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Sulemana Martey fires back at Ghana Boxing Authority
Boxing and Fitness trainer, Sulemana Martey, has accused the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and Imax Media Promotions of misconstruing the true meaning of mayhem at the last edition of the De-Luxy Professional Boxing League to cover up their incompetence and mismanagement.
The 56-year-old former trainer of lightweight fighter, Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe, said lack of security personnel and the narrow gates at the Bukom Boxing Arena occasioned the bedlam that was witnessed during the October 29 edition of the league.
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“I am not perturbed at all by the ban; in fact I won’t pay a dime of that so-called GH¢5,000 fine. There was not a single police officer or security man during bouts and no proper arrangements had been instituted to manage the entrance and exits of the arena,” an upset Martey told Graphic Sports in an exclusive telephone interview in Accra last Friday.
Reacting to the one-year ban and the GH¢5,000 fine imposed on him by the GBA for his role in the October 29 disturbance at the arena after a bout involving Godwin Tetteh and John Zile, Coach Martey said he was neither invited for questioning by the GBA or notified about the punitive measures imposed on him.
“I only heard about the ban in the news, no one has invited me or asked for my side of the story. It is only on people’s lips and on social media than I’m hearing that I have been banned,” he stated.
He blamed bad officiating for most of the chaos associated with the league and also accused the authorities of using sub-standard ring officials.
“The referees and judges officiating the bouts aren’t professionals; they don’t know the sport and also don’t understand what they are doing,” he alleged.
Coach Martey alleged that many fans who went to the arena had guns, knives and other weapons, hence the need for maximum security at the arena.
“This is an arena where people come with guns, knives and all sorts of weapons. How is it my fault that there is a disturbance?” he asked.
He called for circumspection on the part of the GBA in judging him since his sanctions would not stop the violence at the arena.
“I’m a fitness trainer so I have a source of livelihood. I don’t care what they do and I won’t beg them to rescind their decision,” he insisted.
It will be recalled that the GBA banned Sulemana Martey of Sonia Boxing Gym for a year for misconducting himself at the Bukom Boxing Arena during the De-Luxy Professional Boxing League on October 29. Martey was also fined GH¢5,000 to be paid immediately or face further sanctions.
The ban, which took effect from November 2, 2022, followed an investigation conducted by the GBA Arbitration Committee which found Coach Martey guilty of instigating his supporters to cause mayhem, attack ring officials and destroy properties after the bout involving Godwin Tetteh and John Zile.