GBA: Government will cater for boxers' tests

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) says the government will take responsibility for testing boxers for COVID-19 ahead of the resumption of the sport later this month.

According to the General Secretary of the GBA, Patrick Johnson, the directive to cater for coronavirus tests of all boxers before fights was agreed upon by the government.

Promoters are looking forward to contacting the GBA to request for sanctioning dates to stage bouts following the government's decision to give green light for contact sports to resume this month.

In an interview with the Graphic Sports, Mr Johnson explained that promoters would be required to cater for venues and payment of boxers and officials, with the coronavirus testing to be done by the government.

“Per the directive by the government, promoters will not be required to cater for coronavirus testing. It will be done by the state as part of measures to help the sport. It will require a lot of restrictions to stage a bout under this circumstance but I believe we are on course to have fight nights resume as soon as possible,” he said.

Boxing was one of the sports which was suspended in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

With clearance given now, boxing is expected to return latest by December, with fighters looking forward to making a long-awaited return into the ring to entertain local boxing fans.