I'm an international boxer, I don't do local fights - Bukom Banku

Having tasted victory in his maiden international bout, Bukom Banku has said that he will no longer take on fights on the local scene.

A rematch between Banku and Bastie Samir had been on the cards since the latter’s resounding victory over Banku in 2017.

In an interview with www.ghanaweb.com last year, Samir said that a planned rematch with Bukom Banku was stalling because his opponent was afraid of losing to him for the second time.

“I was supposed to give Bukom Banku a rematch which I did but it didn’t happen. I don’t want to go into the details of why it didn’t happen because it is a lot of things. We signed the contract but he was saying that for some reason he couldn’t fight”, he said.

Since that comment, Banku has gone on to fight German boxer Rojhat Bilgetekin which gave him his first international victory.

Banku said on the Atuu Show that he has now switched focus to clinching an international title.

“I have passed Bastie’s level. Bastie is beating me but God has done something for the world and people are seeing it now. I have passed Bastie level. I have gone to international, what am I coming to do in the locality boxing again. If you are going forward, go forward. I’m there for Bastie but for now am I’m focused on winning a world title.

Banku also downplayed suggestions his first international bout opponent is of mediocre quality.

He revealed the decision to fight the German boxer is part of a strategic plan aimed at getting him a world title bout.

“Every boxer is a boxer. If my promoter is doing the bout, he will make sure that he will give me boxers that I will win before I get to the international level. If you want to get to a world title, you beat the local boxers first, he explained.