The Embassy of the United States of America in Accra has denied two Ghanaian boxers visas to enable them to honour their professional contractual obligations in the United States.
Super lightweight Stephen Okine is billed to fight Bernard Harris over 10 rounds while Ayittey Powers is matched against Darren Woods in the 154 pound category also over 10 rounds on a card put together by Mr Steven Canton a boxing promoter based in Florida.
Speaking to the GNA Sports in Accra on Saturday, Mr Henry Manly-Spain, local representative of SJC Professional Boxing Incorporation of Fort Myers, Florida said the Embassy asked the boxers to reappear on July 28 for an interview even though they were on contract to fight on Friday, April 25.
He said they had forwarded their request through the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), which scrutinised the documents before giving their approval and subsequently forwarded them to the National Sports Council.
Mr Manly-Spain said the request of the boxers went to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for further scrutiny before they were sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which made the request to the Embassy on behalf of the boxers and their coaches and corner personnel.
The promoter said the due protocol procedures were strictly adhered to and wondered why the US Embassy officials would scuttle the opportunity for the boxers to announce themselves on the big stage.
He tendered a letter on the letterhead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated April 7 to buttress his claim.
The letter also bore the stamp of the Protocol Section and April 25 was stated as the date for the fights.
Mr Manly-Spain said the contracts for the fights had been signed and it would be an infringement on the rules of professional boxing if the boxers failed to show up for the contest.
Copies of the contracts, which bore the stamp and insignia of the Florida State Boxing Commission, revealed that each boxer would receive $7,500 as purse.
Giving his opinion on the issue, Dr Albert Arthur, manager of Stephen Okine said he was greatly disappointed at the turn of events because the boxers had prepared adequately for their engagements, adding that it required a lot of money to get a boxer ready for a fight and it was unfair to deny him the opportunity to earn a decent living.
He said the denial is an affront to the Ghana government on whose behalf the Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed the applications.
The sports loving medical officer said "the American Embassy's stance on the issue is appalling and if it is not checked, it would kill the interest in boxing because the US remains the Mecca of boxing and every good boxer wants an opportunity to appear in their rings."
