The year 2025 was one boxing stakeholders would look at with lots of regrets. Events in the sport within that period, to a large extent, eroded the gains chalked in recent times.

First, the death of a Nigerian boxer in a Ghanaian ring opened a canker of worms in the administration of the sport as officials in the corridors of power openly traded verbal tirades over competence and style of management. That left the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) broken and divided, leading to the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Neequaye.

In his absence, a vice president, Roger Barnor, stepped into the saddle. With renewed energy and vigour, he managed to unite the rank and file of the sport as other stakeholders praised that effort.

But just when the GBA appeared to have seen some stability, it was hit by another thunderstorm – the death of another boxer, Ernest ‘Baubali’ Akushey. His death came 11 days after a fight. That marked the premature end to Barnor’s term as Vice President acting as the President.

In the view of the powers that be, the formation of an Interim Management Committee to govern the sport and lead reforms was the way to go. With the latest of about two extensions of their mandates, they are expected to complete their work in June, including an election of a new executive to run the sport.

Within this period, boxing ground to a halt. All pending events were put on hold, with a few promoters heavily affected due to investment made before the unexpected takeover.

But since the return of the sport, syndicates like Legacy Rise, Box Office Sports (BOS), Bishop Promotions, RBS and others have staged shows to keep the scene alive.

Two boxers have been at the forefront of this revival. Jonathan ‘Worldwide’ Tetteh and Seth ‘Freezy MacBones’ Gyimah led the revival with a historic clash that filled the University of Ghana Stadium.

Without doubt, they have filled the void created by Baubali’s departure. Though ‘Freezy MacBones,’ the overwhelming favourite, lost on the scorecards, the nature of the fight and ruling left doors open for a rematch to be staged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Last week, the two boxers again featured on a BOS, RBS promotion at the Laboma Beach, facing different opponents, and they all emerged victorious.

These two boxers are gradually becoming the new face of boxing in Ghana and that will bode well for the sport. In their last two appearances, they showed an ability to sell their fights and that was evident in the numbers in the stands on fight night. This is something that is lacking from other boxers and their management teams.

Globally, the sport has thrived with boxers of such charisma always featured on big bills. Others like Theophilus Allotey, aka Theo Lopez, Joseph ‘Jaguar’ Commey, Samuel Takyi and John Laryea are other boxers to hold the flag high for Ghana.

Boxing’s return has been stupendous, and the drivers of that success must be commended, not leaving out ‘Worldwide’ and Freezy MacBones for keeping the flames of the sport alive.

By Andrew Nortey