D.K Poison: Ghana has failed me

Posted by Contributor on November 22, 2011 at 3:35 pm in Football, Sports

At the height of his professional career, David Kotey, aka D. K Poison, the first Ghanaian to win a world boxing title, was cherished and loved by Ghanaians but since his fortunes plummeted, the one- time hero has been totally forgotten.

The Adabraka-born boxer attended the Government Boys School, now Kinbu JSS. D. K Poison became Ghana’s featherweight champion in 1966. He then proceeded to win the African Boxing Union (ABU) featherweight title after stopping Taher Hassan in the first round of their bout to annex the ABU featherweight title in Tunisia. This was after then Head of State; Gen Acheampong, also an avowed sports man, felt there was the need to put Ghana on the world map through sports, particularly boxing.

The world title then became the next target for D. K after winning the ABU featherweight title but the authorities thought it was wise to give him a shot at the Commonwealth title which he executed to perfection by stopping Scottish David Armstrong in the 10th round at the El-Wak Stadium. This paved the way for the young energetic D. K Poison to take a shot at the world title, which he won on 20 September 1975 and became the first Ghanaian boxer in history to win a world title.

Unfortunately, he only held the title for a year before losing it to Danny Lopez.

When The Globe visited him at his Teshie residence, a very lively D. K Poison not looking at all like he’s lost any of the spark that made him a world champion some years back, appeared at the door bare-chested with a ready to fight smile on his face. D.K. Poison ruled the world in the ’70s When asked what he had been doing since he retired from boxing, he just smiled and replied I just love boxing.

“I love boxing that’s why I got into it he said. I didn’t go into boxing because of the money like we have now all over the world. Back in the days, boxing was taken a lot more serious than it is now. I remember making the trip from Nima where I resided, to Kotobabi for training every day.

“People thought I was crazy then but I loved the sport but now it’s gotten to the stage and period where boxing has become a money making machine. I will advise anyone who is boxing or who wishes to be a boxer to train seriously. Ghana has come far in boxing and that has to be maintained I may not have been fortunate like most of these guys and as a former boxer I can only give them words of encouragement,” he said.

On the issue of some outstanding debt owed him by the state, the former world champion refused to comment. He only said, “I think this is my destiny and I feel hurt when I think about it. ”

History indeed remains forever, otherwise some of us wouldn’t have known that D. K once single-handedly played the role of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to boost the economy of Ghana by providing hard currency (in US dollars) from proceeds of his fights to partially boost the economy of Ghana during the Acheampong era. He retired from active boxing in 1989.

2 Responses to “D.K Poison: Ghana has failed me”

Mark DuHall said:

In regard to D.K. Poison’s statement, “Ghana has failed me”. I rather find it ironic to such a disturbing statement. In the above reference about the former Champ, when he states ‘ his Dollar earnings did boost the economy of Ghana at his pick, he does not site any entitlement or factual agreement that he covenanted with the officials of Ghana. He felt that the people of Ghana cheered for him when he was at his pick as champion and was finacially sound, implication a sense of ingratitude from his one time fans or country men if you will.

I can see from the eyes of Champ and of that of his country men. D.K. Poison feels his country should have done more for him besides cheering him as a trailblazer whiles some of his country men wished they had that level of popularity he once had. Anthropology which is the study of human behaviour atests the above statements accurantly as how humans respond to unfamiliar teritories or the unknown differently.
D.K. Poison admitted that he wasn’t fighting for the money but only for the love of boxing.

The love of boxing landed him some success including monetary funds – which in a way was unfamiliar to him as one that has never experience wealth or it’s expectation as a poineer of world Fatherwieght in Ghana. Therefore one could say that D.K. Poison didn’t have a vision for his success; didn’t have a role model of champion fame and therefore couldn’t invest at all or poorly done. This senario seem to be a challenge to foundation layers. In Ghanian soccor for example, great foundational men such as Robert Mensah, Osei Kofi, Baba Yada, Abuba Kari, etc made a big name but their era didn’t permit such wealth in sports, and this is true of every country.

On the other hand, many Ghanians at D.K.’s time probably hadn’t seen such fame and success endow on one man and wish they were David Kotey Pioson, even though it will still be an unfamiliar or unkown territory. Some Ghanians for example wished they had such a fame. If they did, they would use that as a leveage to get finances from Banks to build factories, hotels, name it. It must be noted that, if vision isn’t your premary focus, no matter how much money comes into your life one is likely to mishand it. They will spend more than they take in, they are likely to refuse finacial advisers.

May be as D.K. Pioson feels his country has failed him, his country men could rather feel he has disappointed them for failing to own the Labadi beach hotel for example, employ more people out of poverty, build factories, recruit foregien boxing investers, multiple himself in the lives of many young boxers etc. D.K. may feel left out and may wish his government calls him and honor him in a way, but this may be more of expectation on his part and not an obligation from his government unless he has legal agreement established at the peak of his boxing carrier with his government.

Final thought; the boxing encyclopia lists D.K. Poison as born in 1950, that suggest he is currently 61 years old, he could still multiple himself through the young, could set up a foundation to promote sports, trade, advertising on television. He could use his fame name to stand on his feet. There will be those that will identify with him because he did inspire them.

In the area of sports, it will be proper and moral for individuals sportmen to visit, relate and honour the foundational trailblazers. See to it their living conditions is wealth the sport.
In the area of entertainment young comedians should look for Super O.D.
Soccor, Osei Kofi, Abdul Razak, Ahmed Polo etc.

Mark DuHall
on November 27th, 2011 at 7:00 am
Mark DuHall said:

Sorry, going through cognitive rehabilitation & my spellings are not organized
on my responds to D.K. Article.
For example peak came out as pick, etc.
I hope you get the main message.

Thanks!
on November 27th, 2011 at 7:31 am