Enoch Effah – Strong man or champion?
Portrait of a quiet force of nature with a mind of steel and feet firmly grounded.  (See video).

Quadruple French, European and world heavyweight kickboxing champion Enoch Effah displays, in spite of his 26 years, a formidable track record. The young French boxer of Ghanaian descent wants to connect this legendary image in service to his country of origin.

Name: Effah, Enoch.
Height: 1.93 m for 100 kg.
Age: 26  
Track record: Four-time heavyweight champion of France. (Kickboxing), European and World champion.

Enoch got exposed to the sport by coincidence when, for the first time, a friend took him to a boxing club. As a young hyperactive teenager, physically too big for his age and looking for a way to expend energy after a family tragedy, he was quickly infatuated. He had found the passion and something to live for. His first encounter in the ring was uneventful, but critical to his perspective on life. In spite of his imposing physique, he took such a good thrashing that it shaped his focus and he vowed to never allow such a humiliating defeat to befall him again.

A teachable moment:
Enoch quickly understood that "Boxing is not as easy as sweeping and dusting” I understood that appearances can be deceptive and theirs the need to work first within. I also understood all the rigor and control that the sport required. And I liked it, "he says. That was how the quest for excellence began; with a rigorous training regimen.
"In boxing, just like many sports, there’s no room for mistakes. We must set goals and make every effort to achieve them. It teaches us to be aware of our capabilities” and when one loses a fight one takes the defeat as a good learning experience.

When defeat motivates:
But his scathing defeat did not stop so far, quite the contrary. "It motivated me twice to continue, he says. It took me back to earth. I approached this fight without any hassle, I was just happy to show everyone that I had found a sport. After I knock, I still had to take the hit. But I think without that I would not continue boxing. You have to keep focused.
Once you become a potential commercial commodity you become prey to predators who would exploit you to the max. His vulnerability and ignorance in the complex business of boxing resulted in a sour relationship with his first coach as his rise in pro-boxing became noticed by the public. As a neophyte in the sports he succumbed to this exploitation until after suffering a few defeats he determined to fight the odds and go all the way to the top. 

World Champion with a 30% capacity:
With the relationship with his first coach growing sour he made a choice to join in 2004, a stable of pro-boxers managed by  Alain Zankifo  who represented a variety of martial arts champions in Thai boxing, kickboxing etc,. Enoch found relief and a sense of belonging and the road ahead became clear. Serious things began to happen.
Enoch took on very powerful adversaries and his young age and baby face was an asset that fooled his most ferocious adversaries who were 10 or 15 years older.  And before realizing the force they were up against, the young ‘Ashanti’ warrior was raining devastating blows on them. He demolished them one by one and since going pro in 2001 his career had seen lots of successes and grace.
His ambitions are rather on track judging by his career. Champion of France in 2002, winning pro titles in 2004 and 2005, first becoming the European champion in 2004. He finally received the ultimate accolade in December 2005 by becoming world champion, and his coach believes he "exercises only 30% of his boxing capacity; He still got more to give.
But why French kickboxing and not the much more prestigious boxing? "Because history has already been written in conventional boxing. I do not think you can do as much as Muhammad Ali, while in kickboxing, there is room to write a great story”, replied Enoch bluntly.

Reconciling work and sports career:
Here he is then at the top of his game without, according to him, reaching the personal goal he set for himself. Not having finished his collection of trophies he wants to use his success to better inform others. And at 22, his plan has always been to put her fame to good causes. "A career in sport is usually quite short. “And I'd like to capitalize on my image as a champion for developing personal projects”, he says. He does not buy into the ‘being black and part of the minority’ cliché, but believes that you can achieve your objectives if and with determination you harness all the resources available in any kind of situation.

Ghana my love:
His iron will was all the more strengthened after a journey to Ghana, the land of his parents, the land he had never known. When he went there for the first time in 2004 it was the shock: "I have no words ... I saw where I was, my origins, and although at first I didn’t consider myself a Ghanaian, because I could not speak English well, I felt a deep connection to the country. I was humbled by the wisdom and ambition of the youngsters” and it was then he knew now where to focus his efforts and his notoriety.
Boxing is very popular there, but few people know the discipline of kickboxing so he set up a federation and launched his own association, France-RSBF Ghana as a concrete gesture. His idea is simple: build a mini education and sports complex that is self-sufficient to cater for the underprivileged who have the potential to excel.  
He has already returned twice to Ghana to break ground and he’s looking to network and synergize with other athletes and champions of Ghanaian descent to put these initiatives into a better perspective for the greater glory of the motherland. He is still fighting in the ring because he believes life is about never letting down your guard, and that goes for the ring too. This young boxer still has a lot to offer to the game and his rise to fame has been phenomenal. He is still a major force to reckon with in the ring and we salute his achievements and quest for excellence in his art.

Visit http://www.nokefa.fr