Former Commonwealth Gold medalists Ray Narh AKA The Emperor will fight in Ghana for the first time in six years in a bid to relaunch his world title aspirations. Narh who has not fought in the country since a 4th round knock-out win against Alex Brew on Boxing Day 2003 will square up to Ugandan Maliki Kinyogoli in a 12 round bout on the identical date this year at the same venue, the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

According to Matchmaker Solomon Otoo Lartey, the 31 year old Narh will use the fight not just to win the vacant WBC / Pan African Lightweight title, but also set up a fight in March next year for the WBC / Inter-continental championship. The former NABC (North American Boxing Commission) Lightweight champion fought for the first time since 2007 only last August 15 when he defeated Marteze Logan in the USA. The Emperor, 23-1 (20Kos) also now resident in Pennsylvania in the US, has assured Ghanaian boxing fans of victory against the Ugandan in the topliner of the ‘Boxing Day Rumble.’ Put up by Box Office Sports together with Avanti Solutions and Optimum Media Prime (OMP), the night also has five other top clahses lined up to make your Christmas a memorable one.

“Our desire and determination to popularize boxing again is on and we shall not relent. Lack of sponsorship is the problem with boxing promotions in Ghana but hopefully we can convince more companies to come and support us. We’ve had three promotions this year and we thank Metro TV for sponsoring this event,” Mr. Otoo Lartey said.

Emmanuel Tagoe will fight Togolese Theodore Lokosso in a 12 round International featherweight contest on the undercard. In other bouts, Ayi Bruce of Wisdom Gym faces Ebenezer Lamptey of the Believers Gym in a National Light Welterweight Championship with Patrick Okine of Attoh Quarshie Gym fighting Panix Gym’s Ishmael Aryeetey in a National Featherweight Eliminator, both 12 rounder. Two 6-round Lightweight contests pits Samuel Kotey of Attoh Quarshie Gym against Peter Dorbor of Seconds Out Gym and Will Power Gym’s Emmanuel Mensah against Aminu Turkson of Fit Square Gym.