Obisia Nwankpa
Nigerian boxer (1949–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Obisia "Golden Gloves" Nwankpa ⓘ[1] (14 June 1949 – 3 June 2025) was a Nigerian professional light and light welterweight boxer of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s who won Nigerian lightweight title, African Boxing Union light welterweight title, and Commonwealth lightweight title, and was a challenger for World Boxing Council (WBC) light welterweight title against Saoul Mamby. His professional fighting weight varied from 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb), i.e. lightweight to 139+1⁄4 lb (63.2 kg; 9 st 13.3 lb), i.e. light welterweight.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Golden Gloves |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Born | 14 June 1949 |
| Died | 3 June 2025 (aged 75) |
| Weight | Light, light welterweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 29 |
| Wins | 23 (KO 16) |
| Losses | 6 (KO 3) |
Nwankpa competed in the men's light welterweight event at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[3] At the 1972 Summer Olympics, he lost in his first fight to Laudiel Negron of Puerto Rico.[3]
At the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, Nwankpa participated in the light-welterweight competition. He won the gold medal, defeating Issake Dabore of Niger in the final.[4] He also won the gold medal in the light-welterweight category at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games, defeating Anthony Martey of Ghana in the final.
Nwankpa died on 3 June 2025, at the age of 75.[5]
