The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ghana, Mustapha Ussif, has launched the second season of the Ghana Boxing League with a call on corporate Ghana to support the government to invest more in boxing to produce future world champions.
Encouraged by the success of the maiden Ghana Processional Boxing League, the minister said on Wednesday that he was very confident that the competition would provide the right platform to develop the sport which had produced 10 world champions such as David Kotei (DK Poison), Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Alfred Kotey, Nana Yaw Konadu, Joshua Clottey, Joseph Agbeko, Richard Commey,
Emmanuel Tagoe and Isaac Dogboe.
Mustapha Ussif (right) in a discussion with Maxwell Tachie, Chairman of Imax Promotions during the launch
Before the launch of the expanded competition, which commences next month, the minister declared his commitment to support sport’s development by declaring at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra that he had taken up the title of ‘Ambassador for Ghana Boxing’.
Expanded competition
The competition, organised by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and Imax Boxing Promotions, commences on March 11 at the Bukom Boxing Arena and would involve 14 gyms with the addition of the Armed Forces Gym and the Prisons Service Gym competing for honours over 20 fight nights.
President of the GBA, Abraham Neequaye, promised that the upcoming competition would be more exciting and very competitive as it would provide a platform for professional, amateur and juvenile boxers to fight regularly.
Fadi Fattal of Imax Promotions says boxing will enjoy significant investment if more sponsors come on board
The Group Director of Imax Boxing Promotions, Fadi Fattal, explained that each fight night would have seven bouts of eight rounds instead of the six-round fights for the maiden league.
He said over $1.7 million was invested by Imax Promotions into supporting boxing and was confident that with more corporate partners coming on board, the sport would see a lot more investment this year.
Experienced boxing coach and President of the United Coaches Association, Ofori Asare, urged all participating to be competitive and field quality boxers to thrill the fans.