Boxing News of Friday, 29 April 2011

Source: Prince Dornu-Leiku

Bukom Banku to fight for world title in Ghana

Local boxing hero Braimah Kamoko will have the chance to fight for a world title right here in Ghana later this year.

The man famously called Bukom Banku already holds the lightly regarded World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) Light Heavyweight title but will have a go at either the WBO world belt in November should he successfully defend his WBO Africa title against also unbeaten Brazilian Pedro Otas in Accra on June 25.

According to Mike Tetteh, CEO of Golden Concepts and Golden Mike Boxing Promotions, the deal to bring the world title fight to Ghana is almost secured barring any last minutes hitches.

Also crucial is sponsorship why Mr. Tetteh has appealed to corporate Ghana to push forward with financial and motivational support for boxing and its promotion cum development in the country.

“Boxing is a big business and a very big avenue for companies to market themselves to a global audience especially when it is the world title at stake. Our corporate entities must see the huge benefits to be accrued from sponsoring the sport, so like we’ve always done, we will continue to plead with them to come on board and let’s revive Ghana boxing,” Mike Tetteh stated in an interview.

Golden Concepts have regularly staged boxing promotions in the country for sometime now, culminating in the much publicized and successfully organized ‘Night of no return’ boxing extravaganza at the Accra International Conference Centre last January 29.

Bukom Banku then beat Uruguay’s Jorge Olivera Rodriguez to win the WBO Africa Light Heavyweight title which he will defend against against Brazilian Otas on June 25 on another Golden Concepts promotion dubbed ‘No turning back.”

Despite the huge costs involved among other financial commitments, Mr. Tetteh says corporate Ghana have not responded to several overtures from his outfit for sponsorship.

He is full of praise for Service Star Frozen Foods based in Tema who have solely remained sponsors of Golden Concepts events, but is appealing to leaders in the Ghanaian business community to channel some of their sponsorship to boxing and the rewards will be enormous.

“Bukom Banku’s world title fight in Ghana is a done deal and we have almost agreed for a date in November. But corporate Ghana must support with sponsorship otherwise it could be a difficult dream to realize.

“We thank Service Star Frozen Foods for their unflinching support over the years and we hope other big companies will follow suit,” Mr. Tetteh added.