By Segun Adenuga
The remains of one of Nigeria’s finest boxers Obisia Nwakpa would be committed to mother earth in his home town.
Popularly known as “Golden Gloves”, Obisia Nwakpa grew up in Lagos and became an amateur boxer, representing Nigeria in the African Games, Commonwealth Games and World Military Games respectively.
A southpaw, with a devastating left hooks and uppercuts, Nwakpa was one of the Nigerian eight boxers that zoomed to the finals of the 2nd All Africa Games in Lagos in 1973 and one of the three that won gold in their respective weight categories at the event. His other two compatriots on the gold medals podium were Isaac Ikhuoria and Fatai Ayinla, who both won in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight respectively.
An accomplished pugilist of repute, OBI Roy, as I was fond of calling him, proved his mettle by winning another gold medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games before turning Professional in 1975. After a spate of victories in the local scene, Obisia became National Champion, West African Champion, African Boxing Union Champion and later became Commonwealth Champion. A methodical pugilist of leisurely excellence, Obisia Nwakpa had his name written in gold by winning most of his boxing frays inside the distance, especially many of his Ghanaian foes.
Parading his famous trudging left as his weapon of destruction, Obisia became a Box-office attraction in boxing arena around the West African sub-region as he gazed for World recognition like other Nigerians Hogan Kid Bassey, Dick Ihetu Tiger and Rafiu King Joe.
His attempt at winning the WBC Super Lightweight Crown suffered a big blow on Saturday, November 1, 1981, when he lost a 3-2 split decision to Black American Saoul Mamby before a frenetic home supporters at the National Stadium main bowl, Surulere, Lagos.
Approaching his peak, Nwakpa’s boxing prowess were fading as he suffered two demoralizing defeats in the hands of up-coming, rampaging Billy Famous, in front of boxing buffs and aficionados of the fistic game inside the sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. However, he became a coach and was given assignments by the National Sports Commission. I cannot end this piece without paying glowing tribute to the humane and courage Nwakpa displayed by rescuing me from the jaws of death of the rampaging soldiers who stormed and burnt the Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s shrine at Moshalashi, Idi-Oro in 1977.
For the record, I was a Sport reporter on the stable of the then newly-established Punch Nigeria Limited, under the leadership of Elder Sam Amuka Pemu, best known as SAD SAM in his days at Daily Times Newspapers of Kakawa Street, Lagos.
On Monday, 18th February, 1977, I was assigned to cover a football match by Punch Sports Editor, Solomon Abayomi Owolabi Ilori, my bosom childhood friend. But on my getting to Moshalashi, Idi-Oro, I sighted an inferno at the premises of Afro-beat King Fela Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti and tried to know what was going on as I stood close to Empire Hotel, nearby.
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Honestly speaking, the first person to approach me was Warrant Officer II Obisia Nwakpa, who emerged from the One thousand (a battalion) of the soldiers surrounding Fela’s house.
In full military regalia, Obisia, surreptitiously came close to me and said Egbon – meaning elder in Yoruba, “don’t let my colleagues know your identity for the risk of being harmed.”
Having being rescued from the rampaging 1,000 soldiers, I moved away from the scene to send a distress call to the Punch office in Agege through a call at Cross Road in Jibowu junction, and within 45 minutes Punch News Editor, Tayo Kehinde had dispatch three journalists led by Segun Odusanya, Yomi Ajetunmobi and Roy Graham a light-skinned junior reporter of Rivers State and Scottish extraction, to the scene for proper assessment.
And perhaps that could be the spectacle that announced the emergence of Punch as the most sensational tabloid in the country when the photographs of the bestial acts was displayed in the cover page of the 19th Nov 1977 edition of Punch Newspaper, courtesy of Nigeria’s numero uno and ace photographer Peter Obe of blessed memory.
As a way of showing gratitude for saving my life during the 1977 Kalakuta inferno at Fela Ransome Kuti’s House, I joined the team of boxing experts that led Obisia to watch his World title opponent, Saoul Mamby against another African challenger, Joe Kimpuani of Dr. Congo at Joelouis Arena in Detroit, USA in 1980. The journey was financed by Promoter Jossy Afolayan, working in tandem with American boxing impresario Don King, who lodged the team at Ponchan Train Hotel.
Golden Gloves Obisia Nwakpa, as you are laid to eternal rest, I wish you a blissful adieu.