FEATURE: Meet Ghana’s featherweight prospects

For some time now, I have observed how the featherweight division in the country shapes up and I wonder why the fighters are denying us what could be great fights by fighting each other.

After all, that is what boxing is about and deserves in order to make the division one of the hottest in the country as well as bring the best out of boxers.

I know that hasn’t been the case lately, especially when managers and promoters refuse to pair up their fighters with stiff opposition in the ring but that can change.

Alfred Lamptey, John Laryea and Holy Dorgbetor have proved to be the three top fighters at featherweight and the fact that they are yet to fight each other doesn’t go down well with many boxing enthusiasts.

In 2014 and 2017, Briamah Kamoko alias Bukom Banku treated us to exciting fights when he took on Michael ‘Powers’ Ayitey and Bastie ‘The Beast’ Samir in what thrilled many in the country.

Those two fights proved how loving the sport is and I wonder why promoters are unable to put together such thrillers in the country. The answer is either the boxers are not willing to fight each other or their managers and promoters are not prepared to agree to it.

I believe this can be changed with a collective effort to have only credible fights on the cards whenever they are announced, but I doubt if that could happen anytime soon.

However, I believe if the featherweights we have in the country now can come together to face each other, it can spark a change across the other weight classes in the country.

I want to call on managers and promoters to consider pairing these fighters in what I believe could revive the dwindling fortunes of boxing in Ghana.

Alfred Lamptey

At 19 years, Alfred Lamptey has risen to become one of the best fighters in the country locally after winning the WBC and WBO Youth titles recently.

Nicknamed Showtime, Lamptey is undefeated in nine professional fights with seven knockouts to his credit. A product of the Black Panthers Boxing Club in Accra, he is gunning to become a world champion in the future.

Lamptey remains one of Ghana’s surest bets to a world title glory in the coming years and has on several occasions accepted the challenge to fight John Laryea.

Before he defeated Tanzania’s Iddi Kayumba to win the WBC and WBO Youth belts, Lamptey was ready to slug it out with Laryea for the national championship.

It is, however, unclear whether that bout would be pursued, especially after winning the two prestigious belts. But a potential fight with Laryea could have revived the division.

John Laryea

The undefeated John ‘Expensive Boxer’ Laryea holds the WBO Africa belt after dethroning Namibia’s Sebastianus Nathaneal at the Bukom Boxing Arena in September.

Laryea fights out of the Bronx Boxing Club at Jamestown in Accra under the tutelage of renowned trainer Lawrence Carl Lokko.

He held the national featherweight belt after beating journeyman Kamalrudeen Boyefio early this year before challenging and winning the WBO African title.

With nine wins and a draw in 10 pro bouts, the Bukom native is looking to break into the world ratings after his big win over the Namibian but I don’t think that should deprive boxing lovers a possible showdown with Lamptey.

Laryea has on many occasions showed his readiness to take up a challenge with Lamptey as he looks to earn the bragging rights over his opponent and that to me must happen.

Holy Dorgbetor

Holy Dorgbetor continued his impressive ring outing a fortnight ago when he earned a deserved unanimous decision victory over tough Success Tetteh.

The 19-year-old proved why he keeps calling out Lamptey for a slugfest by dominating the entire rounds to win the title.

Dorgbetor trains at The Gym in Accra and is yet to lose a fight in his seven professional outing to announce his presence as one of the prospects in the featherweight division.

A pairing with either Laryea or Lamptey could be a real test for any of the boxers and I look forward to seeing that happen as soon as possible.