Sports
Our boxers got to be serious!
For more than four years now, Ghana’s boxers have flung away golden opportunities to be world champions – some crashing in the most irritating manner.
It is now becoming a mystery to many Ghanaians how they even got to fight for the crown in the first place. Could it be that they have got managers who possess the ‘golden touch’ and could make things happen any time?
On Saturday night, another Ghanaian – Jude Micah, was tipped to correct the recent pile of wrongs by sealing the mouths of the skeptics in a showdown with WBO bantamweight champion John Casimero.
Sadly, 30-year-old Casimero rather turned the heat on Micah with a 3rd round TKO at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut to retain his WBO bantamweight belt.
The experts say Micah was not ready and should not have accepted the fight.
With the win, Casimero improved to a 30-4 record with 21 knockouts. It was Micah’s first loss of his career after 25 bouts, ending hopes of the nation to get a world champion before 2021.
Two years ago, two Ghanaian boxers were also handed brilliant opportunities to rule the world in the pugilistic sport. They blew them off with careless abandon!
Indeed, many Ghanaians were thrilled beyond measure on hearing that Habib Ahmed and Maxwell Awuku had been handed very rare chances of contesting for the world title.
For them, the nation could add one or two titles to the only one we had then – Emmanuel Tagoe’s IBF lightweight coronet. Wrong! The two pugilists were crushed in the most humiliating fashion, offering only a powder-puffed challenge to the Mexican champions.
First, it was Ahmed Ahmed (now 25-1-1, 17 KO), who set the ball rolling on February 4 with a lame performance against Gilberto Ramirez in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight championship, as the Mexican thumped the Ghanaian in the one-sided contest that lasted six rounds.
The southpaw Ramirez, thus, improved to 37-0 with 25 KOs as he defended his 76- kilogramme (168 pound) title for the third time since winning it from Arthur Abraham in 2016.
Then, on the night of February 11, Awuku (44-4-1, 30 KOs), was stopped just in the third round by Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt (33-1, 29 KOs) in Cancun, Mexico, in the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title fight. The Ghanaian was a bad patch on the night – and was beaten to pulp.
Perhaps, losing to the Mexican world champions was not really the big deal here – but the humiliatingly lethargic manner they succumbed to the battering. Excuses that the Ghanaians did not have enough preparations ahead of the fight can only be plausible.
Fact is that our men did not come to the party at all. They only came to dance through the drills. They staggered into the ring and lamely offered themselves as sacrificial lambs. They had nothing to show. The legendary Ghanaian firepower, doggedness, aggressiveness and doughty character were all sorely missing.
It was all-too unfortunate because they missed a huge opportunity to advertise themselves to the world proper. If they had lost gallantly, their names would have been etched on the minds all. The world would have been talking about them by now.
One could easily point to Ghana boxing legend Azumah Nelson, in this respect.
In 1982, no one outside of Africa knew anything about Nelson, who had a paltry record of 13 bouts and was brought in as a last-second replacement for top contender Mario Miranda. Aside from holding the Commonwealth featherweight title, he possessed no qualifications for a shot at the world championship whatsoever, much less a bout with the man regarded as one of the finest performers in the sport.
As a result, only 5,500 showed up at Madison Square Garden in New York in the night of July 21, 1982. But those who did were treated to a truly thrilling battle.
In contrast to Nelson, Sanchez, at only 23 years of age, entered the ring that night with the mantle of greatness already upon his shoulders. Since turning pro in 1975, his career had moved fast, almost as fast as the sports cars he loved to drive.
He fought frequently, at least six bouts per year, and since battering Danny Lopez to win the featherweight crown, he had notched nine title defenses in just two years, his exciting knockout win over Wilfredo Gomez cementing his status as, pound-for-pound, one of the very best.
Indeed, Sanchez was big! He was dreadful! But Azumah cared less about the might of his opponent and was utterly aggressive all night when he was offered the opportunity to fight him – from round one till the referee halted the fight in the 15th – with the challenger showing Sanchez no respect.
And as the challenger took the 13th round on the strength of his brawling attack, his right hands forcing Sanchez to retreat, it began to dawn on incredulous reporters and ringsiders that they were witnessing not only a war for the ages but possibly too, a momentous upset.
There are a number of reasons why this classic fight has been largely overlooked in the years since. First of all, Sanchez vs Nelson had the misfortune of taking place during a banner year for monumentally exciting clashes. A thrilling contest which would have easily been Fight of the Year at other points in time found itself in fourth place behind Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello, Bobby Chacon vs. Rafael Limon IV and Wilfredo Gomez vs. Lupe Pintor, all magnificent wars.
The truth remains that a young Azumah Nelson gave an electrifying performance that night – an astonishing exhibition of heart and determination that could only have been withstood and overcome by a boxer of equal courage and even greater talent.
Predictably, Azumah’s name was all over the place. He was hailed in defeat and it may have come as no surprise at all when the Ghanaian was presented with the chance to fight for the world featherweight crown after the unfortunate death of Sanchez in a motor accident on August 13, 1982.
So, December 8, 1984 came and Azumah knocked out Wilfredo Gomez in the 11th round in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to win the nation’s second world title after D.K Poison’s exploit on September 20, 1975.
This was the way our boxers (Ahmed, Awuku and Micah) should have gone. Go there and represent the nation positively. Fight, fight and fight – and carve a niche for themselves even in defeat.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Sports
A welcome elections respite
Ghanaians of voting age would be expected to participate in today’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections to be held in every district, metropolis, constituency and region of the country.
It is such a very important exercise no fanatic of politics would want to miss due to the quest to have favourite political groupings to wrestle power.
