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DK Poison received a hero’s welcome
Today marks exactly 45 years that David Kotei, popularly known as DK Poison, gained Ghana’s worldwide recognition through sport by winning the WBC featherweight title.
Of course, it was considered an almost impossible task, knowing that a contender from a West African nation had gone to California to take on a demigod in boxing. In fact, some experts considered him greater than Mohammed Ali at the time. The champion, Reuben ‘El Puas’ Olivares of Mexican descent had accumulated a record of 80 wins and five losses.
However, it is interesting that in 45 of DK Poisonth anniversary; the government of Ghana owes him an amount of $ 45,000. An amount that he voluntarily loaned to the state from his wrestling bag to fulfill a humanitarian duty.
The amount has yet to be paid and this seems to overshadow the celebration of the brave achievement that shot Ghana heavily onto the world stage at a time when the nation was facing great economic challenges. President Akufo-Addo has agreed in principle that the money be paid, but this has yet to be done.
An upcoming Joy News / Joy Sports documentary, The boxing loan, which will air on Joy News (DStv 421 and free to air), on Monday, September 21, 2020, explore these circumstances and celebrate the anniversary of the historic annexation of the world title.
DK Poison, the young boxer from Ghana, who at the time had won the Africa and Commonwealth titles, was the hungriest of the two. He mocked the promoters and the Olivares camp in preparation for the fight at the Coliseum, especially with his tricks.
First was DK’s planned exhibition. Poison for extremely low climatic temperatures possibly affecting it. His reason was that DK needed to do some public training to supplement the publicity plan for the big day. But the young Ghanaian refused and insisted on having this training in a more conducive and closed space. This was granted.
Second, some spies disguised as sparring partners were dispatched to his camp to possibly obtain information on his fighting style and any possible threats it might pose to his highly revered champion.
The highly intelligent DK Poison hardly did anything extra and exerted hardly any extra energy during these sessions. Other spies were also stationed in his camp, but they got almost nothing important about the Ghanaian.
In fact, one of the spies returned to Olivares with information that DK liked drinking beer a lot and slept a lot. The Mexican-born world champion was convinced he could put DK Poison to bed early
Third, the Olivares camp also planted some beautiful women in the Ghanaian contender’s corridor to hopefully seduce him. But he was focused and wanted the title so much that the ‘distraction’ barely caught his eye.
Years at DK Poison is still very healthy and vigorous and has three daughters and a grandson. Sadly, the mother of his children passed away and will soon be buried. He lives with his family in a property awarded to him by the state for winning the world title in Teshie-Nungua, a suburb of the capital of Ghana.
Major honors
He began the journey with the Ghana featherweight title in 1969 after defeating Asebi Boakye. In 1974 he advanced a little further by annexing the vacant African Boxing Union (ABU) title in 1974 after defeating Taher Ben Hassen.
He had another season with him in 1977 when he defeated Laurent Bazie in Accra. Honors for the Commonwealth title came in 1974 after he defeated then-champion Evan Armstong.
The greatest of them all to elevate him to legendary status is the 1975 WBC featherweight title. And based on that monumental achievement, he was awarded the Grand Medal of the Republic of Ghana the same year by the then Chief. of General State IK Acheampong.
Goodwill messages from the documentary characters
I met DK Poison when I was 16 years old. Our coach Attuquaye Clottey was their coach. We trained with him and prayed that he would bring the world title to Ghana. We were so happy when he won the title because we believed it was possible to do it. I love him very much and we have a special relationship. – Azumah Nelson, Hall of Famer.
It’s a big problem, DK’wo mli da bo shi ‘(We are grateful to you in the Ga language). We love you. This achievement cannot be measured because it was very difficult to obtain such opportunities with the lead sanctioning body at the time. I want to appeal to the president to fulfill his promise to repay the loan, even if it is for humanitarian reasons, so that he can attend to some of his needs. – Ekow Asmah Author, A Celebration of Ghana’s World Champions
Once again, congratulations on being Ghana’s first world champion in any other sport. We are glad that you are still here to celebrate. It is our hope that the government will pay him the amounts that he can sleep in peace and also go to his grave a happy man. Peter Zwennes Esq. – President of the Ghana Boxing Authority.
That victory was iconic and remains very important in the history of boxing and sport in this country. I believe it will forever be a tribute to his bravery and bravery in winning the title in front of a hostile crowd in Los Angeles. It was a great tribute to his sense of mission and endurance. He raised this country. HE Amarkai Amarteifio, former Minister of Sports of Ghana.
I am so excited about it. When I was a kid, I started training at Taylor Gym in New Town where DK Poison used to train. Celebrating it is a great thing for me. He was one of the people who inspired me to choose boxing. I recently saw him on TV going over some of his fights and it was wonderful. The young boxers of today have to be shown some of these tapes of such great boxers so that they learn something. – Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former Minister of Sports
We must name an important monument or building in his honor. When you go to Kaneshie, there is the Azumah Nelson Complex, so why not the man who started it all and paved the way? He brought us so much joy and helped us a lot when the country was in trouble it was fine. We were in trouble and daily comforts were in short supply. I later learned that their money was used to purchase the items. We must pay him back and honor him. Mr. ET Plahar, Retired Official
DK Poison’s is someone who put the score in the sand to know that we can do it. This is not something we promised you, it is money we owe you, so let’s pay it back. I don’t know why I have the feeling that President Akufo-Addo will pay the money because he likes to do things well. Nii Okai Nunoo – Bukom Boxing Arena Consultant
