Tucked away down several flights of steps in downtown New York City, you’ll find Church Street Boxing Gym, and with its true old-school feel, Church Street is unlike the traditional gyms found in New York City. . From the moment you enter Church Street, you feel the dedication and love for boxing with its thousands of boxing photos and posters plastered on the walls, many yellowed with age. From the pounding of heavy bags, the quick claps of speed bags, and the grunts of boxers training in the ring, you know you’ve reached boxing heaven. Every day, sweating in the 100+ degree heat in your Church Street basement, you’ll find what may be the only person at the age of 40 who still believes you have a championship run left. Jaffa Balllogou, who has been out of boxing for more than two years, last fought on June 16, 2006, defeating Lawrence Chapman via unanimous decision. In that fight, Balllogou dropped Chapman 5 times. Balllogou has achieved a record of 45 – 6 winning 39 by knockout in his 20 year professional career.
Upon entering the gym, you will notice that Balllogou is one of the hardest working boxers and is focused on preparing for his comeback, which is planned for September 23rd. He will take on Manu Ntoh in a scheduled 8-round bout at the Hammerstein Ballroom on 34th Street in New York. The fight will be part of Knock out Poverty, which is a historic event to help fight poverty in Africa that is planned for that night. With fierce determination and focus, the lean, six-foot Balllogou blocks his past struggles and applies all of his energy to training with trainer Rafael Correa by his side. Correa, a former boxer, says Balllogou is in excellent shape and training very hard.
In 1997, Ballologou fought Frankie Liles for the WBA super middleweight title, Ballologou, who lost that fight via unanimous decision to this day, still believes he won. Balllogou describes the fight with Liles as the toughest of his career. Fast forward eleven years and you’ll still find Balllogou training as if his next fight is for the championship. He is feared by many in the light heavyweight division for his knockout skills and southpaw style. This, coupled with promotional issues, has caused Balllogou to have a hard time finding fights that will keep him out of the ring for two years. Balllogou is inspired by the success of light heavyweights Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson and Roy Jones Jr., all 39, to help fuel his comeback. Balllogou predicts a third-round knockout of Ntoh on September 23. With Ballogou’s 75 percent knockout rate, one can’t argue the point.
In reality, The African Assassin is not afraid of anyone in the ring and says to take on anyone anywhere. Balllogou has had his share of opportunities fighting in the boxing mecca of Madison Square Garden and under the big lights of Las Vegas. He has faced some tough opponents, like Ike Quartey early in his career and Syd Vanderpool, a former Canadian champion. All of that is history for Ballogou, who now concentrates only on preparing for September 23. Balllogou says that he doesn’t know much about his opponent Manu Ntoh (17-14,10KOs) who is also 40 and a multiple Muay Thai World Champion. Jaffa Ballologou “The African Assassin” is ready to step into the ring and begin his new journey to the big stage.
BY: Robert Epstein
Diamond Boxing
