By: Samuel Ofosuhene
Ghana’s Emmanuel is hoping to win the vacant IBF International Lightweight title and improve his record to (30 -1) when he entertains Russian Vyacheslav Gusev in the second edition of the Asamoah Gyan Fight Night 2 christened Saturday the 26 of January at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.
The 33 year old Russian ,Gusev made his debut in 2003 against Uzbekistani native, Pavel Kubasov over 4rounds which he won via UD.
He suffered his first defeat in April 2005 to Alisher Rakhimov ( 25-3, 12 KOs) who is currently inactive in the boxing column for over 3years now.
With 233 rounds of boxing chalked so far out of 30 bouts, Gusev Vyacheslav (25-5, 8KOs) has 27 percentage of KOs. On June 12, 2009, he attempted to win the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Featherweight title against Mexican Juan Carlos Burgos (33-3-2, 21 KOs) alias ‘Miniburgos’ in June 12, 2009 but failed.
His resurgence got him back on track with victories against Feliciano Dario Azuaga who is active with 118 bouts so far to his name from Conceptcion in Paraguay for the vacant World Boxing Organisation European Featherweight Title in 2011.
He later fought Anooksak Khowiloet and won via a UD to claim the vacant PABA Featherweight Title from the World Boxing Organisation European Featherweight strap.
In 2013, Gushev was defeated by American Gary Russell Jr (29-1, 17KOs) but came back stronger after two fights to win UD for the vacant International Boxing Federation International belt.
Interestingly, Gushev’s latest defeat was in April of this year 2018 to Spaniard Frank Urquiaga Cruzatt (13-1,1 KOs) over 8 rounds with his last victory coming in September against Thailand’s Yotchanchai Yakaeo ( 26 – 14, 21 KOs)
STRENGTH …..He jabs more and can travel the full length of the fight.
Weakness: Finds it difficult to kill fights and lacks that killer punch.
Gusev must fight a boxer who so much devides opinion in the Ghanaian boxing fraternity mainly due to his utterances.
That notwithstanding Emmanuel Tagoe (30-1, 14KOs) is a good boxer. Ranked 8th just behind his Ghanaian compatriot Richard Commey in the latest WBO world rankings.
His last challenge was against the Namibian Moses Paulus, himself a former world champion whom he retired over twelfth rounds.
At stake is the vacant International Boxing Federation International Lightweight Title and
World Boxing Organisation Africa Lightweight Title he won against Moses Paulus in October 2018.