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Uche Osunkwo
The former African Heavyweight Boxing Champion and retired professional boxer, Mr. Ngozika Ekwelum, has been struck down by a partial cerebral failure, which is more popularly known as 'stroke,' leading to some parts of his body being paralysed.
The retired boxing champion, who, for years, plied his professional trade in Europe and America, before hanging his gloves in the 1980s, had been battling with prostate complications before this latest development.
Ngozika Ekwelum, one of the early sports achievers whose profounding successes predated the mega-bucks era in the global sporting arena, came back to his fatherland after his meritorious exploit and helped in coaching and sports management for years before health challenges sidelined him.
The great pugilist captured the African ultimate boxing championship in 1980, but even before then reigned for years as the National Sports Festival Heavyweight Boxing Trophy holder as well as the Boxing Heavyweight Champion of the Old Eastern Region of Nigeria.
Mr Ekwelum, very humble and unassuming, has, in line with the 'abnormally' normal experiences of old achievers in Nigeria, since been virtually abandoned and forgotten, despite the highlight given to his poor state sometime ago, when some Pressmen traced him out.
The native of Enugwu-Abor Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, who was belatedly recognized by the Anambra State Government under the leadership of Chief Willie Obiano in 2022, is currently battling for his health amidst the pervading socioeconomic hardship in the country.