Boxing News of Wednesday, 24 March 2004

Source: GNA

National champion, Ben Odametey wants a manager

Accra, March 24, GNA - Ben Odametey, national featherweight boxing champion is in dire need of a manager who will oversee his development and guide him to win bigger titles.

He told the GNA Sports on Wednesday that he had been without a manager for upward of two years and the situation was threatening his career and called on good willed sports enthusiasts to come forward and manage him.

The national champion said though he has the potential of winning African and Commonwealth titles within the shortest possible time before intensifying his quest for a world title, he was finding things very difficult because he has nobody to make a case for him.

"I don't get fights regularly because I don't have a manager who will arrange them for me and more importantly, the absence of a manager is greatly affecting my training and form," he said.

Ben who won the national title after out-pointing Cape Coast based Ali Alabi at the Accra Sports Stadium last month said he was prepared to defend it against any credible opponent.

He said he would not avoid any worthy challenger who comes forward because he was sure of winning against every boxer in his division and called on promoters to give him fights regularly so that he would peak and bring honour to Ghana.

The champion said he was grateful to Alhaji Tofik for guiding him to his present status, adding that he would be prepared to sign either a short term or long term agreement with whatever group that wishes to manage him.