Ghanaian Classpeter-Williams adjudged best ring official at ABU annual convention
The African Boxing Union (ABU) held its 2024 Convention at the Africana Hotel in the beautiful city of Kampala, Uganda, also known as the Pearl of Africa.
It was a resounding success, with more than 90 delegates and ring officials from Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe participating.
The seminar for referees and judges was conducted by WBC international ring official, Guido Cavalleri, from Italy, who covered important topics such as the code of ethics, functions of judges, correct use of bandages on boxers, the work of referees, procedures to carry out a better performance, round review, among others.
At the conference, the WBC/ Africa Boxing Union (ABU) Ring Officials biennial examination was conducted with Mr Ishmael Classpeter-Williams, a referee and judge from Ghana, emerging as the overall best ring official.
Speaking to a local radio station in Kampala Uganda, Mr Ishmael Classpeter- Williams bemoaned the poor performance of African countries at the just ended Olympic Games in Paris and called on stakeholders to make the requisite investments in sports in Africa, especially boxing in order to ensure that more laurels were won for the continent.
Mr Classpeter-Williams dedicated his award to the memories of his late father, Alhaji Abdullah Showumi Williams, an accomplished boxing promoter and administrator, as well as the legendary Mr John Annan (JA), who trained him in the rudiments of refereeing and judging fights.
He also paid tribute to Ataa Eddie Pappoe who continues to be his mentor and a great inspiration in the sport for his abiding support and guidance.
The Convention ended with a professional boxing card where the ABU super middleweight championship was contested. Before the main event, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Mrs Martha Saldivar, mother of Mauricio Sulaimán, the WBC President.
