Boxing’s new kid on the block, Raymond Narh, would soon move base to England for a promotional campaign that would enable him appear on one of UK’s biggest networks.
Narh, who dethroned national and West African lightweight champion Smith Odoom last month, is being prepared to train in a more sophisticated gym in England and then fight on Britain’s premier television sports network, SportsNet. According to Narh’s UK-based manager, Al Hamilton, the boxer would move to England in May to begin the promotional campaign following a deal brokered with Briton Frank Warren, one of boxing’s leading promoters and owner of SportsNet. Hamilton returned to England after inspiring Narh to his stunning victory over veteran Odoom. He explained that the new deal would see the boxer campaign between Ghana and England but won’t be detached from his roots.
“We won’t take him away from Ghana. He’ll come down to fight occasionally, but fighting in England would give him the necessary exposure and international experience, as well as make him more marketable,” Al Hamilton assured. “Raymond has reached a stage where he needs to be prepared to his fullest potential, and in England he would be exposed to better training facilities to enable him reach his peak.”
The 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist may just deny Odoom the rematch he craves for. According to his manager, Narh could return to the ring in September for a title defence against Eric Odumase in Accra. After his Commonwealth Games exploits, Al Hamilton saw in Narh a future world champion and immediately roped him into his camp.
In their three-year association, the Jamaican-born Briton has invested heavily in moulding Narh into his present status.
Yet the ultimate aim of a world title wouldn’t come any quicker. “A world champion is being on top of the mountain; Raymond is at the bottom now. We’ll develop him physically and psychologically for it. He’s a decent young man outside the ring.”
