The Metro Detroit Golden Gloves boxing team of the United States has arrived in Accra ahead of Saturday’s 10-bout international tournament against Ghana’s Black Bombers at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday evening, in a contest designed to deepen sporting and cultural exchange on Ghana’s road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The 22-member American delegation comprising 10 boxers and 12 officials, led by Metro Detroit Golden Gloves President Katealia Chambers, was welcomed at the Accra International Airport by a Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) delegation led by First Vice-President Nii Adama Addy, the two-time world-title-winning trainer, also known as Nii Gonti I, Atukpai Mantse. The visitors received a colourful welcome featuring traditional displays and dances.
GBF President Dauda Fuseni was absent due to working engagements in the United States, where he has been pursuing USA Boxing links.
Making her first visit to Africa, Chambers said the trip was about more than competition. She also made it clear her boxers are here to dominate the hosts and return with a resounding victory.
“Our first expectation is to soak up the city. This is the motherland,” she said, explaining that the visit would allow her boxers to experience Ghanaian culture, different boxing styles and training methods.
We want to come and give our best. We want to also give you guys the blueprint to how you can get to the 2028 Olympics… You’re going to learn, we’re going to learn,” Chambers added, hoping Ghana will reciprocate the visit in Detroit next year, saying she expects “a great, great show.”
Established in 1934, Metro Detroit Golden Gloves has 44 national Golden Gloves champions, including the legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis, renowned trainer Emanuel Steward and middleweight great Thomas Hearns. Its international travel initiative, launched in 2025, aims to expose boxers to different levels of boxing, cultures and international friendships.
For Ghana, Saturday’s clash is the first major international examination of the revamped Black Bombers under lead coaches Vincent Akai Nettey and Charles Quartey.
Nii Adama Addy urged Ghanaians to throng the Bukom Boxing Arena to cheer on the boxers, who are determined to make the nation proud. He promised a fierce contest: “They say they are here to beat us but we know they will go back with 0-10. We will show them no mercy.”
The Bombers will use the test as preparation for the October 19-November 1 IBA African Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo, with both the Cairo 2027 African Games and LA 2028 on the horizon.
