Beets, Awinongya Clash on 36th Battle at the Boat at Emerald Queen
by
Dr. Joseph de Beauchamp
3/31 - On Saturday Night, April 2nd, Troy Beets (11-5-1, 7kos) faces down with Joseph Awinongya (12-8-5, 3kos) in the ten-round main event at the Emerald Queen Casino. Beets, the Mississippi southpaw, planned to take on Kevin Johnson, and a week ago, the card changed. At the last moment, Beets heard that he must meet up with the Ghana native, Awinongya. With almost no notice, Joseph stayed in training and ready for the battle.
“Troy has a big jaw, lots of talent and is very difficult to hit,” says Troy Beets’ cousin. When Troy Beets took on Russian Vadim Tokarev for the IBF Intercontinental Cruiserweight title, he lost and paid the price. He took on the Russian with little notice and training. He planned a heavy training program for this fight. In the 1994 Goodwill Games, Beets brought home the bronze medal and looks to force the fight and win.
Joseph Awinongya stands 6’3” and normally fights cruiserweight, and recently weighted 210. He beefed up for this fight with some extra muscle. Born in Ghana, Africa, Joseph left at the age of eleven and moved to Italy where he lived for the next thirteen or so years. His fluency in Italian is better than English. He left Europe when he turned twenty-four and went home to Ghana.
Promoter Don King brought Joseph into the United States. At 31 years old, he came to USA over fifteen years ago. He wants manhandle this sport right up to championship and title. The 'African Assassin' is molded into a Ken Norton body, and the speed of Larry Holmes.
Recently married to his wife Valerie, she honors her husband as a charitable person. She said, “he runs a separate business from boxing and recently started a foundation. Joseph wants to make money and a name for his people. He needs to help all the people with HIV infections in Ghana.”
Joseph said about the fight, “Troy will have to kill me to win. I am not taking any backward steps. My left hook will blast him, and take his legs away. After his legs go, I will knock him until tomorrow.” His bride has a degree in physical fitness. Joseph talks at the schools and universities in the area and lectures to provide motivation help students overcome life’s challenges.
He works hard at bringing other fighters from Ghana to America – he feels it is his duty to let them know that fighting in America is different than fighting at home. “I tell them, you don’t get taken advantage of in America and I am happy to fight in America!” continued Awinongya. With real income in Ghana of under $500 per year, Ghana keeps on sending us hungry and aggressive fighters that wish to make a name for themselves.
Other fights scheduled for Saturday night include a four round match up between 2002 National Ringside and Golden Gloves Champion Molly McConnell (3-0) from Portland, Oregon and Terri Blair (5-7-1) a southpaw from Louisville, KY.
Local heavyweight, Eric Boose (1-0) will take on Vancouver, BC’s own Teddy Adeoba (0-1).
Also from Vancouver, TJ Jooya (3-1-1) will meet James Ferrell (1-0) hailing from Louisville, KY in a four round clash of super lightweights.
Rounding out the card are super middleweights Ben Aragon (3-1-1) from Billings, MT and Tony Redman (1-1) from Denver, CO and, in a super lightweight match-up, John Lewis (1-0) from Las Vegas will battle Beto Garcia (2-0-2) from Othello, Washington.
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