last Tuesday (3rd June, 2025) at the age of 75.
He had been battling dementia in recent years, and in September 2024, made his final public appearance.
Nicknamed “Golden Gloves” in an illustrious career that spanned decades, Nwankpa, who represented Nigeria at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the All-Africa Games and Commonwealth Games, indeed wrote his name in gold, winning laurels in the welterweight and lightweight divisions.
He reached the peak of his career in 1981 when he fought American boxer Saoul Mamby for the World Boxing Council (WBC) light welterweight title at a packed National Stadium arena in Lagos, but lost through a unanimous points decision.
Upon his retirement from active boxing, he coached Nigeria’s Olympic boxing teams in 2004 and 2008.
President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Rafiu Ladipo, described the loss as a “big blow,” and has called for Nwankpa to be immortalized.
Meanwhile, Nwankpa’s family will be announcing funeral arrangements in due course.
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