In In the world of sports, traditions are often carried on from one generation to the next. In football, we see families like the Sodjes, and the same is true for the Nwokolo family. Emeka Nwokolo is continuing his father, Charles Nwokolo's, legacy of athletic excellence. PETER AKINBO writes
Charles Nwokolo, known as ‘Dick Tiger’ to his boxing fans, had a significant impact in the boxing world. He achieved impressive feats while representing Nigeria during his career.
In 1983, he won a gold medal and was recognized as the Best Boxer of the tournament at the Commonwealth Games. The following year, during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, he continued to excel, although he did not win a medal.
Charles went professional in 1986 and became the African Champion and Commonwealth Champion in the same year.
In that same year, he relocated to Los Angeles, USA to pursue his professional career and eventually ended with 31 wins and 20 KOs. He now operates his own gym, the Tiger Boxing Gym, where he trains boxers in Hollywood.
His son, Emeka Nwokolo, was born in Edo State and initially gained attention as a footballer during his high school years. He now holds a record of 12 wins and just one loss, with 11 of his victories coming by way of knockouts. He is a three-belt champion, holding the WBF, ABF, and UBO titles.
Charles fondly remembers that Emeka's first passion was football, stating, “Emeka was a soccer star growing up in Nigeria, uninterested in boxing.
“When he came to Los Angeles to live with me, soccer was still his dream but a series of events changed his perspective and steered him towards boxing just as the pandemic hit.”
In 2016, Emeka moved to Los Angeles to live with his father, Charles, and initially pursued a career in professional soccer. Then in 2020, he transitioned to boxing.
One event that led to this change was a car accident in January 2020 when Emeka drove off a cliff but miraculously escaped with only a few cuts, scratches, and bruises in what he calls a “miracle.”
After struggling for about an hour, Nwokolo managed to kick open the rear door of the overturned car and escape the wreckage.
Then, using a pair of scissors for support, he started climbing the slippery and muddy mountainside by digging the scissors into the ground with each step and pulling himself all the way back up to the road.
Nwokolo then flagged down a driver who called the police, but remarkably he did not require any medical attention after emerging from the accident nearly unharmed.
“It’s a miracle, it’s something like a second chance at life for me,” Nwokolo told ABC News’ Los Angeles station KABC in an interview.
“God saved me, it’s not my time.”
Following this, he fully committed to boxing in August, and within just 12 months, he had his first professional fight in August 2021. His innate athleticism, combined with the boxing skills inherited from his champion father, allowed him to progress quickly.
“He was already an elite athlete with good footwork and a fast ability to learn, which provided a strong foundation to start. Essentially, he went straight into the professional circuit and learned on the job because amateur boxing was still shut down,” his father Charles told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“I never pushed him to join boxing, but now that he's a boxer and I see how quickly he improves and how hard he works in and out of the ring, I'm very proud,” said Charles.
Emeka is proud of his Dad but doesn’t feel pressured to match his Dad’s achievements, saying, “I’m proud of my Dad and his accomplishments but I don’t feel any pressure to match them.
“My Dad started boxing at 13 and I started at 27. I am my own man and I am making my own path with my Dad guiding and supporting me. He helps me gain boxing knowledge daily, but I never feel pressure from him, only support,” Emeka explained.
Emeka also competes in the welterweight division, while his Dad fought in light-welterweight, he fights in the super-welterweight division, just like his Dad.
Both Charles and Emeka share a common goal of promoting boxing and uplifting the youth of Nigeria. Emeka specifically aims to make a difference by showing an alternative path away from gang life, hoping to inspire discipline, positivity, and determination among the youth.
“He is doing something very unusual: starting to box at age 27 and achieving success step by step. On January 20th he fought an 8-round title fight and won his 3rd belt,” Charles tells our correspondent.
“And as his father and former champion, it tickles me that his style is similar to mine, he is a pressure fighter who never backs down. He has a warrior mentality like I have and even some of his movements are similar to mine. What father would not be proud?” Charles said.
Emeka adds that he wants to do his best to honor the Nigerian people as the 30-year-old keeps chasing glory.
“I am happy to be here in Los Angeles training at our gym, Tiger Boxing Gym. But we never forget Nigeria, our flag hangs in our gym and after every fight I celebrate with my flag. And like my Dad, I want to honor my people and my country,” he said.
