Hogan Bassey
Encyclopedia
Hogan "Kid" Bassey MBE
(1932-06-03 – 1998-01-26) was Nigeria
's first world boxing champion. He was born Okun Asuguo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River
in Creek Town, Calabar
, Nigeria
. He took the name Hogan Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer. He possessed a tremendous heart in and out of the ring and that rarest of boxing skills - a true knockout punch.
, Bassey went to Liverpool
, England in 1952 and before long had impressed everyone with his pleasant manner outside the ring and his powerful punching in the ring.
After winning the Empire featherweight championship he also won the world crown by his defeat of French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris
, France
in 1957. He lost the title to U.S.
fighter David S. "Davey" Moore
on March 18, 1959.
During his career he fought Billy "Spider" Kelly
, Percy Lewis
, Tommy Profitt, Sammy McCarthy, Ricardo Moreno
, and Willie Pep
.
following his world title win and went on to become a respected coach in Nigeria
who awarded him the country's highest honour in 1973. He died peacefully in the early hours of January 26, 1998 at his home in Apapa
, Lagos
.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(1932-06-03 – 1998-01-26) was Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's first world boxing champion. He was born Okun Asuguo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River
Cross River (Nigeria)
Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State.It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River....
in Creek Town, Calabar
Calabar
Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He took the name Hogan Kid Bassey when he turned professional as a boxer. He possessed a tremendous heart in and out of the ring and that rarest of boxing skills - a true knockout punch.
Boxing career
After 14 contests in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Bassey went to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England in 1952 and before long had impressed everyone with his pleasant manner outside the ring and his powerful punching in the ring.
After winning the Empire featherweight championship he also won the world crown by his defeat of French Algerian Cherif Hamia in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1957. He lost the title to U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fighter David S. "Davey" Moore
Davey Moore (1960s)
David S. "Davey" Moore was an American world-champion boxer who fought professionally 1953–1963. A resident of Springfield, Ohio, Moore was one of two men to box professionally under the name Davey Moore. The second boxed during the 1980s.Moore died March 25, 1963, as a result of injuries...
on March 18, 1959.
During his career he fought Billy "Spider" Kelly
Billy Kelly (boxer)
Billy "Spider" Kelly was a boxer from Derry, Northern Ireland whose career highlight was winning the Commonwealth featherweight title in 1954. He went on to win the British featherweight title in 1955....
, Percy Lewis
Percy Lewis
Percy Tyson "Plum" Lewis was a South African cricketer who played in one Test in 1913....
, Tommy Profitt, Sammy McCarthy, Ricardo Moreno
Ricardo Moreno
Ricardo Moreno Escamilla was a Mexican professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division. Moreno was ranked #76 on the The Ring's list of 100 All time Greatest Punchers....
, and Willie Pep
Willie Pep
Guglielmo Papaleo was an American boxer who was better known as Willie Pep. Pep boxed a total of 1956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26 year career, a considerable number of rounds and fights even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229-11-1 with 65 knockouts...
.
Life after boxing
In 1959 he was awarded the MBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
following his world title win and went on to become a respected coach in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
who awarded him the country's highest honour in 1973. He died peacefully in the early hours of January 26, 1998 at his home in Apapa
Apapa
Apapa is the major port of the city of Lagos, Nigeria, and is located to the west of Lagos Island, across Lagos Harbour. It is also one of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas.- Overview :...
, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
.