Built in Bukom: Accra’s boxing heart beats loud as historic Ghanaian fight week kickstarts

With Matchroom’s first-ever event on African soil just days away, Accra brought grassroots boxing and cultural heritage to the forefront of fight week, hosting the Bukom Community Workout – a two-hour, community-focused session delivered in partnership with Legacy Rise Sports and 258 Boxing – in the build-up to Saturday night’s light-heavyweight clash between Craig Richards and Dan Azeez.

Rather than a closed-door activation, Bukom’s iconic open-air venue filled quickly with families, young fighters, coaches and local supporters, all eager to see boxing’s elite up close in a neighbourhood synonymous with world-class boxing talent.

Local MC Kosi Fiaka set the tone, introducing a line-up that reflected both Africa’s depth of talent and boxing’s global reach.

British-Ghanaian contender Sedem Ama was first up to be warmly received by the crowd, with fellow fighter of African heritage Ibrahima Diallo following her to the ring.

Crowd favourites Theo Allotey and Bukom hero Jonathan Tetteh came next, with Tetteh’s introduction drawing one of the loudest reactions of the afternoon. His opponent, fellow Ghanaian and social media sensation Seth Gyimah – better known as Freezy MacBones – was forced to delay his workout until the very end, as the Bukom crowd made their feelings known in typically passionate fashion.

International interest was represented by Nishant Dev, a former Olympian and one of India’s leading prospects, carrying the expectations of a nation and widely regarded as one of the most talented amateurs to recently transition into the professional ranks.

He was joined by rising British heavyweight Leo Atang, a fighter viewed by many as the future of the division, whose rapid progression has marked him out as one of the most exciting young prospects in the sport.

The roll call concluded with Richards and Azeez, the two men at the centre of a defining contest on Saturday night – a high-stakes light-heavyweight clash that headlines the week and places Accra firmly on the global boxing map.

For Atang, the afternoon underlined exactly why Accra matters. Taking in the atmosphere around the ring, he spoke of how quickly the city had made an impression on him.

“From the moment I arrived, you could feel the energy,” beamed Atang.

“The people, the music, the way boxing is part of everyday life here – it’s powerful,” he continued.

“You’re not treated like an outsider, you’re welcomed as one of their own. To be able to fight in front of a crowd like this, in a place with so much history, is exactly what you dream of as a young fighter.”

With each fighter making the most of their moment in the spotlight, youngsters from seven local clubs – Wisdom Boxing Gym, Attoh Quarshie Boxing Club, Seconds Out Boxing Gym, Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation, Will Power Boxing Gym, Jamestown Boxing Club and Besesaka – joined them in the ring, creating an inspirational experience that will stay with them forever.

The fighters, alongside coaches from each club, spent ten minutes at a time working directly with selected youngsters, focusing on padwork, shadow boxing, defence and evasion drills, touch sparring and fitness and conditioning exercises. It was practical, energetic and deliberately hands-on.

Throughout, the Die Hard Supporters Union provided a relentless soundtrack of drums and trumpets, turning the workout into a celebration as much as a training session – a reflection of Bukom’s deep connection between boxing, music and community identity.

Watching the session unfold, Alex Le Guevel, Head of Community Development at Matchroom Boxing, spoke about why moments like this matter.

“Bringing major fight weeks to cities like Accra only really matters if something is left behind,” explained Le Guével.

“For us, that means being present on the ground, listening to local voices and creating genuine access for young people,” he added.

“Our platform shouldn’t just sit in the background – it has to strengthen the grassroots systems that have sustained boxing in places like this for generations.”

That sense of continuity is impossible to ignore in Bukom. The arena itself carries the names of fighters forged on these streets: Azumah Nelson, a global icon of the sport; DK Poison, Ghana’s first world titleholder; Klutei Robertson, a two-time world featherweight title challenger; Ike Quartey, a former welterweight world champion famed for his devastating jab; Nana Yaw Konadu, a former two-weight world champion; Alfred Kotey, a former bantamweight world champion; and Roy Ankrah, widely recognised as Ghana’s first international boxing star.

For the children working pads beneath those names, the connection between past and future felt immediate. Seeing today’s fighters up close in the same space where legends were made offered a powerful reminder that the next chapter of Bukom boxing can come from exactly where they were standing.

Everlast gloves and kit were also distributed to lucky youngsters, handed out by Nishant Dev, whose involvement underlined the international nature of the occasion.

As the workout drew to a close, fighters and coaches gathered for a large group photo before turning their attention to local and international media duties, while music and conversation continued around the arena.

Reflecting on the day, Thaddeus Adomakoh, Head of Boxing at Legacy Rise Sports, spoke of the pride in seeing Bukom at the centre of such a significant week.

“Working alongside Matchroom has brought a real sense of excitement to the local clubs and coaches,” said Adomakoh.

“You can feel the buzz across the community – having elite fighters in town and a major fight night happening right here has energised everyone, from the gyms to the streets. Moments like this remind people what’s possible and why boxing means so much here.”

As evening settled over Bukom, the last youngsters filtered out of the arena – tired, smiling and inspired.

In a week defined by history, the Bukom Community Workout captured boxing at its most authentic: elite and grassroots intersecting, culture and competition moving together and a global platform shining a light on a community that has always understood the sport at its core.