Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana

The roller-coaster ride involving controversial boxers, Michael Ayittey Powers and Braimah Kamoko, alias Bukom Banku, is nearing an end as bout promoter Alex Ntiamoah Boakye of Box Office Sports Promotions has given up on Powers, by settling on Nigerian boxer, Michael Gbenga, to face Kamoko in a non-title fight on May 16.

Last Saturday, Ntiamoah Boakye revealed on TV3’s Diva’s Show that Powers would not have an opportunity to postpone the bout again as he was no longer on the bill for the May 16 slugfest.

He explained that the new turn of events had been occasioned by the indecision by Powers through his request to pull out of the first sanctioned date of April 18 and his attempt to seek another postponement of the May 16 date by refusing to sign a supplementary contract last week.

“This latest development by Powers is costing me sponsors; sponsors are withdrawing and we are losing money,” a dejected-looking Alex told his host.

The promoter expressed disappointment at these developments and insisted that although a fight would happen on May 16, it would not be between Powers and Kamoko, but more likely to be between Kamoko and Gbenga.

In 2005, 34-year-old Gbenga lost the vacant African Boxing Union light heavyweight title to Kamoko at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in a close contest (108-118, 109-118, 110-119).

But six years later, he knocked out Powers in the ninth round at the Accra International Conference Centre to claim the vacant national light heavyweight title.

Gbenga, whose ring record stands at 18 wins and 12 losses), has always sought an opportunity to avenge his loss to Kamoko in what boxing connoisseurs believe was the toughest fight by the undefeated Ghanaian.

Meanwhile, Mr Boakye confirmed in an interview on Accra-based TV station, GH-One,  hours later after the Diva Show that Powers would only be offered another opportunity to fight with his Bukom nemesis at a later date in August, this year. 

However, in a surprising rebuttal, the sanctioning body, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), has told Graphic Sports that until it received an official correspondence from the promoters in respect of a change of fighters, it expected the Powers-Kamoko bout to come off as scheduled next month.

Nana Darkua Dodoo, spokesperson of the GBA, told the Graphic Sports the sport’s governing body would only react after the promoter had written officially to them about a change of opponent for Kamoko.

“What we know is that, Powers and Bukom Banku have a fight on May 16 and that is what we expect to happen. For Powers, it is either he is in or out. If he is in fine, if not we will come out with the necessary sanctions,” she said.

“Powers has many advisors who influenced him not to sign the supplementary contract, although he asked for more time to study the contract.”

The GBA, which gave Powers a deadline today to sign the contract, is expected to hold an emergency meeting later today to deliberate on the issue, among others.