Roy Ankrah
RealnameJohn Theophilus Oti Ankrah
Weight
NationalityGhanaian
Birth date25 December 1925
Birth placeGhana
Death date28 May 1995 (aged 69)
Total44
Wins34
Ko14
Losses7
No contests3

John Theophilus Oti Ankrah (25 December 1925 – 28 May 1995), better known as Roy Ankrah, was a Ghanaian featherweight boxing contender during the 1950s. He was given the nicknames "The Black Flash" and "Mr. Perpetual Motion" because of his fast hands and crafty footwork. Ankrah held the Commonwealth featherweight title from 1951 to 1952[1] and had his biggest fight against then-reigning NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring bantamweight world champion in a non-title fight as both fighters weighed above the 118-pound (54-kilogram) limit for a bantamweight fighter.

Early life

According to some sources, Roy Ankrah was born in Jamestown, Ghana in 1923; however other sources have listed him as being born in 1925. His aunt raised Ankrah after the death of his mother. He soon became known as a street fighter and won the regional school championship at the age of 12. By this time, Ankrah was already working as a mechanic in his uncle's auto repair shop. He won his first professional fight at the age of 17.

Career

After winning the national featherweight title in 1941,[2] he joined the army. During his time with the Armed Forces, he was sent to India during World War II, where he is said to have participated in numerous exhibition fights and championships. After his return from India, the Ghanaian fighter began training for the national featherweight title once again. During this time, he defeated Nigerian stoker Kid Parry, claiming the title of West African champion. He is said to have kept this undefeated status until he moved to the British Isles.

