David Kotei Poision (originating from the Kotei family; born 12 July 1943), popularly called "D.K. Poison", is a former world featherweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1976. He is the first Ghanaian professional boxer to win a world title.[1]
DK Poison started his amateur career in Accra. He is one of many boxers spawned by Bukom, a suburb in the heart of the city populated by the Ga people. Many top Ghanaian boxers such as Roy Ankrah, Azuma Nelson and Ike Quartey are products of Bukom.[2]
Professional careeredit
David Kotey turned professional under trainer Attuquaye Clottey. His first professional bout was on 5 February 1966 in Accra when he outpointed his opponent over six rounds. He became the national featherweight champion that year.[3] Although he fought once in neighbouring Togo in 1967, all his subsequent fights through to 1971 were all in Ghana. In 1972 however, he fought as much as seven times in Australia, winning five and losing two. He won the African featherweight title on 2 February 1974 when he knocked out Tahar Ben Hassen in the first round of a scheduled 15 round fight in Tunis, Tunisia. Later on 7 December 1974, he also won the Commonwealth featherweight title with a technical knock out over Evan Armstrong, a British boxer in round 10 of a scheduled 15 rounds bout. This victory gave him an opportunity to go for the World Boxing Council version of the world title. On 20 September 1975, in The Forum, Inglewood, California, United States, he beat Rubén Olivares by split points decision after 15 rounds to become the first Ghanaian world boxing champion.[4][5] He relinquished the African and Commonwealth titles following this victory. The Ghana government gave him an estate house at Teshie-Nungua, an Accra suburb in honour of this achievements in boxing.[6] He however lost the title in his third defence on 6 November 1976 by unanimous points decision to Danny "Little Red" Lopez in a fierce fight in Accra, Ghana.He is married with three daughters. He also defeated Fuku Yama in Japan.
DK Poison was never the same again after this defeat. He failed in 1978 to regain either the world or commonwealth featherweight titles. His last professional bout was in 1989 when he lost an African lightweight title fight.[7][8]
David Kotey has lived a relatively modest and quiet life after retirement. He has gone through marital and financial difficulties and reportedly has some grievances about how his purse was disbursed during his boxing years.[6]
Loan to Ghanaedit
According to reports and Kotey's own story, in 1976, he loaned an amount of 45,000 dollars to the Government of Ghana, then led by Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.[9] The money was intended for the purchase of canned mackerel to mitigate the harsh economic and food conditions the country was facing. The loan had been facilitated by his management, which was led by Col John Slater.[9] According to Kotey, the money was part of his reward for defending his title against Japan's Fuku Yama in 1976. The loan has not been paid back to date because shortly after the canned mackerels arrived in the country, the Acheampong's regime was overthrown by General Akuffo in a military palace coup in October 1975.[9] In September 2019,the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo noted that he would look into the issue.[10] This was at a meeting with a delegation of former world boxing champions from Ghana.[11][5]
The president of Ghana,Nana Akuffo Addo, on 6 October 2020 has directed an amount of $45,000 that was owed by Ghana to him on "compassionate grounds".[12][13]
Songedit
After Kotey won the World featherweight title in Accra in September 1975, one of Ghana's leading highlife artists at the time, Senior Eddie Donkor released a song in Twi in his honour entitled "D. K. Poison Mo".[14]
^"On September 20, 1975 DK "Poison" becomes Ghana's first professional boxing world champion". Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
^"Bukom: heartbeat of African boxing". BBC News:Africa. BBC. 25 June 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
^"D.K Poison: Ghana has failed me". The Globe. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
^"David Kotey". BoxRec.com. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
^ ab"D.K. Poison grateful to Prez Akufo-Addo". Graphic Online. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^ ab"A Hero's Anguish". News archive. Ghana Home Page. 20 August 2002. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
^"David Kotey-Original Poison". koboxingforum.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^ ab"David Kotey". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^ abc"Sad: Penniless 'D.K Poison' still chases after $45,000 he loaned to gov't". myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
^"Akufo-Addo to look into D.K. Poison's case". ghanaweb.com. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^"Gov't to look into D.K. Poison's case". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
^"D.K. Poison to get $45,000 Ghana owes him back on 'compassionate grounds'". Graphic Online. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
^"Government to settle $45K D.K. Poison loan less than 24 hours after The Boxing Loan documentary aired". MyJoyOnline.com. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
^"Snr Eddie Donkor & The Internationals - D. K. Poison mo (Ghana)". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2020 – via YouTube.
