Joseph Awinongya

Joseph Awinongya (born 1974 in Ashaiman, Ghana) is a Ghanaian professional boxing trainer and public speaker on sports who operates the Will County Boxing Gym in Joliet, Illinois, and is best known as the trainer of IBO International Middleweight champion Osumanu Adama.[3][4] He was also a former professional cruiserweight boxer known as 'The African Assassin'.[5]

Joseph Awinongya
Joseph Awinongya
Statistics
Real nameJoseph Awinongya
Nickname(s)African Assassin[1][2]
Weight(s)Cruiserweight
NationalityGhanaian
Born (1974-04-20) April 20, 1974
Ghana

Boxing career

Awinongya was signed by Don King as a cruiserweight boxer after being seen while sparring in Europe. Awinongya compiled a professional record of 12-9-5 with 3 knockouts, in bouts held in Italy, the Netherlands, and in the United States. Awinongya never fought in Ghana. Awinongya's boxing career moved from Europe to the United States in 1999, and he was unbeaten in eight straight bouts before losing an eight-round decision to Steve Cunningham. While Awinongya was never world champion, Awinongya became an internationally respected boxing trainer. He remains “happy to be in America” and has established a boxing gym for fighters from Ghana to come to the United States and train, where he feels they will not be taken advantage of by unscrupulous managers and promoters.[6]

Public speaking

A well-known dynamic public speaker to young people, he presents hundreds of seminars and speeches annually on topics including sportsmanship, leadership, personal health and wellness, staying focused, inspiring students to stay in school, and staying away from drugs.[7]

Acting career

Joseph Awinongya plays Paalo in the upcoming cable television movie 'Dreams' opposite Tommy Ford, Vicky Winans, Angie Stone, Dave Scott, Geoffrey Owens of the (Cosby Show), Terri Van Martin, Mel Jackson, Lisa Tucker, and Syesha Mercado of (American Idol). Joel Kapity, producer, director and co-screenwriter of 'Dreams' said, "one particular scene featuring Awinongya was so powerful, it moved everyone, including the camera crew, to tears."[8]

References
  1. "HugeDomains.com - TalkingBoxing.com is for sale (Talking Boxing)". www.hugedomains.com. Cite uses generic title (help)
  2. "Chicago boxing Joseph "The African Assassin" Awinongya vs. Chris Riley; majority draw". www.chicagoboxing.com.
  3. "BoxRec". boxrec.com.
  4. "Osumanu Adama defeats Angel Hernandez".
  5. wp_admin (16 March 2003). "HEY DUDE – WANNA BUY A RANKING? BETTER YET, WANNA BUY".
  6. Beets Meets Awinongya at the Queen Archived 2011-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Secretary of State Jesse White Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary of the Will County Boxing Gym Along with Best Place to Live Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar and Others Archived 2011-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Knockout‘Dreams’the Movie Archived 2011-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
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