FACT CHECK: How old were Ghana’s eight boxing world champs at time of crowning?

On Tuesday evening, Isaac Dogboe landed at the Kotoka International Airport following his elevation as yet another of Ghana's world boxing champions.

Having beaten Jesse Magdaleno at the weekend, there was talk that Dogboe becomes the youngest of all Ghana's previous champions at the time of chalking the feat. But is this accurate? 

A quick fact check should sort this out.

Isaac Dogboe
Age when declared world champion: 23 years, 7 months, 2 days

Born in Accra on September 26, 1994. His rise to the top of the bantamweight division is not the typical grass to grace story we often hear in Ghanaian boxing lore. His father and trainer, Paul, served in the British army; Isaac grew up in the UK and the US. He fought for Ghana at the London 2012 Olympics aged just 17, but was eliminated by Japan’s Satoshi Shimizu under controversial circumstances.

Dogboe made his professional debut against Hungarian Csaba Toth in Switzerland in August 2013. He went on to amass a 17-0 record before beating Cesar Juarez to earn a shot at the WBO junior welterweight title which was held by Jessie Magdaleno. Last Saturday, he became a world champion last Saturday via an 11th round TKO. to become Ghana’s youngest boxing world champion.

Azumah Nelson 
Age when declared world champion: 23 years, 10 months and 2 days

Ike Quartey
Age when declared world champion: 24 years, 6 months and 8 days

Born in Accra on November 27, 1969, he was last of his father's 27 kids. Ike competed at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as an amateur and ended that career with a record of 50-4, before making his professional debut later that year. 'The Bazooka' had stupendous talent, and was unbeaten in 25 professional fights by the time he defeated Crisanto Espana in 1994 to annex the WBA welterweight title. He is the third youngest Ghanaian boxer to have won a world title.  

David Kotey
Age when declared champion: 24 years, 9 months and 13 days

Going by the name 'DK Poison', he was born on December 7, 1950. He was the first Ghanaian to win a world title, having defeated Ruben Olivares via a split decision (fight pictured above) to win the WBC featherweight title on September 20, 1975. He defended the title thrice before losing to Danny Lopez in 1976.

Nana Yaw Konadu
Age when declared champion: 25 years, 24 days

Winner of world titles in two different weight categories. Exactly 24 days after his 25th birthday in 1989, he beat Gilberto Roman to win the WBC super flyweight title on the November 7 in Mexico. Konadu made his professional debut on the May 5, 1985, and in his 15th professional bout, he defeated former champion Cesar Polanco (fight pictured above) to capture the WBC international super flyweight title. He became a two-division champion by capturing the WBA bantamweight title in a TKO victory over Veeraphol Sahaprom in 1996.

Alfred Kotey
Age when declared champion: 26 years, 1 month and 27 days

Born on June 3, 1968, he competed for Ghana at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and made his professional debut the same year. He went 16 fights unbeaten before losing to Julio Cesar Bolboa in 1992. 'The Cobra' beat Rafael Del Valle on the July 30, 1994 to capture the WBO bantamweight title.

Joseph Agbeko
Age when declared champion: 27 years, 6 months and 7 days

A two-time bantamweight world champion, he was born on March 22, 1980. He ushered in his pro career with a first round KO of Agaitor Yao in 1998. 'The Fresh King' won the first of his two IBF bantamweight world titles against Luis Alberto Perez (fight pictured above), but lost it to Yonnhy Perez in 2009, only to reclaim it a year later. Agbeko also held the IBO bantamweight title. 

Joshua Clottey
Age when declared champion: 30 years, 9 months and 27 days

Holder of the record for the oldest Ghanaian boxing world champion. Clottey was born on October 6, 1977 in Accra. His first attempt at the world title ended in defeat against Antonio Magarito. But he won the IBF welterweight title on August 2, 2008 against Zab Judah (fight pictured above). Widely regarded as one of the best defensive boxers of his generation, but could not meet that potential.

In summary

Dogboe, indeed, is Ghana's youngest world boxing champion, beating Azumah to the accolade by exactly three months. Clottey is the oldest Ghanaian world boxing champion at the time of winning

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