More trouble for Emmanuel "Gameboy" Tagoe
IBO Lightweight champion, Emmanuel "Gameboy" Tagoe is headed for further legal trouble following the decision of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) to haul him before its Disciplinary Committee to explain some comments he made before and after his world title defence against Argentine David Fernando Saucedo.
According to GBA President Peter Zwennes, Tagoe (who is already facing a defamatory suit of GH¢1 million by boxing trainer Paul Dogbo) will also have to clarify some of his comments over the last couple of weeks.
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Mr Zwennes said trash-talking about an opponents skills was accepted in the sport as part of hyping up fights, but making defamatory comments about a fellow boxer is subject to sanctions by the GBA.
GBA President, Peter Zwennes
He said: "We can tolerate what we all describe as trash-talking in boxing when it's about your opponent and his abilities but when you go beyond that and make pronouncements and comments that have nothing to do with boxing then that is unfortunate and brings the sport into disrepute.
"I haven't seen a copy of the writ but I think if the defendant Emmanuel Tagoe indeed uttered those words then it is very unfortunate but as a regulatory body when there is an issue between two licensees we need to call them to order."
Mr Zwennes expressed his disappointment that Tagoe had chosen to cast aspersions at everyone but himself given his "abysmal and lacklustre performance" in his win against Saucedo.
"Incidentally, two days before I saw the report in the newspapers, we had actually summoned Tagoe and his managers to show cause why he should not be disciplined for the public outbursts he has been making both before and after his last fight.
"I thought that, given his abysmal and lacklustre performance on that day, he should have been more concerned about bettering his lot that casting aspersions and insulting practically everybody on sight but this is a matter we will get to on another day," added the GBA boss on the sidelines of a media encounter yesturday by Rising Star Africa Promotions at which it announced that Isaac Dogboe will face Jesse Madgaleno for the WBO Super Bantamweight title in the United States in April.
He further disclosed that Tagoe and his managers did not turn up for their first hearing but would be meeting the GBA board at a yet-to-be decided date.