External linksedit
Boxing record for David Kotei from BoxRec(registration required)
david, kotei, poision, originating, from, kotei, family, born, july, 1943, popularly, called, poison, former, world, featherweight, boxing, champion, between, 1975, 1976, first, ghanaian, professional, boxer, world, title, poisonborn, poison, 1950, december, 1. David Kotei Poision originating from the Kotei family born 12 July 1943 popularly called D K Poison is a former world featherweight boxing champion between 1975 and 1976 He is the first Ghanaian professional boxer to win a world title 1 D K PoisonBornDavid Kotei Poison 1950 12 07 7 December 1950 age 73 Accra GhanaOther namesPoisonStatisticsWeight s FeatherweightLightweightStanceOrthodoxBoxing recordTotal fights60Wins49Wins by KO31Losses8Draws3 Contents 1 Amateur career 2 Professional career 3 Professional boxing record 4 Retirement 5 Loan to Ghana 6 Song 7 See also 8 Notes and references 9 External linksAmateur career editDK Poison started his amateur career in Accra He is one of many boxers spawned by Bukom a suburb in the heart of the city populated by the Ga people Many top Ghanaian boxers such as Roy Ankrah Azuma Nelson and Ike Quartey are products of Bukom 2 Professional career editDavid Kotey turned professional under trainer Attuquaye Clottey His first professional bout was on 5 February 1966 in Accra when he outpointed his opponent over six rounds He became the national featherweight champion that year 3 Although he fought once in neighbouring Togo in 1967 all his subsequent fights through to 1971 were all in Ghana In 1972 however he fought as much as seven times in Australia winning five and losing two He won the African featherweight title on 2 February 1974 when he knocked out Tahar Ben Hassen in the first round of a scheduled 15 round fight in Tunis Tunisia Later on 7 December 1974 he also won the Commonwealth featherweight title with a technical knock out over Evan Armstrong a British boxer in round 10 of a scheduled 15 rounds bout This victory gave him an opportunity to go for the World Boxing Council version of the world title On 20 September 1975 in The Forum Inglewood California United States he beat Ruben Olivares by split points decision after 15 rounds to become the first Ghanaian world boxing champion 4 5 He relinquished the African and Commonwealth titles following this victory The Ghana government gave him an estate house at Teshie Nungua an Accra suburb in honour of this achievements in boxing 6 He however lost the title in his third defence on 6 November 1976 by unanimous points decision to Danny Little Red Lopez in a fierce fight in Accra Ghana He is married with three daughters He also defeated Fuku Yama in Japan DK Poison was never the same again after this defeat He failed in 1978 to regain either the world or commonwealth featherweight titles His last professional bout was in 1989 when he lost an African lightweight title fight 7 8 Professional boxing record edit49 Wins 31 Knockouts 8 Defeats 3 Knockouts 3 Draws 8 Res Record Opponent Type Rd Time Date Location Notes Loss 49 8 3 nbsp Akwei Addo KO 9 12 1989 09 30 nbsp Orion Cinema Hall Accra For African lightweight title Loss 39 5 2 nbsp Eddie Ndukwu PTS 15 1978 09 29 nbsp National Stadium Lagos For Commonwealth featherweight title Loss 38 4 2 nbsp Danny Lopez TKO 6 15 1978 02 15 nbsp Hilton Hotel Las Vegas Nevada For WBC featherweight title Won 36 3 2 nbsp Laurent Bazie PTS 15 1977 07 30 nbsp El Wak Stadium Accra Won vacant African featherweight title Loss 34 3 2 nbsp Danny Lopez UD 15 1976 11 06 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium Accra Lost WBC featherweight title Win 31 2 2 nbsp Ruben Olivares SD 15 1975 09 20 nbsp Forum Inglewood California Won WBC featherweight title Win 29 2 1 nbsp Evan Armstrong TKO 10 15 1974 12 07 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium Accra Won Commonwealth featherweight title Win 27 2 1 nbsp Tahar Ben Hassen KO 1 15 1974 02 02 nbsp Palais du Sport Tunis Won African featherweight title Draw 18 0 1 nbsp Freddie Mensah SD 8 1971 06 05 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium Accra