``You may face tough, discouraging situations that may run counter to your dreams, but you only need to brace up,’’ Ekpo said on Wednesday in Lagos.
Ekpo, 30, who talked against the backdrop of his recent victory against Ghana’s George Amuzu, 35, in the 11th round of the West African Boxing Union (WABU) title fight in Ghana, stressed the need for boxers to have `determination’.
``You will need to be focused and determined in order not to lose hope.
``I started from home as a national champion. They say ‘charity begins at home’. I feel great now, but I started from home. I am now one of the top boxers in Africa.
``I still have to train harder than before, being a champion. If they will keep on training, not losing hope and focus, they will also rise.
``The only thing I will tell the young boxers is that if proper attention is not paid to you, you will need to encourage yourselves and depend on God too,’’ Ekpo stressed.
He noted that those athletes who look up to only the government for help to fulfil their dreams would certainly lose focus.
The boxer, who is aspiring to defend his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title in December, vowed to come out victorious.
While Ghana’s Amuzu has had 12 fights, with 8 victories and a loss, Ekpo has had 19 fights, winning 18, with 13 of them via knockouts, and one defeat.
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