Leader and coach of the contingent that represented Ghana at the 2025 African Youth Boxing Championship in Conakry, Guinea, Joseph Martey believes he is one of the luckiest coaches in the world.

Speaking on The Big Fight Night Show on Omashi TV he thanked his senior trainer of the Black Rockets (national youth boxing team) for giving him the chance to go out there to do what he is capable of achieving.

According to him, it was a very tough competition with nine nations taking part and some bringing full contingents of male and female boxers, but Ghana went with only three boxers and Mathias Ashitey, Desmond Pappoe and George Dowuona all went through the ropes with amazing performances to grab gold medals.

He expressed that their preparation was not easy as they face financial and logistics problems.

He asked the government and companies to support them as they are now going to compete in qualifiers for the Youth Olympic Games slated for Senegal next year and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Martey who loves to be called ‘Yara’ was a member of the Black Bombers that went to the Manchester Commonwealth Games where he reached the quarter finals.

"I used my experience as a former boxer at an international championship to inspire my boxers and they are very disciplined because they listened to me" he noted.

Joseph Martey who is stationed at Seconds Out Boxing Gym in Accra with Coach Darko Rickkets revealed that he had only one professional bout in South Africa which he lost but won the favour of the fans because of his skills and power.

He hinted that for personal reasons he decided to quit fighting and turn to coaching. He is now a one star boxing coach and can represent at international tournaments.

He loves jollof rice but kenkey and fried fish is the meal he enjoys mostly due to his mum's business as a kenkey seller.

He thanked the owner of Base Pharmacy for supporting the Black Rockets as well as all who donated to them after claiming the three African gold medals, including the Sempe Mantse and MP for Odododiodoo Constituency.

He revealed that there are over 50 boxers who are in the camp of the Black Rockets, some of them are taking part in the BECE Exams so he wished them success.

By Sammy Heywood Okine