Ekwelum, ex-African heavyweight champion with cancer, asks for help
Ngozika Ekwelum, a former African Boxing Union (ABU) heavyweight champion is suffering from health issues suspected to be prostate cancer.
Ekwuelum told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was hospitalized and discharged, including the three months he spent in the cancer ward at the University Hospital of Nigeria. the University of Nigeria (UNTH), Enugu since the disease had developed two years ago.
He lamented that he had spent all of his savings on treating the disease and that he needed more because he was still depressed.
The veteran pugilist said he had a training contract with the former Anambra Department of Sports, which was terminated without benefit by the Anambra Sports Development Commission.
He said that despite a series of surgeries, he was still bedridden with swollen legs, blood in urination, bladder and body pain.
According to him, "I have pain all over my private space. The cancer has been there for about two years now, it hasn't been easy to stay alive but thank God."
He said he was training young boxers under contract for the Anambra government, but the former management of the Sports Commission stopped him for reasons of old age.
"The contract started when someone donated boxing equipment worth around 3.5 million naira to the state and they needed a trainer, that's when where I was employed to do the job, my age has nothing to do with my knowledge of boxing,” he said.
Ekwelum appealed to the government of Anambra and the general public to help him financially because managing cancer is not easy.
"Even my landlord kicked me out of our three-bedroom apartment because of my inability to pay the rent," he said.
Ekwelum made waves in boxing in the late 60s and 80s, recorded around 31 victories, including the historic victory over Joe Kalala of Ghana at the National Stadium in Lagos in 1980 which earned him the title of champion heavyweight ABU.
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Ngozika Ekwelum, a former African Boxing Union (ABU) heavyweight champion is suffering from health issues suspected to be prostate cancer.
Ekwuelum told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was hospitalized and discharged, including the three months he spent in the cancer ward at the University Hospital of Nigeria. the University of Nigeria (UNTH), Enugu since the disease had developed two years ago.
He lamented that he had spent all of his savings on treating the disease and that he needed more because he was still depressed.
The veteran pugilist said he had a training contract with the former Anambra Department of Sports, which was terminated without benefit by the Anambra Sports Development Commission.
He said that despite a series of surgeries, he was still bedridden with swollen legs, blood in urination, bladder and body pain.
According to him, "I have pain all over my private space. The cancer has been there for about two years now, it hasn't been easy to stay alive but thank God."
He said he was training young boxers under contract for the Anambra government, but the former management of the Sports Commission stopped him for reasons of old age.
"The contract started when someone donated boxing equipment worth around 3.5 million naira to the state and they needed a trainer, that's when where I was employed to do the job, my age has nothing to do with my knowledge of boxing,” he said.
Ekwelum appealed to the government of Anambra and the general public to help him financially because managing cancer is not easy.
"Even my landlord kicked me out of our three-bedroom apartment because of my inability to pay the rent," he said.
Ekwelum made waves in boxing in the late 60s and 80s, recorded around 31 victories, including the historic victory over Joe Kalala of Ghana at the National Stadium in Lagos in 1980 which earned him the title of champion heavyweight ABU.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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