Win 11 0 nbsp Teddy Walker TKO 4 15 1969 03 01 nbsp Black Star Square Accra Won Ghanaian featherweight title Win 7 0 nbsp Kid Killer TKO 8 8 1968 03 01 nbsp Prempeh Assembly Hall Kumasi Win 6 0 nbsp Peter Ayivor PTS 8 1967 06 05 nbsp Lome Win 5 0 nbsp Emmanuel Dudzro PTS 8 1967 05 02 nbsp Lome Win 4 0 nbsp Shido Armah KO 3 8 1967 03 01 nbsp Accra Win 3 0 nbsp Bob Cofie TKO 6 8 1966 12 10 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium Accra Win 2 0 nbsp Abu Norgah TKO 4 8 1966 09 03 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium Accra Win 1 0 nbsp Famous Lartey PTS 6 1966 02 05 nbsp Accra Sports Stadium AccraRetirement editDavid Kotey has lived a relatively modest and quiet life after retirement He has gone through marital and financial difficulties and reportedly has some grievances about how his purse was disbursed during his boxing years 6 Loan to Ghana editAccording to reports and Kotey s own story in 1976 he loaned an amount of 45 000 dollars to the Government of Ghana then led by Ignatius Kutu Acheampong 9 The money was intended for the purchase of canned mackerel to mitigate the harsh economic and food conditions the country was facing The loan had been facilitated by his management which was led by Col John Slater 9 According to Kotey the money was part of his reward for defending his title against Japan s Fuku Yama in 1976 The loan has not been paid back to date because shortly after the canned mackerels arrived in the country the Acheampong s regime was overthrown by General Akuffo in a military palace coup in October 1975 9 In September 2019 the president of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo noted that he would look into the issue 10 This was at a meeting with a delegation of former world boxing champions from Ghana 11 5 The president of Ghana Nana Akuffo Addo on 6 October 2020 has directed an amount of 45 000 that was owed by Ghana to him on compassionate grounds 12 13 Song editAfter Kotey won the World featherweight title in Accra in September 1975 one of Ghana s leading highlife artists at the time Senior Eddie Donkor released a song in Twi in his honour entitled D K Poison Mo 14 See also editList of WBC world champions Azumah NelsonNotes and references edit On September 20 1975 DK Poison becomes Ghana s first professional boxing world champion Edward A Ulzen Memorial Foundation 20 September 2017 Retrieved 13 August 2020 Bukom heartbeat of African boxing BBC News Africa BBC 25 June 2003 Retrieved 9 April 2007 D K Poison Ghana has failed me The Globe 22 November 2011 Retrieved 26 January 2012 David Kotey BoxRec com Retrieved 9 April 2007 a b D K Poison grateful to Prez Akufo Addo Graphic Online Accra Graphic Communications Group Ltd 30 October 2019 Retrieved 30 July 2020 a b A Hero s Anguish News archive Ghana Home Page 20 August 2002 Retrieved 9 April 2007 David Kotey Original Poison koboxingforum com 11 April 2018 Retrieved 30 July 2020 a b David Kotey boxrec com BoxRec Retrieved 30 July 2020 a b c Sad Penniless D K Poison still chases after 45 000 he loaned to gov t myjoyonline com Retrieved 18 October 2013 Akufo Addo to look into D K Poison s case ghanaweb com 18 September 2019 Retrieved 30 July 2020 Gov t to look into D K Poison s case www myjoyonline com Retrieved 21 September 2019 D K Poison to get 45 000 Ghana owes him back on compassionate grounds Graphic Online Retrieved 6 October 2020 Government to settle 45K D K Poison loan less than 24 hours after The Boxing Loan documentary aired MyJoyOnline com 6 October 2020 Retrieved 6 October 2020 Snr Eddie Donkor amp The Internationals D K Poison mo Ghana Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 Retrieved 30 July 2020 via YouTube External links editBoxing record for David Kotei from BoxRec registration required http www ghanaweb com GhanaHomePage NewsArchive artikel php ID 26610 http www citifmonline com index php id 1 669463 Achievements Preceded byRuben Olivares WBC Featherweight Champion20 Sep 1975 6 Nov 1976 Succeeded byDanny Lopez Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Kotei amp oldid 1219790654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
