The journey of Ezra Arenyeka, may not be known to many, but his successful inroad into the world of professional boxing will always be an inspiration to many.
Ezra as he’s popularly referred to is a Nigerian-born (Warri in Delta State) fighter who through hard work and luck made waves in the first year of his professional boxing career boxing with 10 wins (8 knockouts) and no losses in the last seven years.
Giving insight into how it all began. He said.
“I started boxing through the company called White Collar Fighter based in Manchester, raising money through my ticket sales for the Anthony Nolan Blood Cancer Charity,” Arenyeka said.
“During the early days of the pandemic, I ran 10 miles every day for 10 days for the St Martin homeless charity in Norwich. I raised a total of £1,000, which was donated directly to the charity.
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“Not only was I raising the money, I was also winning. Within two years of boxing, I had won the ABA’s Elite Cruiserweight Eastern Counties Championships. I boxed out of Attleborough Boxing Club.”
According to Arenyeka, he has used his success in boxing to also engage in philanthropy, and it’s no surprise that he created his own Foundation – The Ezra Arenyeka Foundation with a mission to ‘Give Children Across Nigeria A Fighting Chance in Life’.
Hence, it is no surprise that he is passionate about creating opportunities for others.
Arenyeka added: “I want to use boxing as an opportunity to make a difference. As a professional, I aim to use my platform to help give the voiceless a voice. I aim to donate my earnings from every fight to help children back home in Nigeria get a better education.
“Ever since I got into the boxing game, I have wanted to use my talent for good and to help the community. My foundation not too long ago donated funds to help 4 people in Warri with kidney dialysis treatments as kidney failure is a huge societal issue the foundation also aims to help alleviate.”
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The talented pugilist, now a 27-year-old, recounted that he left the shores of Nigeria at 14 to the United States in search of better education. He lived and studied in Atlanta, Georgia for three years before moving to the UK at 17 and attending Newcastle University for a year soon after.
Arenyeka also has a Post-graduate degree from the University of East Anglia and is completing his Ph.D. from the same university not too long from now.
