2 commissioned to revive boxing in Western Region

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has tasked two of its regional members to spearhead the revival of professional boxing in the Western region.

Mr. Twintoh Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Walker-King Promotions and Management Consult and Isaac Kweku Grantson, an Executive Member of the GBA are to liaise with the newly-formed Western Region Boxing Promotions Committee (WRBPC) chaired by Mr. Eric Kwesi Essel to carry out the duties assigned the committee.

The 11-member committee was named earlier by the GBA President, Peter Zwennes, and is set to be inaugurated on a date yet to be announced.

The inauguration is expected to be marked with a special boxing tournament to be held at the Market Circle with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, expected to lead a high profile guest list that will include the Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA) and his regional representatives, Metropolitan and District Assembly representatives as well as members from the corporate sector.

In an interview with the Times Sports, Mr. Twintoh Walker confirmed the new assignment from the GBA and pledged his readiness to help develop boxing in the region.

The committee, according to Mr. Walker, has been mandated to first set up an office in consultation with the Regional Sports Director of the NSA; from where its activities would be coordinated.

It will also collaborate with the Walker-King office and Grantson in respect of finding ways to raise funds to support its activities, establish boxing clubs in the region and organize periodic promotional boxing tournaments to sensitize the people and create awareness in the region.

The committee will also seek to bring on board former boxers to act as trainers for the various clubs, recruit interested persons to be trained as referees and judges as well as look for managers and promoters for the clubs and the boxers.

Mr. Walker who doubles as the GBA Chairman for the Central region told the Times Sports that the move by the GBA was in the right direction because boxing talents abound in the region but yet to be tapped.

“This is the surest way to go because a number of the youth in the region are very talented but when they start and see there is no support coming and realize the sport is not organized well, they quit and apply their hands to other things.”

According to the GBA licensee, apart from hoping to become world champions, boxing also helps in reducing the number of children on the street and that is one of the main reasons why the GBA’s effort must be embraced by all.