During that era, young Hammond nicknamed “Shocker” was the toast of boxing fans and highly touted for world championship glory whiles Tijani was an experienced “General” with vast pedigree.
“Many promoters, including Osei Kwame Despite were interested in making the fight but, I declined out of respect and reverence for Tijani, Shocker expatiated.
“Tijani helped me when I was coming up and contributed a lot in shaping my craft. I learnt a lot from him and sparred several times with. He was like my mentor, no amount of money would’ve made me fight him”, he added.
“Sometimes when I fight, he’ll be in my corner and at other times I also helped in his corner. Looking back, I’m very happy I never took the fight”, the Chorkor-bred boxer now based in the United States told Boxing Writer Samuel Opoku Amoah of Ace TV Boxing in an interview at the Square Deal Boxing Gym in Chorkor, Accra.
During his career, Hammond fought the likes of Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Paul Williams, Junior Witter and Bobby Vanzie.
His two fights against local rival Stephen Okine aka Ataa Gyata would forever be etched in the annals of Ghana Boxing.
“Shocker” made his debut in 1999 and retired in 2015.
Hammond, who twice fought for the Commonwealth title is in Ghana for the funeral of his late father and trainer Coach Jones Neequaye.
He spent some time training some youngsters in the Square Deal Boxing Gym founded by his late father but now handled by Head Trainer Moses Domenyo.
“I’m here to help nurture talents, manage them and help them get to the highest level in boxing”, he pledged.
The Writer Samuel Opoku Amoah (Sam Nana Gold) is a Boxing Writer and Ring Announcer from Ghana in West Africa.
He won the Boxing Ghana Best Boxing Writer Award in 2023 and was voted as the Best Ring Announcer in Ghana at the Boxing Ghana Awards 2024. He’s happily married with two kids.
