By Emerald Green | Photo copyright by IQ Inc

In a quiet corner of Accra, Ghana, a young girl once shadowboxed against the walls of her small family home. That girl, Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey, would grow up to shatter one of Ghana’s toughest glass ceilings—becoming the nation’s first female world boxing champion and a trailblazer for women in sports across West Africa.

A Fighter from the Start
Born and raised in a working-class neighborhood, Abigail’s love for boxing emerged early. Inspired by her uncle, a former amateur boxer, she learned the basics of footwork and jabbing on dusty playgrounds and makeshift rings. But unlike the boys she trained with, Abigail had to fight on two fronts—against her opponents in the ring and against deep-rooted cultural expectations outside of it.

“In Ghana, girls aren’t encouraged to box. We’re taught to be quiet, reserved. Boxing was considered too aggressive,” she recalled in a recent interview. “But I knew I was born to fight—both literally and symbolically.”

Family Resistance and Social Pressure
When Abigail announced at 16 that she wanted to train professionally, her family reacted with concern and disbelief. Her mother feared the dangers of the sport, and neighbors whispered that no man would marry a girl with bruised knuckles and a fighter’s spirit.

“Everyone told me to stop. They said it was shameful, that no woman should ever be seen in a boxing ring,” Abigail said. “But I couldn’t ignore what was in my heart.”

She trained in secret, running before dawn and practicing punches after school. Eventually, her persistence paid off when a local trainer, Kojo Mensah, agreed to take her under his wing. He saw something raw and powerful in her—a hunger few male boxers even had.

Rising Through the Ranks
Abigail’s amateur career took off quickly. She won local tournaments and became a standout on Ghana’s regional boxing circuit. Her matches began drawing crowds—not just for her skills, but for the novelty of seeing a woman dominate a traditionally male arena.

Still, sponsorships were hard to come by. “No one wanted to invest in a female boxer,” her coach said. “They thought it was a phase or a gimmick.”

Undeterred, Abigail continued climbing the ranks. In 2020, she was invited to join Ghana’s national boxing team—becoming the first woman ever to do so. Over the next three years, she fought across Africa and Europe, earning international respect for her technique, speed, and tenacity.

Making History on the Global Stage
In 2024, Abigail entered the Women’s World Boxing Championship in Berlin. Pitted against seasoned fighters from the U.S., Russia, and Brazil, she advanced with a string of upsets. In the final bout, she faced off against the reigning champion from Mexico. After ten grueling rounds, Abigail’s hand was raised.

The crowd erupted. Abigail Quartey had just become the first female world boxing champion in Ghana’s history.

A Win for Women in Sports
Her victory sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian sports world. For decades, boxing in Ghana had been seen as a male preserve, dominated by names like Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey (no relation). Abigail’s win opened the door for girls across the country to see boxing—and sports in general—as a space they belonged.

Following her championship, the Ministry of Youth and Sports honored her with a national award, and she was appointed an ambassador for girls’ empowerment in athletics. Schools across Ghana began introducing boxing programs for girls, and several young athletes cite Abigail as their inspiration.

Breaking Stereotypes and Building Legacy
Today, at 28, Abigail trains the next generation of female boxers while preparing for her title defense. Her story has been featured in international publications, and she has become a role model not only in Ghana but throughout Africa.

Her message to young girls is simple but powerful: “You are not too loud, too strong, or too ambitious. You are exactly who you are meant to be. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Conclusion
Abigail Quartey’s journey from the backstreets of Accra to the world stage is more than a sports story—it’s a story of defiance, courage, and transformation. As Ghana’s first female world boxing champion, she has not only won titles but also hearts, showing that strength knows no gender and dreams have no limits.

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