Kofi Owusu Aduonum
5 August 2008
It tarried in coming, but when it finally came, it confirmed the prediction of boxing faithfuls that Joshua Clottey would become the next World champion.
Clottey set the entire nation ablaze with his emphatic win over Zab Judah, in their IBF Welterweight championship in last Vegas, last Saturday night.
And like the legend Azumah Nelson, his high sense of docility has endeared both the young and old to the Bukom-born boxer.
His success story was long overdue, having come close on many occasions to realising his dream of becoming a World champion.
When all seemed like he was on the threshold of becoming a World champion, Clottey suffered shipwreck, injuring his right fist in his fight against Mexican Antonio Magarito.
Bent on following the footsteps of Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Nana Yaw Konadu, Alfred Kotey and others, he cremated his past, maintained his focus and achieved that which he had dreamt of all these years.
After Magarito had vacated the IBF title, he declared that the opportune time had presented itself for him to reign as a world champion. And true to his prediction, he combined words with action and handed Judah a 'deep cut', opening his right eye in round nine of their clash.
From Abeka Lapaz to Zabzugu, his lovers celebrated the victory deep into the early hours of Sunday. But it was his Bukom base in Accra Central where the ecstasy of his fans knew no bounds, singing and chanting all night. Meanwhile, Ghana's Joseph Agbeko, who was expected to defend his IBF Bantamweight title suffered a no show when his opponent, William Gonzales failed to fly into the U.S., citing visa problems.
Clottey's feat, makes it Ghana's second World title in a spate of one year, having searched for a World crown over a decade but in vain, ever since Bazooka Quartey left the scene.
Clottey, who is expected home soon, said in a post-match interview that he is looking forward for a rematch against Magarito, the new WBA Welterweight champion.
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