Boxing News of Sunday, 11 March 2012

Source: Prince Dornu-Leiku

Ankrah leaves for UK confident of Commonwealth title win

*Ahead of his fight for the Commonwealth Super Bantamweight belt against incumbent champion Carl Frampton next weekend, Ghanaian boxer Prosper Ankrah departs Accra on Sunday full of confidence that he will return as champion. *

Ankrah (18-2, 13 KOs) takes on the unbeaten Frampton (12-0, 8 KOs) *at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, next Saturday March 17 in what will be the first fight outside of Africa for the Ghanaian. It looks a herculean task, at least on paper, for Ankrah whose *only career losses came the two previous times he fought outside Ghana

But after weeks of intense preparation and training under trainer Eben Amartey, Ankrah believes he is in the shape of his life and will be ready come Saturday night.

"This is a big opportunity, one I’ve been waiting for all my life and with the training I have received from my team, I can assure Ghanaians that I will not disappoint them,” Ankrah exclusively told *www.sportsinghana.com*ahead of his departure.

He added, full of poise: “Like every boxer, I also want to be a world champion and this Commonwealth title is what I need to state my case for a world title fight. I am confident that I will win.”

Sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control and promoted by Barry Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and set to be screened live in the UK on the famous Sky TV, the bout will be the second defence for Frampton who first won the title back in September last year and made a successful defence in January this year.

Ankrah who will be accompanied to the UK by his trainer Eben Amartey and Manager Ransford Anokye, has however shrugged aside any worries. He remains upbeat he will be victorious and is asking for the support of Ghanaians.

“I’m appealing to Ghanaians to all remember me in their prayers because I’m going to win this title for all of us. I promise that I will not disappoint,” Prosper Ankrah vowed.