In a recent moment that shattered barriers and defied expectations, Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey became Ghana’s first female world boxing champion.
The 27-year-old fighter from Accra’s Jamestown neighborhood clinched the WIBF World Super Bantamweight title last November 2024, marking a historic victory for women in sports. She defeated British boxer Sangeeta Birdi in Jamestown’s main boxing area.

Boxing has long been the pride of Jamestown, a community renowned for producing legendary fighters. However, for decades, the sport was seen as exclusively for men. When Quartey first announced her dream of becoming a professional boxer, her family pleaded with her to quit.
“My aunts and siblings didn’t like it when I started boxing. They would come here to beg my coach not to let me become a boxer,” she told the AP at the Black Panthers Gym, where she has trained since her teenage years.
Despite the opposition, Quartey remained determined. She trained tirelessly, even stepping away from the sport temporarily in 2017 to sell lottery tickets for financial survival.
But in 2021, her coach, Ebenezer “Coach Killer” Adjei, convinced her to return to the ring. It was a difficult road—without a manager or financial backing, she had to fight harder than most to prove herself.
A Victory for Ghana and Beyond
On the night of her historic victory, Quartey stepped into the ring in front of a roaring hometown crowd and defeated British boxer Sangeeta Birdi.
As her hand was raised in triumph, the celebration in Jamestown erupted, breaking through the long-standing prejudice against female fighters.
Her coach called the title win “a big deal for her, the gym, the community, Ghana, Africa, and the world at large.”

Boxing analyst Sarah Lotus Asare stressed the significance of her achievement, noting that even Ghana’s male fighters struggle to win against non-African opponents due to limited training resources and equipment.
Quartey acknowledges that she stands on the shoulders of the female fighters who came before her.
“There were women in boxing before I ventured into boxing,” she said, “but they weren’t allowed to travel outside the country.”
Her win symbolizes a new era where women can compete internationally and claim their place in professional sports.
Inspiring the Next Generation
More than just a championship title, Quartey’s success is igniting change. At the Black Panthers Gym, young female boxers like 18-year-old Perpetual Okaijah are drawing inspiration from her journey.
Okaijah, whose family also discouraged her from boxing, refuses to be deterred, training daily in pursuit of her own dreams.
Quartey hopes her victory will inspire more women to embrace professional athletics.
“I am a world title holder, and that confirms that what a man can do, a woman can also do,” she said with pride.

Ghana can now boast of its own female world boxing champion! Being a first, Quartey’s boxing legacy is already taking shape.
She has not only claimed a title—she has opened a door for the next generation of female athletes who dare to dream beyond limits.