Elections in Ghana for close to three decades have been about two of the biggest political parties in Ghana – that is, the New Patriotic Part (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In between the spaces, a few ‘mushroom’ political groupings have attempted the unthinkable but lived to experience outcomes that questions the rationale behind decisions to even contest.
It is not as if they were unaware of those shocks – they knew perfectly well.
Not even the great Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) has managed to break the duopoly the NPP and NDC dominance.
Such is the importance followers of the two parties attach to their respective political parties’ capture power to remain in the helm of affairs as far as development of the country goes on.
Today, the importance of the elections would be felt across the various divides and sectors including sports.
The volatile nature of the exercise has required a suspension of most sports related activities across the country in the various divisions.
Officially, there have not been any formal communication to that effect from sports like boxing, athletics, tennis, golf and others with the aptitude to command the masses.
However, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially announced a week break for all members, all of its competitions.
The break is to enable all football stakeholders to perform their civic duties in today’s general election.
What this mean is that the Ghana Premier League (GPL), the Access Bank Division One League (DOL), the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League (WPL), and all other competitions will take a week’s break.
Apart from enabling people to honour their civic responsibilities, the elections break also provide a welcome relief for the GFA, the Black Stars, Coach Otto Addo and local boxing icon, Ayitey Powers, whose promotional outfit has come under fire for nuisances associated with his promotions.
Starting with Powers, the least said about the confusion generated from his promotions leaves much to be enthused about and not good enough for a young promotional outfit.
Fortunately, his last two promotions have been the biggest – first staging the ‘Power of the Fist’ on June 29 at the Bukom Boxing Arena and headlined by a National Super Middleweight Championship, involving Elvis Aworgah, popularly known as ‘Soldier’ and Ernest Baubali.
Powers staged another big event the last two weekends, which just like the aforementioned event, ended on a controversial after confusion whether the main event was a championship or an eight-rounder.
That caused an abrupt end to an event that had guests spending over 12 hours at the arena.
It left enormous question marks over Power’s promotional integrity and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) ability to ensure boxing is handled professionally as boxers report very late for promotions while fans are compel to sit and wait for extra hours.
The break will also, surely offer some breather to the GFA and Coach Otto Addo who have been on firing line since the Black Stars failed to qualified for AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
Addo had guided the Black Stars in one of the team’s worst campaigns in AFCON qualifying history, emerging winless in six games played against Angola, Sudan and Niger as all three countries beat and drew with the Black Stars.
The FA has since come under intense pressure to take a decision of the future of Coach Otto Addo who indicated he was going nowhere despite an overwhelming call by fans to quit.
But it appears all those issues have been buried under the carpet while Ghanaians look forward to either give the NPP an unprecedented third term with Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the saddle or hand the baton over to NDC as former President, John Dramani Mahama, wait patiently to continue with the race.
But assuredly, those issues that remain undigested would not be kept under the carpet forever; as long as there would be life after elections, Insha Allah, football and boxing fanatic would be back to exhaust all.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
MTN FA Cup thrills: Hearts to slug it out with Immigration FC at Pobiman
Record holders of the MTN FA Cup, Accra Hearts of Oak, will tomorrow begin their journey to another conquest when they welcome Division One League (DOL) side, Immigration FC, to the Pobiman Sports Complex for the round of 64 clash.
The Phobians will be going into the game with memories of that painful loss to Nania FC from the same division last season.
With many focusing their attention on their “El-Clasico” game against bitter rivals, Asante Kotoko, on December 15 in Kumasi, chieftains at the club would be hoping Coach Aboubakar Ouattara and his charges would guard against complacency in this game.
Immigration FC have proven to be tough customers in their away matches, having already trekked to the Ho Sports Stadium to blow away home side, Dynamo FC, at the preliminary stage game.
What remains to be seen is whether they can replicate that fine form against the record holders.
Defending champions, Nsoatreman FC, will look to start their journey to retain the title when they welcome Division One League side, Techiman Heroes, to the Nana Amoah Kronmansah II Park in Nsoatre tomorrow, while Asante Kotoko line up against lower side, Future Stars, at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
In other games today, the WAFA Park in Sogakope will host the clash between Agbozome Weavers and Accra Lions, African Talent will stay put at the Blue Sky Pelican Park in Doboro to host Kotoku Shining Stars, while Northern City take on Wa Sore Nante at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale.
Wa Power FC will welcome Tamale City to the Malik Jabir Stadium, King Faisal will host Asokwa Deportivo at the Ejisu Okese Park, Nations FC will visit the Len Clay Stadium to play as guest of New Edubiase at the WESCO Park in Kumasi, Acceleere82 will face Sefwi All Stars, Malima FC and TF Exponential FC will sort things out at the Tumu Astro Turf with the Bekwai Gyamfi Park hosting the clash between Bekwai Heroes and PAC Academy.
The rest of the matches will see Real 24Hours play Karela United, Berekum Chelsea host Boresa FC, Debibi United take on KAC Soccer Academy, Aduana Stars host Dormaa Unity, Techiman Liberty host Bofoakwa Tano, while Young Apostles come up against Techiman Eleven Wonders.
Sky FC will face Wise, Nzema Kotoko will face Medeama SC, Nsuopon Fidelity come face to face with Elmina Sharks, Ebusua Dwarfs slug it out with Soccer Intellectual while Baseke Holy Stars engage Gap Soccer Academy.
Also, Samartex FC will engage Bibiani Gold Stars, Dreams FC against Heart of Lions, WAFA go face to face with Golden Kicks, Na God FC oblige Nania FC, True Democracy against Koforidua Sempi FI, while Danbort FC play Vision FC.
By Raymond Ackumey
