Ghana-American juvenile boxer, Joseph Awinongya Jnr, profoundly the future of boxing took his kindness and compassion to another level when he made commitment to financially support Paulina Anokye to undergo surgery to remove a spinal tumor which has affected her mobility and eventually thrown her into paralysis.
The 13-old Awinongya Jnr. is currently rated number one and two in the 90lbs and 95lbs divisions in America has won almost all competition he has participated. He has shown superb exhibition of boxing artistry, rare display of boxing IQ, academic excellence and has become the toast of many in Ghana and Chicago where he lives with his family.
Awinongya Jnr. also known as Jojo has won many awards since age five when he told his dad who doubles as his trainer that he wants to be a boxer.
He is a 3-time Silver Gloves National Champ, 1x USA National Champion, 2x Jr Olympic National Champion, 1x Western Elite Qualifier National Champion, 2x St Louis National Champion, 1x King of the Jungle National Champion, 2 x Wisconsin National Champion, and Power Gloves National Champion.
His sterling performance in and off the ring in his young career recently won him the Gold Star Award for Community Service by the black community in America (National Hook-UP of Black Women Inc) for being an outstanding role model in November 2019. Early this year he was admitted to The Better Chance Program, a prestigious college preparatory school in New York for excelling young talents.
Jojo saw the deteriorating condition of Paulina Anokye on YouTube on a local online magazine show dubbed “Common Sense Family” (CSF) hosted by Avram Ben Moshe. He was touched by the plight of Paulina and discussed with his dad Joseph Awinongya Snr how he can reach out to support Paulina.
“I showed the video to my dad and he asked me to choose between getting a Play Station 5 which I so much desire to have and supporting Paulina with the funds” Awinongya Jnr said.
“I chose to help Paulina and forget about the Play Station because her condition gradually is killing her because of money” he added.
Paulina Anokye who is a native of Kwadaso a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana was diagnosed with spinal tumor at age fourteen when she started experiencing immobility in her left fingers. Due to lack of finance to correct the defect, she resorted to herbal treatment which further deteriorated her condition affecting her right arm and both legs rendering her paralysed.
Jojo has committed to supporting Paulina by paying for her medical assistance fees and an undisclosed amount for her up keep for four months after her surgery. Paulina be will admitted at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching hospital where she has been booked for surgery on 22nd of July 2020.
The amazing young boxer cannot help but to thank Jim Muisenga the general manager of Hawk Chevrolet of Joliet, Secretary of State Illinois Jesse White, Roger C. Claar the Mayor of Bolingbrook, Lori Lightfoot Mayor of Chicago, Joliet Mayor Bob O’ Dekirk, Isaac Agyapong Ansere MBA, CPA, Real Estate Broker and Emmanuel Hatzi X’s & Os Sports Bar for their tremendous support.
Jojo also want to appeal to the general public here in Ghana and in America to support Paulina financially to enable her go through the surgery and her recovery process successfully.
Among many projects Jojo and his dad are undertaking to support young boxers, his dad Awinongya Snr is working to invite another amazing juvenile boxer Hakeem Nii Nortey Lokko who is also trained by his dad Carl Lokko (owner/headcoach of Bronx Boxing club and technical director of the Ghana Boxing Authority) to chicago to exchange boxing lessons and to be part of his ongoing documentary.
By Mustapha Nettey