From the first boxing textbook he was given to the contacts that opened the door to international assignments, Roger Barnor traces some of the defining moments of his officiating career to the late Ataa Eddie Pappoe, the respected Ghanaian ring official whose death has drawn tributes from across world boxing.
Barnor, one of Ghana’s leading referees and judges, described Pappoe not merely as a professional guide but as a father figure who invested in his development, strengthened his confidence and helped him find his place on the international stage.
“He’s gone but still here in our hearts. He was an institution, he’s revered around the world,” Barnor said following Pappoe’s death in Accra on Wednesday, October 14.
“He encouraged me, nurtured me, inspired confidence, taught me what I need to know and he gave me the links. He was the first to give me a book on boxing to read. Good things don’t last; he earned his points. Rest well, my boss,” he added.
For Barnor, the gift of that book was more than an introduction to boxing’s rules. It symbolised the attention Pappoe paid to preparing younger officials for a profession in which sound judgement, command of regulations and composure under pressure are indispensable.
A former acting president of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Barnor has followed his mentor into international refereeing and judging assignments.
He is also seeking election as the GBA’s first vice-president, a leadership ambition that adds another dimension to Pappoe’s enduring influence on the sport.
Veteran boxing journalist Ekow Asmah said Pappoe’s legacy extended well beyond individual mentorship. He recalled the official’s emergence as the first president of the African Boxing Union’s Ring Officials Association, a role that placed him at the forefront of efforts to provide leadership for referees and judges on the continent.
“And so, in terms of providing leadership for the ring officials, Ataa Eddie was tops,” Asmah said.
Pappoe’s career took him from domestic boxing shows to judging world championship contests, placing him alongside leading champions, managers, administrators and coaches.
His participation in the World Boxing Council (WBC) conventions also connected him with influential figures in international boxing.
Asmah recalled another contribution closer to home: Pappoe’s involvement in a government committee investigation into the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olarenwaju.
He said the veteran official remained keen to share his experience with Ghana’s current generation of ring officials, recognising the importance of passing on technical expertise rather than allowing it to disappear with retiring officials.
That desire to mentor others has emerged as a central theme in the tributes following his death.
The WBC and the African Boxing Union (ABU) mourned Pappoe, recognising his professionalism, dedication and contribution to international boxing.
The International Boxing Organisation (IBO), also sent a personal message of condolence to his widow, Madam Natasha Pappoe, their children and the wider family.
“On behalf of the International Boxing Organisation (IBO), please allow me to convey our sincere condolences to you and your entire family, friends and colleagues on the loss of Eddie Pappoe, your husband, father and grandfather,” wrote IBO Fight Commissioner for Africa Andile Matika.
The organisation said Pappoe’s “wisdom, gentleness and accuracy in ring officiating” would be sorely missed — a tribute to qualities that earned him respect in a sport where an official’s decisions can determine careers and championships.
Former GBA president Peter Zwennes joined the mourners, posting “Rest in peace, Ataa Eddie” on social media alongside crying emojis.
Born on May 23, 1948, Pappoe died aged 78. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
For Ghanaian boxing, his death marks the loss of an internationally recognised official and a link between generations.
For Barnor, it is more personal: the departure of the man who taught him that becoming a respected ring official starts long before the opening bell.
