GBA: We won’t sanction Agbeko’s fights unless...
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) says bantamweight fighter Joseph Agbeko must restore his credibility as a promoter and be forthright in his dealings with the sport’s regulatory body if it is to sanction future bouts promoted by the boxer’s Fresh King Entertainment.
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The GBA is also asking that Agbeko’s promotion outfit fulfills all its financial obligations towards it, and others he is allegedly indebted to, in respect of previous promotions it staged in the past four years, to enable him to have a sound career.
A June 30, bout between 37-year-old Agbeko and Kenyan fighter, Nick Otieno, at the Bukom Boxing Arena was cancelled at the 11th hour due to contractual issues and refusal of the GBA to give the fight green light.
In an interview with the Graphic Sports, GBA President Peter Zwennes made a scathing attack on Agbeko’s credibility over the ‘no show,’ saying the bout was not sanctioned because Fresh King Entertainment, promoters of the fight, failed to fulfill many of its contractual obligations.
Disappointed at recent turn of events, Mr Zwennes was blunt in describing the former bantamweight world champion as engaging in acts of fraud.
“Four years ago, when we had barely come into office, Agbeko and his outfit, Fresh Kings Promotions, decided to stage a boxing bout, but we discovered that he didnt have the money and purses of the boxers, we borrowed from the Sports Ministry for him, and that has been his modus operandi,”, he told the Graphic Sports yesterday.
“What is even worse is, we had just discovered through the Kenya Boxing Authority that there was no contract between him and Otieno, and it is about time we told the whole world how fraudulent he is, and we would pull no punches”, the GBA boss alleged.
Zwennes, a lawyer by profession, further alleged that when the former two-time world champion was invited by the GBA for debt settlement, together with others he owed, he allegedly feigned innocence and parried the charges against Fresh King Promotions.
However, Abeko’s camp has debunked the allegations by the Ghana boxing chief, claiming they were unfounded and not a true account of the issues.
Agbeko, who has fought 36 times with five losses, was billed to face 43-year-old Otieno, but the Kenyan failed to show up last week for which the bout has been rescheduled for July 14.
In a sharp rebuttal, the CEO of Fresh King Entertainment, Ebenezer Noye, denied that Agbeko owed boxers or the GBA.
While admitting that Agbeko was indebted to some individuals and organisations, Noye affirmed that the boxer and his Kenyan counterpart barely had a contract. in place.