Ghanaian boxers need credible opponents - Captan
A former president of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and a celebrated promoter, Mr Samir Captan, has called on Ghanaian fighters to challenge themselves with credible opponents in order to prepare well for world championship bouts.
Mr Captan believes fighting tougher opponents would give boxers in the country the chance to excel when they get the opportunity at the world stage.
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In recent years, most Ghanaian fighters have failed to give a good account of themselves at the world stage.
The likes of Patrick Allotey, Rafael Mensah, Maxwell Awuku and Habib Ahmed all failed in their attempts to secure world titles.
However, Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe and Richard Oblitey Commey were successful in their attempts at the world titles in 2008 and 2009 respectively, but the duo reigned for only eight months as world champions.
Azumah, Quartey credible champions
Using celebrated former world champions Azumah Nelson and Ike Quartey as examples, Mr Captan told the Daily Graphic that the decision of some managers and promoters to allow their fighters avoid certain opponents and allow boxers to prove their weakness whenever they get to the world stage.
“The major problem now is how fighters get their title shot. Most of them fight half-baked boxers to build their records to the top and end up disgracing themselves and the nation at the world stage.
“The likes of Azumah and Ike at their time fought any tough opponent that came their way without any attempt to avoid them. We are not seeing these things now and it is worrying,” he noted.
GBA must insist on quality
Mr Captan, the current board chairman of World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Asia Pacific and Africa, explained that Ghana boxing would only attain its glorious days if the GBA ensures that Ghanaian boxers fight credible opponents and not half-baked boxers for easy wins to bolster their records.
