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Emeka Nwokolo rose to 12th in the WBA super welterweight rankings.
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He is the only Nigerian in the top 15.
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He now pursues a world title.
Nigerian-American boxer Emeka Nwokolo has climbed to 12th position in the World Boxing Association super welterweight rankings, moving up three spots from his previous 15th position.
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The 32-year-old Los Angeles-based fighter, who holds the WBA-NABA super welterweight title, is currently the only Nigerian in the WBA’s top 15 at 154 pounds.
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Emeka Nwokolo, who fights under the moniker “Lion Heart 7o7”, expressed pride in his latest achievement while acknowledging the work still ahead.
“Moving up to number 12 in the WBA rankings is a huge honour for me and for Nigeria,” Nwokolo said.
“When I see my name on that list as the only Nigerian in the top 15 at 154 pounds, it reminds me of the responsibility I carry. I’m not just fighting for myself; I’m fighting for my country, for my family’s legacy, and for every young Nigerian who dreams of making it on the world stage.”
The fighter, whose father Charles Nwokolo is a Nigerian boxing legend, added that the climb validates the sacrifices he has made throughout his career.
“This ranking didn’t come easy. Every step up that ladder represents blood, sweat, and tears. It represents the camps where everything went wrong, but I still showed up. It represents the losses I’ve endured outside the ring that tried to break me, but couldn’t,” he added.
“Being ranked among the best in the world is special, but I’m not satisfied. Number 12 is great, but I’m coming for the top five, and eventually, that world title. That’s the goal, and I won’t stop until I get there.”
Nwokolo’s rise comes on the back of his successful defence of his WBA-NABA title in July, when he defeated Jose Luis Sanchez via unanimous decision at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.
That victory, his eighth consecutive win, took his professional record to 17 wins and one loss.
However, it came amid personal tragedy as Emeka Nwokolo lost his aunt, Rita Eguogie, just four days before the bout.
The fighter also holds the WBF International, UBO International, American Boxing Federation, and UBO world titles, making him a five-belt champion.
As the sole Nigerian representative in the WBA super welterweight top 15, Emeka Nwokolo continues to carry the flag for his country in a division dominated by American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican fighters.
