Nwokolo sets sights on retaining championship following comeback to the ring

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Nigerian-American boxer Emeka Nwokolo says he is now targeting a defence of his WBA-NABA super welterweight title after returning from a year-long injury layoff with a decisive stoppage win over British boxer Darren Hamilton, Sunday PUNCH reports.

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Nwokolo, who fights under the moniker “Lion Heart 7o7,” stopped Hamilton in the third round via technical knockout on June 26 at the Motor City Casino in Detroit, Michigan, shaking off ring rust in his first outing since his last fight in July 2025.

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After an even first round, Nwokolo really dialed up the heat in the second round, banging Hamilton to the head and body causing Hamilton’s right eye to puff up.

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Nwokolo wasted no time at the start of the third, sending Hamilton to the canvas twice with the British boxer unable to beat the count on the second trip to the mat.

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Nwokolo with the KO at 53 seconds of round 3 takes his record to (17-1, 14 KOs), Hamilton drops to (16-6, 3 KOs).

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“I recently returned from an injury, and I am glad I feel sharp again. I know I will be able to get a bigger juicy fight next and face a title defence or a title holder,” Nwokolo said.

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The 33 year-old, who improved his professional record to 17 wins and one loss with the victory, said his immediate priority was to get back in the ring against a genuine challenger for his belt, though he lamented the reluctance of potential opponents to face him.

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“The next thing I would love to do is defend my belt, defend my title in the ring. My opponents are running from me and I have not gotten any challengers, but I remain in wait for them,” he said.

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Nwokolo’s return follows a difficult period out of the ring after his last fight in July 2025, when he retained his WBA-NABA title with a unanimous decision win over Jose Luis Sanchez at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, a bout that came just days after the death of his aunt, Rita Eguogie. That victory had taken his record to 16 wins and one loss and extended his run to eight consecutive victories, and had also seen him climb to ninth position in the World Boxing Association’s super welterweight rankings, making him the only Nigerian in the WBA’s top 15 at 154 pounds at the time.

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The son of Nigerian boxing legend Charles Nwokolo, Emeka also holds the WBF International, UBO International, American Boxing Federation and UBO world titles, making him a five-belt champion.

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With his ring rust now shaken off, the fighter said his focus was on securing a bigger fight that would move him closer to a genuine world title opportunity, with his next opponent expected to be announced soon.

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