Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana
Yoofi Boham: Alfred Kotey was a humble and selfless fellow
Longtime manager and promoter of Alfred Kotey, Yoofi Boham, has described the late former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) bantamweight champion as a humble and selfless fellow who contributed immensely to the sport.
An emotional Mr Boham, who led Kotey to his world title triumph in 1994, noted that the late ex-boxer was one of the best fighters of his generation.
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Confirming the death of his former boxer, Mr Boham revealed that the late fighter was on life support at a hospital in New York having lost his memory and remained speechless for sometime.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, Mr Boham explained that the late Kotey was an exceptional boxer whose laziness prevented him from staying at the top of the sport during his career days in the US.
“Alfred was a fantastic boxer who could have reached greater heights without being lazy at some point in his career. He was focused and working harder until I moved him to the US.
“He managed to become a world champion but I believe he could have reign for long if he had stayed the hardworking and focused fighter I knew from his amateur days,” Mr Boham noted.
Born at Bukom in Accra on June 3, 1968, Kotey featured for Ghana in the 1988 Summer Olympics before turning professional in November that same year.
In July, 1994, the late former Ghanaian fighter became the nation’s fifth world champion after beating Puerto Rico’s Rafael Del Valle.
He became Ghana’s first world champion to have died. He was 52 years.
He also held the West African and Commonwealth flyweight titles in 1989 and 1990 respectively during his heyday.
