Boxing like other sporting activities in Ghana has always had challenges with trying to make world title contenders and or ensuring there is a constant tournament that would give boxers the opportunity to explore and test their trained skills as well as learn to develop while acquiring requisite experience from their opponents.
There are about 27 boxing gyms in Ghana who train both juvenile, amateur and professional boxers and all these gyms complain about one determining factor, ‘funds’ to run the gyms and cater for boxers under their care as the owners of these gyms need to fend for their boxers.
Many Boxers in Ghana only get any form of sponsorship and assistance after breaking through and making name for themselves on the world market leaving the others with little support to put their names on the bill behind the scenes.
Ghana has produced many world title contenders, it can boast of former boxing world title champions, can also boast of making an impact at their recent Olympic, Commonwealth and African games because of boxing but have we thought about making boxing attractive to benefit the fighters whose career can end with one punch?
BoxinGhana.com took on a survey to determine who people would love to see boxing and their responds were remarkable.
Boxing like football has been lagging behind due to the limited branding and publicity in Ghana. Ghanaians only enjoy boxing when there is a title shot, an individual promoter decides to promote a bout, or when they visit gyms to watch boxers train, unlike football where they play leagues to determine the champion and at the same time qualifies the teams to compete in other competitions.
Is it time for the authorities in charge of Ghana boxing to consider forming a Ghana Boxing League? What would be the importance and benefit to Ghana, to the boxers, to the gyms and other stakeholders including boxing lovers?
With over 27 boxing gyms, proper planning and branding can financially boost every gym should a league be formed. With every gym represNented as a team, we would have 27 teams with a selected number of fighters whose bouts can be marked on points over a period and circulated with a cash and trophy prize at the end.
This will motivate cooperate entities and stakeholders who wish to invest see boxing as a field where they can support and not in a sport that takes place probably once or twice in a year.
• Boxers will fight and test their ability
• Boxers will have the chance to know their weaknesses and strengths
• Gyms will be sure to encourage and do more knowing there is a trophy at stake
• Sponsors will troop in knowing their names will constantly be published
• The world will know the talents Ghana has and make it easy to arrange bouts
• The financial stress on the Ministry, GBA and GBF will be shared with sponsors.
Every cooperate entity loves to invest in a sport that has or draws great audience and I can say on authority that, if Professor Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Johsua Clottey, D. K. Poison, Richard Commey, Isaac Dogboe and the likes kept the entire nation awake, then boxing is a sport to invest in and reap its harvest.
The following gyms have been training and raising talents in the sport who have projected Ghana at the highest levels. Wisdom Boxing Gym who featured on a American Radio was adjudged one of the top gyms in Ghana because of its constant production of talents among other gyms.
These gyms should be engaged for planning and deliberations towards the future of Ghana boxing and a possible ‘Ghana Boxing League’ which will bring more than sustainability but also profitability and growth.
- Akotoku Academy
-
Bukom Boxing Gym
-
Attoh Quarshie Boxing Gym
-
Seconds Out Boxing Gym
-
Billy Kotey Boxing Gym
-
Sonia Boxing Gym
-
Discipline Boxing Gym
-
Fit Square Boxing Gym
-
Sea View Boxing Gym
-
Black Panthers Boxing Gym
-
Beach Boxing Gym
-
Wisdom Boxing Gym
-
Will Power Boxing Gym
-
Stadium Boxing Gym
-
Alajo Boxing Gym
-
Odorkor Boxing Gym
-
Square Deal Boxing Gym
-
Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation
-
Palm Scream Boxing Gym
-
Bridge Boxing Gym
-
Dade Boxing Gym
-
Ultimate Boxing Gym
-
Azumah Nelson Gym
-
Bukom Boxing Arena Sports Emporium Gym
-
Wadada Boxing Gym
-
The Gym
-
Bronx Gym
These gyms have been behind the success Ghana has celebrated in boxing and still enjoying on the world front.
Samuel Takyi, the only Ghanaian medalist at the just ended Tokyo Olympics who happens to be a product of the Discipline Boxing Gym fought like a warrior with little polishing. Should these boxers be frequently engaged, they will always be in the best of conditioning, gain lots of experience fighting boxers from different gyms, work on their weakness and improve over a short period of time.
Written by: Nana Kojo Sakyie Eduafo-Quansah
Correspondence: Sarah Lotus Asare (Administrator, Wisdom Boxing Gym, GABA Assistant Administrator)
Read more on BoxinGhana.com