Boxing News of Friday, 21 October 2011

Source: Prince Dornu-Leiku

Abramovich facilitates $40m boxing arena

> He may have just joined the boxing fraternity and only last Saturday staged
> his maiden promotion, but Godwin Ahiakpor AKA Victor Abramovich has already
> made history for the sport in this country. ALL SPORTS can report that
> Abramovich’s Heart of Lions Promotions have convinced an Arab company to
> sponsor the construction of a boxing arena estimated to cost between 40 and
> 50 million US Dollars.
>
> Facilitated by Ahmed Rasly, an Egyptian based in Kuwait and a business
> partner of Abramovich’s, the contract to commence business has yet to be
> signed with government but we can reveal that a land located at the Kwame
> Nkrumah Circle in Accra has been donated for the project by the Captan
> family headed by Samir Captan, President of Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
>
> They will build, operate and transfer in a joint deal with the government
> of Ghana. “Our number one plan is to stage world title fights in Ghana so we
> need an arena.
>
> “The GBA estimated that about 15 million dollars will be okay but my guys
> who are a group of companies in love with Ghana boxing are saying they want
> to build an arena to international standard so they are investing not less
> than 40 million dollars to make it world class. It will become the hobnob of
> Ghana boxing, house offices of the GBA, shops where all boxing equipment can
> be sold, restaurants, bars, hotels and many others,” Mr. Ahiakpor explained.
>
> Ahmed Rasly told live Ghana TV inside the ring at the Lebanon House last
> Saturday: “We love boxing and want to help develop it in Africa and we have
> chosen Ghana because they have already produced many world champions and we
> think it will be the best place to base this arena which will be the first
> of its kind in Africa.”
>
> Appreciating it all was the GBA President himself who heaped praises on
> Abramovich. “It’s a big dream come true for Ghana boxing and a sign that the
> future is bright for Ghanaian boxers to win more world titles. We thank Mr.
> Ahiakpor for everything he is doing for Ghana boxing,” Samir Captan stated.