Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana
Emmanuel Tagoe vows to crush opponents
Former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion, Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe, has vowed to crush any opponent who stands against his bid to land a world title shot.
Tagoe told Graphic Sports that he was prepared to fight anyone for the WBO lightweight eliminator by October when the fight was expected to take place.
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The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) ordered Tagoe and Garcia to fight in an eliminator for the WBO lightweight title but the American opted out of the fight.
However, representatives of Tagoe and Ukraine’s Denis Berinchyk opened discussions for the WBO title elimination bout. Both camps commenced negotiations moments after it was reported that Garcia had withdrawn in favour of competing for a title with another sanctioning body.
In an interview with the Graphic Sports newspaper, Tagoe said he was looking forward to the bout which would get him closer to realising his world title dreams.
“I am glad that I finally have the opportunity to fight for an eliminator to the world title. I am determined to win the fight so I can land myself a world title shot.
“It is going to be difficult, but I must take my chance and that is what I look forward to,” Tagoe said.
The 31-year-old fighter returned to Ghana from his Florida base in the US last March after his scheduled bout with Filipino’s Rey Perez was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tagoe is hopeful of returning to the US in time for camping so he could prepare adequately for the fight with Garcia.
“I can prepare well here in Ghana because I need to be well-conditioned for a fight of this calibre and that is why I have to go back to the States.
“I am putting in place measures to get there in time to prepare for the bout. I’m hopeful I will be in shape by the time the bout takes place,” Tagoe assured.
However, Tagoe’s opponent, a 32-year-old undefeated boxer in 20 professional bouts with 17 knockouts, is looking forward to proving himself at the biggest stage of his career.
Berinchyk earned a unanimous points decision win over Hector Edgardo Sarmiento in his last bout in February this year, which was his fourth WBO international title defence.