Charles Adamu
Encyclopedia
Charles Adamu is a Ghanain professional boxer fighting in the super middleweight
division. As an amateur he represented Ghana in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games
winning a bronze medal and in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games reaching the second round. As a professional he is a two time holder of the Commonwealth super middleweight title.
. He fought seven more times winning on each occasion before on 1 August 2003 travelling to the United Kingdom
and defeating England's Matthew Barney
for the Commonwealth super middleweight title. Following the title win Adamu returned to Ghana and scored two more victories before returning to Europe, this time to Germany, to fight Ukrainian Vitali Tsypko for the WBA Inter-continental
title on 28 February 2004. The fight with Tsypko lasted the distance but resulted in a first defeat for the Ghanain.
, who would go on to become the WBC World Super Middleweight champion, inflicted Adamu's second defeat in a row in a hard fought contest. Later, during an interview in 2007, Froch would go on to describe the Ghanain as his toughest opponent to date.
The next fight of note for the now former Commonwealth champion took place on 18 June 2005 and meant that Adamu had to travel once more, this time to Canada
. His opponent in a challenge for the WBC inter continental title was Jamaican Otis Grant
and the fight resulted in a third career defeat, again on points for Adamu. In the next three years, Adamu only boxed on three more occasions, gaining three more wins before travelling once more, this time to South Africa to fight for the African Boxing Unions version of the super middleweight belt. The fight on 13 September 2008 against Malawi
's Isaac Chilemba
resulted in heartbreak once more for Adamu as he went down for the fourth time to a 12 round points defeat in a title contest.
to challenge once more for the Commonwealth title. In a fight that once more went the full 12 rounds, Adamu won a split decision over England's Carl Dilks to regain the title he first held in 2003. As with the last time he held the title however Adamu would go on to lose the title in his first defence this time to prospect George Groves
. The fight, on 3 April 2010, was ended in the sixth round after Groves had put Adamu down three times during the fight.
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
division. As an amateur he represented Ghana in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
winning a bronze medal and in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games reaching the second round. As a professional he is a two time holder of the Commonwealth super middleweight title.
Professional career
Adamu's professional debut came in August 2001 with a victory over Bob Abiro in Kaneshie, GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. He fought seven more times winning on each occasion before on 1 August 2003 travelling to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and defeating England's Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney is an American artist who works in sculpture, photography, drawing and film. His early works were sculptural installations combined with performance and video...
for the Commonwealth super middleweight title. Following the title win Adamu returned to Ghana and scored two more victories before returning to Europe, this time to Germany, to fight Ukrainian Vitali Tsypko for the WBA Inter-continental
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
title on 28 February 2004. The fight with Tsypko lasted the distance but resulted in a first defeat for the Ghanain.
Commonwealth champion
Adamu's next fight following the defeat was on 12 March 2004 in the United Kingdom once more and was the first defence of his Commonwealth title. His opponent, Britain's Carl FrochCarl Froch
Carl Froch is an English professional boxer and is a two-time and reigning WBC super middleweight champion. He previously held the British, Commonwealth, & English titles at super middleweight.-Amateur:...
, who would go on to become the WBC World Super Middleweight champion, inflicted Adamu's second defeat in a row in a hard fought contest. Later, during an interview in 2007, Froch would go on to describe the Ghanain as his toughest opponent to date.
The next fight of note for the now former Commonwealth champion took place on 18 June 2005 and meant that Adamu had to travel once more, this time to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His opponent in a challenge for the WBC inter continental title was Jamaican Otis Grant
Otis Grant
Otis Grant is a Canadian retired boxer. As an amateur he won a silver medal for Canada at the 1987 Pan American Games, losing to Cuba's Angel Espinosa in the final.-Professional career:...
and the fight resulted in a third career defeat, again on points for Adamu. In the next three years, Adamu only boxed on three more occasions, gaining three more wins before travelling once more, this time to South Africa to fight for the African Boxing Unions version of the super middleweight belt. The fight on 13 September 2008 against Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
's Isaac Chilemba
Isaac Chilemba
Isaac Chilembe is a Malawian professional boxer who competes in the light heavyweight and super middleweight divisions. He is the current holder of the full IBO belt at super middleweight and the WBC International title at light heavyweight. He has also held the African Boxing Union titles at...
resulted in heartbreak once more for Adamu as he went down for the fourth time to a 12 round points defeat in a title contest.
Two time title holder
On 18 December 2009 Adamu returned to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to challenge once more for the Commonwealth title. In a fight that once more went the full 12 rounds, Adamu won a split decision over England's Carl Dilks to regain the title he first held in 2003. As with the last time he held the title however Adamu would go on to lose the title in his first defence this time to prospect George Groves
George Groves (boxer)
George William Groves is an English professional boxer. Currently managed and trained by Adam Booth and promoted by Frank Warren, he is a former amateur champion and the reigning British and Commonwealth super middleweight titleholder....
. The fight, on 3 April 2010, was ended in the sixth round after Groves had put Adamu down three times during the fight.