James Tawiah Osah Okum Okoe is my name. I was born in the year 2006, June 26 to be precise, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. I grew up in Palladium, Okporgorbu and my hometown is Teshie, both in Accra, Ghana.
I got into boxing thanks to my late cousin, Leonard Laryea Okoe, who was a Ghanaian professional boxer. I was only three years old when I knew about this game, because my late cousin always took me along to his regular training every day.
A year after he passed away in 2011, I told my dad I’d like to start boxing and from that day my career got off. I was enrolled at Wisdom Boxing Gym which is headed by the legendary national boxing team trainer, Coach Ofori Asare. At age 5, I started engaging in ‘street fights’ and started training and fighting in ring at age 6.
It has not been easy but with hardwork, determination and focus, I won my first gold when I was 13 years old and second gold at 15.
My achievement up to this stage include two gold medals in different juvenile competitions, youth championship 2021 – light-fly weight 1st contender and Greater Accra Boxing Association tournament – Fly weight 1st contender (youth & elite).
I was also awarded ‘Amateur Youth Boxer of the Year’ at the Boxing Ghana Awards maiden edition in 2022..
Looking ahead to the future, as an amateur boxer, my aim is to qualify and compete in international tournaments, in order to make my motherland Ghana proud.
Credit: James Tawiah Osah Okum Okoe
