I will produce a World Champion

With Kofi Owusu Aduonum
Former World boxing champion turned trainer, Nana Yaw Konadu says he is imparting his experience gained in the ring to some trainee boxers under his care, and he is confident that he would soon churn out boxers of his caliber.

Speaking to Happy FM on an Accra based station, Nana Konadu, who won World titles in two different weight divisions (WBC Super flyweight and WBA Bantamweight), however, expressed grave concern about the over concentration on football, to the detriment of the pugilistic sport.

He appealed to the powers that be to give boxing some attention, taking into account the laurels the sport has won for the nation. 'The sport has been stagnant for sometime now, and it will take divine intervention, like a gospel lyricist, Grace Ashie puts it, to turn the fortunes of Ghana boxing.

'Some of us have been complaining about the declining state of the sport, but it appears our voices are not loud enough to get attention of the authorities,' he added.

Nana Yaw, after sojourning in the US, returned to Ghana to pursue a coaching course at the CK Gyamfi Sports College in Winneba. He is currently based in Sunyani, his native land, as the regional technical director of the GBA.

The former WBC champion, in an interview with Happy FM's Charles Osei  Asibey, attributed his infamous loss to South Korean Sung Kil Moon to a malaria ailment he experienced some few days to the bout, and an injury at training.

'I had to fight at all cost with my injury because I was inexperienced at the time, and my manager was not there to direct me.

The whites know nothing about malaria, so they did not understand my body language, and I thought there will not be another opportunity if I fail to avail myself for the fight,' said Konadu.

He revealed that managerial problems with famous boxing promoter Don King made them part ways.

Konadu's record stands at 41 (KO 32) + lost 5 (KO 2) + drawn 1 = 47

He turned professional in 1985, and in 1989 won the WBC Super Flyweight Title through a decision over Gilberto Roman. He lost the belt in his first defense to Sung Kil Moon in 1990 and lost a rematch to Moon in 1991.

He later moved up to Bantamweight and captured the WBA Bantamweight Title by TKO of Veeraphol Sahaprom in 1996. He again lost the belt in his first defense to Daorung Chuvatana later that year, but recaptured the belt the following year in a rematch.

He defended the belt once before losing it to Johnny Tapia in 1998. He retired in 2001 after being TKO'd by Daniel Seda.