Nwokolo wins UBO Boxer of The Year award

 Nigerian-American boxer Emeka Nwokolo has been named the 2024 Universal Boxing Organization Boxer of The Year following his impressive performances in capturing two major titles during the year, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nwokolo (13-1, 11 KOs), who fights out of Los Angeles, earned the recognition after winning both the UBO International title and world super welterweight championship in his only two fights of the year.

“I woke up this morning to see this acknowledgement of my hard work in 2024 and it made me feel really good. It gives me confidence and makes me want to work even harder because this is only the beginning,” Nwokolo told our correspondent.

The 31-year-old son of Nigerian boxing legend Charles Nwokolo started his impressive run by stopping Clinton Chavez in five rounds to claim the UBO International title at the Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville, Kentucky on January 20.

Four months later, he dominated Colombian Jeovanis Barraza in Manchester, New Hampshire, winning virtually every round on two judges’ scorecards to capture the UBO world super welterweight crown alongside the WBA North American Boxing Association belt.

Despite being sidelined by a hand injury, Nwokolo remains optimistic about his return to the ring.

“What I’m really looking forward to is getting back in the ring. My hand is healing nicely now and I’m just excited to fight. Despite having this injury, I never stopped working, so I want to show my new skills and keep moving up,” he added.

The US-based fighter, who recently donated boxing kits to young pugilists in Lagos during a visit to Nigeria in 2024, had expressed interest in fighting in his homeland in 2025.

“I think by next year (2025), by the grace of God, I’ll have a fight coming up in Nigeria. I am going to fight in Lagos or in my hometown, where my dad comes from, in Anambra,” Nwokolo had said during a press briefing at the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control office in Lagos.