World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Professor Azumah Nelson has advised the government of Ghana to give equal attention and support to all sporting disciplines as the people love different kinds of sports.
Speaking as special guest of honour at the Press Conference preceding the finals of the Bukom Fist of Fury Boxing League and Championship Fight Night on Saturday August 3, 2019, he noted that not every Ghanaian loves or want to play football, yet the government pumps most funds into football which does not yield the desired returns.
He expressed that if a fraction of what is given football goes into boxing, the nation will boast of many world champions.
The former WBC featherweight and super featherweight champion said Ghana is blessed with boxing talents and there is also the need to invest in coaching to produce more certified trainers who would hunt and groom the young boxers to become super stars.
Praising the Bukom Fist of Fury Boxing League and the organisers, he said the idea should have come long time ago, and he commended former Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) president Moses Foh Amoaning who is also the technical and marketing consultant of the concept for his role in ensuring that Ghana Boxing is kept alive with the participation of juveniles, amateur and professional boxers.
According to Azumah Nelson aka Zoom Zoom, boxers need much exposure and experience to be better, so it is ideal that the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation is also involved in the Bukom Fist of Fury.
He added that sports can turn lives round as the poor can become rich through boxing, so boxers should be given the much needed attention, and he commended the companies supporting the programme as funds are very essential to motivate and encourage the young boxers.
Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) president Ben Nunoo Mensah who graced the event at the MJ Grand Hotel at East Legon emphasized that all sporting disciplines should be respected as there are Ghanaians who love boxing, weightlifting, judo, athletics and other sports, so football alone should not always be the focus of the sports authorities.
He said whenever the government invests in the youth it is creating a better future for the nation, and believes that Ghana deserves more world boxing champions as the nation is blessed with boxing talents.
He called on the GBA and GBF to tap the knowledge and experience of the former world champions.
“It is our duty to support talented young sportsmen and women, if we fail them, we fail the whole nation” he stressed.
Moses Foh Amoaning thanked the companies backing the Bukom Fist of Fury, namely, GNPC, Goil, ADB and MJ Grand Hotel.
He said boxing has developed into a science with psychology, physiology and nutrition of boxers being considered as very important.
He hinted that after the finals, an award night is going to take place to honour some of the coaches, media and boxers who excelled in the first round.
He also announced that there would be a coaching course where Prof. Azumah Nelson, Ike Bazooka Quartey and Joshua Clottey will exhibit their skills and weapons to coaches and rising boxers.
He said the finals on Saturday will involve professional bouts featuring some of the finest boxers in Ghana like Michael Ansah aka One Bullet, Issa Bastie, Delali Miledzi and others under the Landmark Promotions.
Present at the conference were representatives of the sponsors and the Bukom Boxing Arena (TSEL).
The next edition of the Bukom Fist of Fury commences in September.
By Sammy Heywood Okine