Okon Bassey Asuquo is the son of a Nigerian farmer and a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He received this accolade from Queen Elizabeth last year, after, as Hogan ("Kid") Bassey, he reduced a French-Algerian pugilist named Cherif Hamia to bloody stupor and became the featherweight champion of the world. In the measured tones appropriate when speaking of an M.B.E., his English manager George Biddles declared, shortly after Bassey's first title defense: "I rather fancy that Hogan will be about some time as featherweight champion." In Los Angeles last week, the prophecy foundered in a sea of blood.
The...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
