It’s official: Undefeated super featherweight and Azumah Nelson protégé Oluwaseun Joshua Wahab has signed with Streetwise Management.
Wahab, 22, 19-0 (12 KOs), is widely considered the best active boxer based in Ghana. He’s earned a strong following there, many of whom believe he’s the nation’s next world champion.
Now he joins a management team which lists former world lightweight champion Richard Commey and undefeated bantamweight contender Duke Micah—both based in the US—among its clientele.
“I really like how they built Richard Commey and I’m grateful to almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to work with Mr. Michael Amoo-Bediako, the CEO of Streetwise Management,” said Wahab. “I had heard about a lot of good things they are doing with their Streetwise Foundation. They’ve done a lot for amateur boxers.
“Seeing Richard Commey and where he came from to become a world champion really motivates me a lot. We boxers really need a good team behind us. If you don’t have the right team behind you, it is really hard to become a world champion.”
The courtship began when Wahab’s former managers, Charles Quartey of Quartey Boxing Foundation and Alhaji Kamil Seidu, reached out to Amoo-Bediako with the hopes the UK-based manager could take their charge to the next level.
After researching Wahab, Amoo-Bediako traveled to Ghana to meet with the team and to get a closer look the boxer.
“I set up some sparring sessions and he even sparred Richard Commey,” said Amoo-Bediako. “He impressed me a great deal, but what really sealed the deal was his temperament. Even though he’s 19-0, he still had that attitude of wanting to learn more and acknowledged that his professional journey if he were to join Streetwise was only just beginning.”
Wahab was born in Nigeria, but fought as an amateur for Ghana, where he was a three-time national amateur champion. As a pro, he quickly turned heads, catching the eye of the great Azumah Nelson, who would ultimately become his mentor.
“Azumah Nelson has contributed a lot to my boxing career,” said Wahab. “I used to go to his gym in his house and train. He taught me a lot in boxing. He has shown me lots of support, always advising and motivating me. He always told me to train hard to become a world champion.
“I thank Azumah Nelson for everything. Only God can pay him for all the good he has done in my life because Azumah took me like his son. Nobody in Ghana would have known me without Azumah Nelson and Charles Quartey.
“I also want to thank LPMG Global and all that they have done to develop my career and for all the opportunities they provided for me.”
Wahab is still in Ghana, training at home under lockdown as Ghana continues to restrict movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Amoo-Bediako, this hasn’t hindered plans.
“Wahab is only 22 so he has time on his side. The plan is to get him two or three fights in Ghana then either bring him to the UK or the States to further his education in boxing. But patience is the key. I see him following in the footsteps of Richard Commey and becoming a world champion in America.
Naturally, Wahab agrees.
“Boxing fans in the US will fall in love with my style,” he said. “I’m a very aggressive fighter. I have good defense even when I attack. I never give up, I want to entertain and I believe in the sweet science of boxing.
“Fighting in the US would really mean a lot to me as a boxer. I want to fight the best in my division and to be the best, you have to fight the best. I would love to fight Leo Santa Cruz because he is the WBA world champion and Miguel Berchelt because he is the WBC world champion. I believe almighty Allah will give me the opportunity to fight them and defeat them.”
