Kumasi, Aug 17, GNA - Newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) world Welterweight champion, Joshua "The Hitter" Clottey, on Saturday paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to officially present the title belt he won recently to him.
The visit was also to enable him thank Asanteman for their spiritual and physical support which he said enabled him to annex the crown from the champion in his fight against Zab Judah in the United States (US).
Clottey was led to the Palace by Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) as well as his technical men and some of his teeming supporters.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Clottey had brought honour to the country by achieving the feat and urged him to shun complacency and remain focussed on his career.
He reminded him that being a champion goes with responsibilities and that the time has come for him to be more disciplined, humble and determined as he strives for greater heights.
The Asantehene recalled how he followed the career of Joshua closely even in his days as an amateur boxer and said he was not surprised he had eventually emerged a champion in the world after many years of hard work.
He urged Clottey to seek early treatment for the injury he sustained in his left arm before he goes into further action for him to retain a clean record.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu cautioned officials and leadership of the GBA to always unite and bury their differences as they discharge their duties to ensure peace prevails in the sport to ensure the accelerated development of boxing in the country.
Mr Foh-Amoaning thanked the Asantehene for granting them audience and for his continued support for development of boxing in the country. Clottey said he was happy to have met the Asantehene and assured him of working hard to bring more honours to the country by fighting for the unification title belts in the Welterweight division.
