Boxing News of Thursday, 27 February 2014

Source: Osumanu Al-Hassan

Banku to GBA: Ban me if I lose to Powers

Undefeated Ghanaian boxing champion, Braimah Isaac Kamoko, a.k.a Bukom Banku has notified the Ghana Boxing Association to ban him three years if he loses the impending April 18th non-title bout to his challenger, Ayittey Powers.

According to Banku, he will send his challenger to the canvass three times in the first round before knocking him out in the 7th round.

The bout dubbed, ‘Judgment Night,’ under the bill of Box Office Sports (BOS) promotion with support from Supersports and TV3 is expected to pull record crowd to the Accra Sports Stadium in April.

The World Professional Boxing Federation Light Heavyweight and WBO Africa Light heavyweight champion with un undefeated record of 23-0-0 and 17 Kos, vowed to add Ayittey Powers to his long list of opponents who have succumbed to his mighty punches.

Speaking at a press conference at the Accra Sports Stadium, the boxer noted that his challenger who claimed he had prayed for victory should go back to review the prayers because he (Banku) is not the stepping stone for Powers to achieve greatness.

“Ayittey wants to be champion? Let him look for another boxer who he can defeat. As for me, if Ayittey Powers beats me, make GBA ban me three years,” he declared.

His challenger, Ayittey powers who is based in Australia expressed his excitement at the opportunity to take on the champion.

According to Powers, he returned to Ghana to announce himself in a big way to the boxing world and what better way to start than to despatch the WPBF and WBO light heavyweight champion.

“Banku cannot beat me wherever he passes. Come April 18, victory is mine,” he declared.

President of the Ghana Boxing Association, Lawyer Peter Zwennes urged the two boxers to put on a good show on the fight night, noting that the fight would help raise the profile of Ghana boxing higher while offering the two the opportunity to showcase their unique talents.

Mr. Zwennes noted that the hype that the bout has received is likely to attract record crowd to the Accra Sports Stadium and probably beat the 130,000 record fans that watched the 1976 showdown between Ghana’s DK Poison and Danny Lopez at the same venue.

In a show of sportsmanship, Bukom Banku called on his supporters note to insult or use abusive words on his opponent claiming Ayittey Powers is a friend.

According to the champion, both boxers leave in the same community and receive support from every fan when a boxer in the community fights an outsider.

He noted that this is not a quarrel but a boxing contest to determine the best man in the game and urged his opponent and the fans to rally together to give Ghanaians and the world a beautiful fight.