Former Ghana Boxing Public Relations Officer Mohammed Amin Lamptey writes:
The much anticipated WBA Super Featherweight Title clash between Ghana’s Raphael “Sweet Pea” Mensah(31-0-31-23kos) and Pueto Rico’s Alberto “El-Explosivo” Machado(19-0-19-16kos) is about to rock the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday July 21.
After several postponements due to fight technicalities,both camps and the Promoters have unanimously agreed to let it happen.The WBA mandated the Machado’s camp since last year November to negotiate a possible fight with Mensah but final decision to the much awaited fight kept swinging until finally 21 July was cemented to be the moment to separate the men from the boys.
Raphael Mensah is the third Ghanaian boxer who has been offered a world title opportunity this year.His compatriot Habib Ahmed failed to glitter back in February when he lost to Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez via a six-round technical knockout(TKO) for the WBA Super Middleweight title.
However,another compatriot, Isaac”the Royal Storm” Dogboe who in April knocked down the favourite Jessie Magdaleno in round 11 for the WBA Super Bantamweight Title in front of a partisan crowd, is the kind of inspiration Raphael Mensah needed to crown Ghana another world title belt.
This fight is not only close to call due to their unbeaten records and excellent knockouts,it’s also going to be a battle of the SOUTHPAWS.
I respectfully wish to urge all Ghanaians especially those within the boxing fraternity to remember Raphael Mensah in their prayers as we look forward to another sweet victory from the boxer known to be called The Sweet Pea.
For the media, I know what you can do with the very shot notice.Let’s get together to talk and write about the fight to help create awareness of the fight.
It’s my wish that Raphael Mensah will win the fight to take us back to the memory lane when in 1988 Azumah Nelson won his WBC Super Featherweight Title against Mario Martinez via a split point decision over 12-rounds in Los Angeles.
Gooooo Raphael!!! Goooo for the title!!!