The year 2023 has been the worse year for Ghana boxing, for many, the once thriving sport that captured the hearts of all and sundry during the Azumah Nelson days through to Ike Bazooka Quartey, the Alfred Kotey, Joshua Agbeko, Joshua Clottey and many more and in recent times Isaac Dogboe and Richard Commey has taken a drastic and an unexplained nosedive.
Indeed, Ghana boasted a rich pool of charismatic and iconic boxers that made us stay glued to our television sets and marketed the brand- ‘The Mecca of African Boxing’ to the world.
It’s like a culture cliche, whiles the boxing league is gathering unprecedented popularity and patronage same cannot be said about our boxers in their outings. For example, this year alone (2023), Richard Commey lost to Jose Ramirez in March, Sena Agbeko lost the WBA Super Middleweight title chance against David Morrell in such a sober manner, prospect Musah Lawson replicated a similar painful loss in his WBC International Silver Super Welterweight title opportunity in the United Kingdom, Our budding talent Prince Oko Nartey, equally lost on his WBC Super Middleweight chance in Ireland.
As if that was not enough, Alex Ntiamoah ‘s protege, Prince Octopus Djanie lost the WBC International Super Bantamweight chance as well, then our hope, Isaac Dogboe lost his WBC Featherweight elimination quest in the United Kingdom, after coming short against his Cuban poster boy Ramirez in arguably a one sided affair for a second chance at the world title shot after his old nemesis, Mexican Navarrete had vacated the strap.
The list is endless, Patrick Okine lost in a Junior Welterweight attempt in the States, same applies to Eric Quarm. Richard Harrison Lartey’s chance at West African Heavyweight belt in Guinea also sublimed into thin air.
Alarming amongst all is in the amateur category under the Ghana Boxing Federation having it’s fair share of disappointments even with the rapid inclusion of the ever charismatic UK brawler- Seth Gyimah better known as Freezy MacBones.
In fact, the notable decline in popularity and cultural significance in our outings are so obvious and appalling as factors contributing to the diminishing fortunes are clearly visible but what has gained traction is the fact that boxing and boxer management and investment must be critically evaluated.
I was alarmed to read that the Ghana Boxing Authority could change bout outcomes from the comfort of their homes and Board meetings. But this is certainly a topic for another day.
The inconsistent and fragmented nature of our boxing Administration has become a cancerous molten magma that must be halted with immediate effect and it does not matter if you are Abraham Kotei Neequaye (GBA President), or Alex Ntiamoah (President, Promoters Association). If these two are the problem then they must be dismembered immediately from their respective positions for the sport to move forward.
The days of defending the indefensible are over and done with and by this I mean the communication of boxing matters. It’s regrettable that the Ghana Boxing Authority’s official mouthpiece has been reduced to a propaganda machine. What is unbelievable is the selective nature of its communication as their only strategic objective is a ‘push’ more like dumping of news. Unsurprisingly, that has given other people the platform to spew hollow propaganda.
The communication authority does not respond to calls or questions when called upon, a situation that is unacceptable in a public portfolio with vested interests like the GBA.
Using the successful boxing league as a yardstick, juxtaposes the fact that, if we change the modus operandi, we will get better results.
This is just a summation of my series. More updates is set to follow. Like the adage goes“a stitch in time saves nine.”
My name is Sammy Ofosuhene and I have love for the pugilist sport called Ghana Boxing !