Boxing News of Tuesday, 8 April 2003

Source: GNA Sports

Odametey fights for WBF title on April 16

Ben Odametey, former national and West African feather weight champion gets a chance to win a world super featherweight title for Ghana when he mounts the ring on April 16 in London against home boy, Carl Graeaves.
Speaking to the GNA Sports over the weekend, the Ghanaian boxer said though he knew nothing about his opponent he had trained adequately enough to be able to withstand whatever tactics the Briton would adopt.
Odametey, who goes into the fight with a record of 10 wins, one draw and a loss from 12 fights said he was grateful for the opportunity and promised to go beyond the ordinary to benefit immensely from it by stopping his opponent.
"I have my mind on bigger titles such as the WBA and the WBC and I shall endeavour to win this title to earn the right to meet their champions."
He promised to defend his world title against Mouibi Armstrong who dethroned him as national champion "because since that accidental win, Mouibi has become evasive and would not agree to give me a rematch, which I needed badly to redeem my image."
Speaking on the preparations of the boxer, Emmanuel Teiko Tagoe, known in boxing circles as 'Akisseh,' head coach of the Black Panthers Boxing Gym said Odametey was in fantastic form and spoiling for action.
"I supervised his training very well. He is properly conditioned and has had many rounds of sparring sessions with quality opponents including Ben 'Congo Soldier' Ankrah, Steve Okine, Joseph Sarkodie and Osumanu 'Golden Boy' Akaba.
Akisseh said in order to eliminate any climatic hindrances, he would depart with his boxer early enough to spend at least a week in London before the fray.
He praised Dr Albert Arthur, a management committee member of Accra Great Olympics and Alhaji Sumaila for supporting their preparations in various ways and hoped they would bring the title to compliment their effort.