According to reports, Ankrah switched to the professional camp on the Gold Coast in 1941.[2] He was undefeated throughout his 110 fights until 1949.[2] During this period, he became the national champion in five different weight classes; flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.[2] Following a suggestion by his fellow fighter Freddie Mills, Ankrah made his debut as the first Ghanaian to fight overseas.[2] On February 8, 1950, he joined George Lamont in the ring in Paisley, Scotland. He went on record as having 10 further wins before eventually losing to Jimmy Murray on a foul on May 30, 1950.[2] On April 30, 1951, Ankrah won the Commonwealth featherweight title against Ronnie Clayton.[3] He maintained this title until October 2, 1954, when he lost to Billy Kelly.[2] Shortly thereafter, Ankrah took a break and stopped competing in the British Isles. However, in 1959, he traveled back to his native Ghana, where he competed in three more professional fights, losing two.[2] He later supported the Ghanaian National Team in preparation for the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. He assisted the British trainer Jack Roy at the 1960 Olympic Games when Clement Quartey won the first Olympic medal for the former British colony. After these games, Ankrah was promoted to National Coach and worked directly with the National Sports Council until 1994, in addition to being a judge for the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
44Win34–7 (3)Ray AkweiPTS6Jun 6, 1959Tarkwa, Ghana
43Loss33–7 (3)Jomo JacksonPTS6Jun 2, 1959Accra, Ghana
42Win33–6 (3)Ray AkweiPTS8Apr 11, 1959Tema, Ghana
41Loss32–6 (3)Robert CohenTKO4 (10)Dec 20, 1954Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
40Loss32–5 (3)Sammy McCarthyPTS10Dec 7, 1954Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
39Loss32–4 (3)Billy KellyPTS15Oct 2, 1954Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.Lost British Empire featherweight title
38Win32–3 (3)Billy KellyPTS10Apr 10, 1954Kings Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
37Win31–3 (3)Juan Oscar ÁlvarezPTS10Oct 6, 1953Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
36NC30–3 (3)Manolo GarciaNC10 (10)Sep 30, 1953Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, SpainThe bout was stopped in the final round because of lack of combativeness
35Win30–3 (2)Amleto FalcinelliPTS10Aug 26, 1953Coney Beach Arena, Porthcawl, Wales, U.K.
34Win29–3 (2)José HernándezPTS10Aug 19, 1953Pabellón del Deporte, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
33Win28–3 (2)Jacques DumesnilPTS10Jun 17, 1953Firhill Park, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
32Win27–3 (2)Juan Oscar ÁlvarezPTS10May 18, 1953Embassy Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, U.K.
31NC26–3 (2)Mohammed ChickaouiNC7 (10)May 11, 1953Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.
30Win26–3 (1)Benny Kid ChocolateTKO2 (10)Jan 12, 1953New St James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, U.K.
29Win25–3 (1)Jesús AguirrePTS10Dec 19, 1952Gran Price, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
28Loss24–3 (1)Luis RomeroPTS10Nov 9, 1952Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
27Loss24–2 (1)Ray FamechonPTS15Jun 9, 1952Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.
26Win24–1 (1)Boudjema Ali RamdanePTS10Apr 22, 1952Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, U.K.
25Win23–1 (1)Ronnie ClaytonRTD13 (15)Feb 25, 1952Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.Retained British Empire featherweight title
24Win22–1 (1)Bernard PughRTD6 (10)Dec 17, 1951Ice Rink, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.
23Win21–1 (1)Tommy McGovernPTS10Nov 6, 1951Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
22Win20–1 (1)Alvaro CerasaniDQ2 (10)Oct 23, 1951Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.Cerasani, already down twice, was disqualified for going down without a punch
21Win19–1 (1)Jean MachterlinckTKO5 (10)Sep 19, 1951Ice Rink, Paisley, Scotland, U.K.
20Win18–1 (1)Ronnie ClaytonPTS15Apr 30, 1951Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.Won British Empire featherweight title
19Win17–1 (1)Johnny MolloyRTD4 (8)Apr 3, 1951Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
18Win16–1 (1)Bernard PughPTS8Mar 28, 1951Ice Rink, Paisley, Scotland, U.K.
17ND15–1 (1)Speedy TwitchND?Feb 12, 1951Lagos, Nigeria
16Win15–1Speedy BandesPTS12Jan 29, 1951City Hall, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
15Win14–1Tony LombardRTD8 (10)Nov 7, 1950Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
14Win13–1Bernard PughPTS10Sep 19, 1950Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
13Win12–1Luis RomeroTKO5 (10)Jul 29, 1950Stadium Metropolitano, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
12Win11–1Tommy BaileyPTS10Jul 27, 1950The Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
11Loss10–1Jimmy MurrayDQ3 (8)May 30, 1950Streatham Ice Rink, Streatham, London, England, U.K.Ankrah struck his Murray after while he was down
10Win10–0Francisco LatorreTKO2 (8)May 23, 1950Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, U.K.
9Win9–0Gene CaffreyKO5 (8)Apr 20, 1950Edinburgh National Sporting Club, Leith, Scotland, U.K.
8Win8–0Jim McCannPTS8Apr 10, 1950Royal Hippodrome, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
7Win7–0Denny DennisRTD3 (8)Apr 8, 1950Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
6Win6–0Danny NagleKO5 (8)Apr 5, 1950New Baths, Willenhall, West Midlands, England, U.K.
5Win5–0Joe KingRTD3 (8)Mar 18, 1950Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
4Win4–0Peter MorrisonTKO5 (8)Mar 10, 1950Ice Rink, Falkirk, Scotland, U.K.
3Win3–0Len ShawTKO4 (8)Feb 28, 1950Music Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
2Win2–0Zeke BrownPTS6Feb 14, 1950Music Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
1Win1–0George LamontPTS6Feb 8, 1950Ice Rink, Paisley, Scotland, U.K.

References

  1. ^ Mahamah, George (28 May 2020). "Today In Sports History: Roy Ankrah dead". Happy Ghana. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Legends of Ghana Boxing". ghanaweb.com. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  3. ^ "April 30, 1951: Roy Ankrah wins the British Empire Featherweight Crown". Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2021-06-19.