Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana

The Manager of Braimah ‘Bukom Banku’ Kamoko, Abraham Kotey Neequaye, has confirmed to the Graphic Sports that his boxer has accepted a request for a rematch from Michael ‘Ayittey Powers’ Okine, but on one condition that the bout would be fought in Kumasi where Kamoko has a huge fan base.

Speaking at the sidelines of last Saturday’s SWAG Awards at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Mr Neequaye was optimistic that such a bout would take place in the Garden City, but insisted that his boxer, who defeated Powers in a non-title fight last Thursday, would not accept the same purse as Powers in such a rematch. He asserted that Bukom Banku’s purse must definitely be more since he would be going into the rematch from a position of strength as winner of their last clash.

He dismissed assertions that Bukom Banku’s weight advantage enabled him to win the catch-weight contest by unanimous points decision, saying all parties agreed that since it was a non-title fight, the weight gain would not be an issue and would not affect the verdict.

After his loss, Powers attributed Kamoko’s victory to his weight advantage as he scaled in at five kilogrammes above the 90.7kg limit for a cruiserweight bout.

“I lost the fight because Bukom Banku’s weight is heavier than mine,” Powers said after the bout.

However, Ghana Boxing Authority president, Peter Zwennes, dismissed Powers’ claim, saying he had witnessed more catch-weight fights in which the lighter boxer had won.

“I don’t believe in what he said because I have watched more catch-weight fights in which the light boxer won,” stressed Mr Zwennes, who said Kamoko won the bout fighting according to the limitations of Powers.

Meanwhile, less than 48 hours after his grueling 12-rounder with Powers, Kamoko was back in the gym preparing for his first major international against Russian Rakhim Chakhkiyev (18-1, 14 KOs) for the WBC silver light- cruiserweight title. The fight is slated for May 30 at the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow, Russia.

Chakhkiyev won a heavyweight gold medal at the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing, China.