Issaka Issah aka ‘Hard One Lee’, an Australia based Ghanaian former kickboxer and boxer has joined many sports fans who keep congratulating new WBO Africa Bantamweight Champion, Theophilus ‘Lopez’ Allotey for annexing the title belt in style at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Friday June 13.

Theo Allotey, the boxing version of Lamin Yamal who holds the National Super flyweight title battered former Champion Daniel Gorsh on the Battle of the Beasts Fight Night which involved other interesting bouts. Andrew Tabiti won the new WBC Africa Bridgerweight title and Ahmed Abdila took the National Cruiserweight title from Haruna Thunder Mohammed in a packed house.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive chat, he recalled how he used to invite young boxers aged between 4 years and ten years to battle and learn the noble art of self defence on Sunday afternoons at the Accra Post Office area. The brave boys came from Akoto Lante, Bukom, Tafo, Atukpai, Gbese, Ussher Town, Sempe, Nleshie and other communities.

According to Issaka some of the boys he discovered at the juvenile stage were Samuel Takyi who won the Olympic Bronze medal as well as 2023 African Games Gold, Joseph Commey current UBO Lightweight Champion also 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist and African Games Gold Medalist, Henry Malm, Derrick Quaye, others and now the new hero of Ghana Boxing, Theophilus ‘Lopez’ Allotey.

He said when he started many mothers and grand mothers were complaining, but now they are happy and he also feels content and happy because the seeds that he watered have geminated into delicious fruits.

Issaka Issah also emphasized that every kite is held by a rope which is not visible.

“I knew what I was doing then will yield results and today we are all happy with their great performance, I thank the coaches who are handling them with care and support” he expressed.

He promised to come down to present some sports kits to some gyms, coaches and boxers.

He hinted working with some promoters and Australian boxing officials to partner stakeholders in Ghana.

He praised personalities like Your Truly, Yoofi Boham, Lawrence Nyanyo Nmai, Joe Mingle now known as Nii Adote Dzata 1 who inspired him while he was growing up as a fighter.

By Sammy Heywood Okine