World title will elude Ghana for some time — Alhaji Tofik
A MANAGEMENT member of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Alhaji Muritella Tofik, has predicted that the country’s downward trend in boxing will continue unless the local boxers are made to fight credible opponents.
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He explained that currently the country has no boxers worthy to win a world title and this trajectory is expected to last for some years.
He attributed this to the lack of quality boxers in the country currently and the failure of boxers to fight credible fighters as opponents.
“I don’t see any world champion in Ghana anytime soon. Our so-called elite boxers don’t want to fight credible fighters. They are not made to face-off with serious challengers, they get the easy way out,” he told the Graphic Sports in an interview in Accra last Thursday.
The veteran boxing trainer and manager who owns the famous Ambition Boxing Promotions alleged that managers and promoters have resorted to making quick money out of boxers in the country and were not interested in titles.
He accused most boxing managers of promoting easy fights for boxers in the country and ignoring credible challengers whom their wards could fight and become better boxers.
“Those in boxing now are looking at the little they can make out of their boxers. They are not patient, they don’t care. All they want is quick money,” he stated.
He recalled that during the heydays of former world champion, Joshua Clottey, he used to trek to Nigeria and other neighbouring countries to secure him a good boxer to spar with just to become better.
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According to him, this made Clottey an African Champion who went on to win the world title.
“We have credible and good boxers in the country but they are scared to fight each other to better their lot and expose their weaknesses. Good boxers are not fighting good boxers. They are fighting journeymen.”
According to him, until the trend is changed, it will be very difficult for Ghana to get a world champion.