Efetobor Apochi-The New Nigerian Heavy Weight Boxing Champion

From the streets to the ring, Efetobor Apochi aka Fity our own National Boxing champion. Boxing cannot be more beautiful than the artistry he puts up in the ring. Efetobor Apochi popularly called Fity is a prolific boxer with an interesting story.

He has never been knocked down by an opponent before, his moves are creative mysteries, his opponents will regularly say. He is calm outside the ring but becomes calculatingly smart, skilful and tactful tiger in the ring. At the KADA National sports festival 2009, a fresh man whom was determined to prove his worth, fought through all stages to the final all ways by knock-out and until the finals where he fought his opponent till the end. A split decision earned him silver medal at that competition. The truth is they never believed in him as a fresh man, first national competition, no one has achieved such accolades in the history of National boxing. Efetobor is best described as a "soliton" or "a man with 7 hearts", he never get weary in the ring.

Efetobor Apochi our new National heavy weight boxing champion (Nigeria), was born 1987, he weighs 91kg, hails from Delta State. He is born into a family of 15, Mother, Father, 12 siblings, 6 brothers and six sisters. Wonder why he shares the same surname with the popular actor and rapper Vaughn Apochi of the Ultimate 

Search? Vaughn is his elder brother and a sports champion from the African gladiators. His father Mr Isaac Apochi was a national athletic champion, he represented the then Bendel State. It runs in the house. 

Efetobor Apochi started his career back in his university days at Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). from school to the streets of Ughelli in Delta State Nigeria where he grew up. He was trained by a professional coach, formal national bronze medallist, coach Mark Okoro. Having acquired certain skills he went for the state trials, where he was discovered by the state head coach, William Azano. The Nigeria dream had gone through his trials and pains, he would say, "you do not want to taste my pain". He struggled through life gaining street credibility and school was not a bed of roses for him. He knows the meaning of the adage, "no pain no gain".

June/July 2011 at the Rivers State National sports festival, he brought glory to his Nation Nigeria, State, home town and family. Everyone was excited at his victory, many ran to share photographs with him. The most intriguing part of his victory was not only in his fanciful way of fighting, but, he virtually knocked out all his opponent even at the finals and won the gold medal. He is fast, and stylish; he will not bore you one second in a fight. His first opponent was Rivers State, he won by KO in round 2, second was Lagos state, he won by KO in round 3, third was Abia State, he won by KO in round 1, final was Kogi State, he won by KO in round 1. How well can a victory be defined. he bewilders his opponents with his handsome dreadlocks look. Don't confuse his calmness for weakness. Fity is a deceptive gizmo or boxing weapon.

Efetobor Apochi is at the National camp at the moment training for the all African Games. He is in the Hands of very vast and professional coaching team headed by Obisia Nwakpa. He says, he lookes foward to the Olympic and he aims at the Gold medal. "I believe in God and my power and inspiration comes from God", he says.

His mentors are Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, he said. I love Mike Tyson because I learn a lot from his fight. I am a regular boxer but a fighter when the game becomes tougher, he said. At the National festival, I will give accolades to the Lagos State representative because he is a good boxer but of course he was not a match for me, Fity said. 

His dream and aspiration is to become a professional world class boxing champion. He is young and focused, he loves his career; with determination he will thrive. Efetobor Apochi sees himself as the forthcoming world boxing champion in his time, weight and category. 

He gives special thanks to God, the Governor of Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the entire sports team. His love and respect to his coach Mark Okoro and of course his family that always supports him financially and in Prayers. To the Nigerian press, you are the best without you a beautiful story cannot be 

told, to my big brother and my PRO Vaughn God bless you. 

training mood

at the stadium in Ughelli

at the stadium training

street training

2009 at the KADA games with colleagues

with elder brother Eugene

with coach Mark Okoro

at the stadium

celebrating his first victory silver medal

in his hood

serious training session 

celebrating him street style

after a victory

golden victory

before a fight meditating

golden victory

at the 2011 national festival

at the press conference