GBA demands for neutral match officials for Okine's fight

Accra, Jan 12, GNA - The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has demanded for the appointment of neutral match officials for next month's Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) Welterweight elimination bout between Ghana's Joshua "Bukom Tsatsu" Okine and his Ugandan opponent Ali Nuumembe.

The GBA on Wednesday forwarded the demand to the CBC requesting for the neutral officials for the fight, which is scheduled for Bolton, in United Kingdom (UK) on February 12.

The request is in line with the policy of the GBA, which ensures that Ghanaian boxers enjoy fair officiating in their international bouts.

The GBA in its request is demanding for neutral referee and judges, which should possibly include a Ghanaian. Information gathered by the GNA Sports from the camp of the Ghanaian boxer and the GBA reveals that even though Okine's opponent is a Ugandan and an African, the request has become necessary because he has been based in the UK for the past years and would be a familiar figure there. The GBA is therefore of the view that the CBC will grant their request in order to grant the Ghanaian a level playing field in the bout.

Okine is scheduled to leave for London early next week for UK to prepare adequately for the fight.

The fight will provide the Ghanaian an opportunity to vie for the title he lost to Kevin Anderson of Scotland. After the fight, the camp of the Ghanaian accused the match officials of biased officiating and asked for an instant rematch. The CBC however rejected the request and declared that the officiating was fair.

In spite of that ruling, the CBC ordered for an elimination bout for Okine and thus a victory for him will afford him the opportunity to go for a rematch against Anderson.