ON Friday night, former Olympian Jeanette Kwakye will make broadcast history on terrestrial TV screens.
The ex-sprinter, 37, will lead Channel 5’s coverage of Ashley Theophane’s eagerly-anticipated bout with Sam Egginton.
In doing so, she will be the first black female UK TV presenter ever to host a boxing production on one of the country’s five main channels.
But Kwakye is already a seasoned pro when it comes to hosting a sports show.
Currently, she presents the weekly hour long show The Women’s Sports Show on BBC Radio London every Saturday.
Speaking to SunSport exclusively, Kwakye revealed she had no idea that she was set to become the first black UK TV boxing on presenter on terrestrial TV.
She said: “It’s not something I knew or thought about when Channel 5 came in with the offer and asked if I’d be up for doing it.
“I just see myself as a sports presenter. Obviously, the fact that I’m a woman and I’m black means that representation is important. But it’s not something that crosses my mind all the time.
“I think it’s more about being in that position so young women, whoever they are, can relate and say I’d love to be able to do that.
“And if that changes the minds of one person and normalises what should be happening in sport, then so be it.”
Today, boxing has brought many female fans to the sport – not just watching the male fighters, but also female competitors who work just as hard, if not harder then the men, for credence.
Kwakye believes it is important that women have a voice in a sport that has forever been male-dominated.
“Before, it was an old boy’s club,” she said.
“But sport in general is all about making sure men and women have the same platform to be able to perform.
“Here we are now stepping into 2021 and women’s boxing is the strongest it has ever been.
“Matchroom have done an amazing job and understand that there is a market for women who watch and enjoy the sport.
“The likes of Terri Harper and Claressa Shields are showing their skill in the ring and that it’s an exciting time to be a female boxer.
“Off the back of that, you are more like to get women who are interested to get involved, so that’ll give us wider pool of talent going forward.
“If you are diversifying the sport and you are a promoter who understands that, then adding female fighters to your roster can only be a good thing.”
Kwakye grew up in East London – her mum and dad were originally from Ghana and moved to England in the 1970s.
She remembers how her father Michael, a fanatical boxing fan, would regularly record fights of the likes of Mike Tyson and George Foreman. That’s how she caught the boxing bug.
“Real boxing fans will know that Ghana, where my parents are from, is a mecca for boxing,” Kwakye explained.
“When we were growing up, my dad would record Tyson, Holyfield and Foreman fights on VHS and we’d watch them all.
“Being around that, and being an Olympian myself and understanding how disciplined you have to be to be a boxer, I’ve always loved the sport.”
Unfortunately, in the world we live in, Kwakye is aware she could face racial prejudice and abuse on social media.
However, she is where she is today because of her ability as a broadcaster and not because of the colour of her skin.
“When you look at athletes and black presenters in positions that are highly visible, criticism is bound to come,” she divulged.
“We live in a society where unfortunately things are not fair and things are not right.
“I’ve never had direct abuse hurled at me on social media.
” That may be because I’ve never been as visible as other black presenters.
“But I have had the occasional comment about box ticking, or I’m there because I’m black.
“The reality is I’m fully aware of my credentials and how good I am and could go on to be in this game. I won’t let that disrupt me.”
Ashley Theophane will fight Sam Eggington on 11th December on Channel 5 at 10pm
