Mr. Sammy Anim Addo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BabyJet Promotions, has disclosed that Ghana’s current lone world champion International Boxing Organisation ( IBO) Lightweight champion Emmanuel “Game Boy” Tagoe is ready to defend his title against Argentine boxer Fernando David Saucedo on Saturday, January 27 at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
Addressing a well-attended Press Conference at the new head office of Multi Choice in Accra, he said bout is dubbed “Defend to Glory” and will be Tagoe’s first defense of his IBO Lightweight belt he won in 2016 against South Africa’s Mzonke Fana.
The 31 year old stylish boxer has been out of action for a year due to injury and late withdrawals of his opponents, leading to his none rating in other boxing bodies despite being a champion.
According to Mr. Anim Addo, Game boy who has a record of ((27-1 13 KOs) has recovered from his injury and is in a secret camp training intensely to defend his title against the Argentine Saucedo (61-6, 10 KOs).
Mr. Anim hinted that Tagoe is fit, well-conditioned and ready to rumble .
“We are confident he will defend the title. Saucedo is a tough boxer but Gameboy is training very hard and he is poised to make a defense of the belt. We are also looking at making a mandatory defense of the title this year but our main agenda is to unify the division”.
Mr. Anim Addo expressed that their main target for 2018 is for Tagoe to unify the belts to add the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Authority (WBA) titles.
He pointed that BabyJet Promotions would use over $200,000 to stage the world title fight with performances from popular Ghanaian musicians Mzvee, Kwame Eugene, Luther, Tinny, Jupiter and Kidi.
Mr. Anim Addo said that they are prepared and committed to delivering a world class event and defend the World title for Ghanaians as promised.
He further urged all corporate sponsors, partners, celebrities and media houses to continue their unflinching support to ensure the bout is successful.
He announced that the undercard including a 10-round WBO Africa Welterweight Championship between Dodzi Kemeh and hard-hitting Tanzanian Mwinyi Mzengera, Daniel Lartey will face Daniel Aduku over 12 rounds for the National Super Welterweight Title Championship while Albert Mensah meets Charles Tetteh over eight rounds in the Welterweight contest.
The rest are Michael Pappoe against Enoch Lamptey and Theophilus Tetteh will engage a yet to be named opponent in a six-round Super Bantamweight contest.
The big fight is being organized in collaboration with Box Office Sports Promotions with support from Multichoice Ghana and other companies like Joy Industries, Run Energy Drink and Paradise Water.
The PRO / Communications Manager of Multichoice Mr. Nii Amah Dagadu reaffirmed his company’s pledge to the development of sport and added that, the fantastic night will be live on DSTV and Gotv across Africa.
Abrahim Neequaye, 2nd Vice President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) informed that the bout is sanctioned by the GBA and was optimistic that Tagoe will win.
Meanwhile, challenger for the IBO World Lightweight title Fernando Saucedo will arrive in the country on Sunday 21 January, 2018, from Argentina.
“Gameboy is the only world champion in the country and he needs the support of everyone to be able to defend the title”, he said.
Randy Kobina Opoku Afriyie, Operations Manager of Baby Jet Promotions urged Corporate Ghana to come on board to support since boxing presents big platform that can go in their advantage. He commended Joy Industries and other media organisations who are promoting the fight.
Dr. Manfred Takyi, CEO of Joy Industries said he was proud to be associated with boxing and urged other companies to support sports.
By Sammy Heywood Okine