The former acting President of the Ghana Boxing Authority, Referee Roger Barnor, was at post in the ring on Friday night in Tanzania, same as Samir Captan, the African Representative of the WBO, who is also Chairman of the Ghana Professional Boxing Interim Management Committee (IMC).
He presented the WBO Africa Junior Featherweight title belt to Tanzanian Salim Kassi, who defeated Ghanaian Cann Neequaye through a unanimous decision, 99-91, 97-93, 98-92.
Salmin Kassim (now 9-0-2, 5 KOs) handed Cann Neequaye, son of Abraham Kotei Neequaye, his second loss to drop his record to 15 – 2, 10 KOs.
The fight was held in Viwanja vya Posta, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Daniel Otoo from Bukom earlier beat Neequaye in Accra on the ‘Shi shi shi’ Boxing Night to celebrate Ghana’s 68th Independence Day anniversary.
Meanwhile, Ghana Professional Boxing is still under lock due to a suspension directed by the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. Many boxing fans in Ghana are worried about the current situation in the country, because boxers may find other jobs to do.
Mr. Evans Bernie Johnson, Chairman of the Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association, said it is unfortunate because some of them have invested in boxers and seeing Ghana Boxing under suspension, while the board of the Ghana Boxing Authority has been toppled and replaced by an Interim Management Committee, is like a coup d’etat.
“We have to protect our integrity, our investment, our passion, and our sport by resisting the oppressor’s rule,” he expressed in an interview.
He asked what magic the IMC is going to conjure to prevent death in boxing because boxers agree to contracts before fights, and they know it is a dangerous but lucrative venture. He said boxing is a profession just like a soldier going to war and defending his nation.
Meanwhile, Alex Ntiamoah Boakye, CEO of Box Office Promotion, has also disclosed that the boxing stakeholders will use legitimate means to address their concerns.
“We will seek legal advice, close all gyms and lay down our tools and go on a massive demonstration to take back our rights and freedom to operate,” he noted.
Mr. Augustus Dodoo, a boxing enthusiast, wondered how Ghana Boxing could be suspended, yet the ‘bigmen’ go and work in Tanzania with Ghanaian boxers while records are altered.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
