“Judgement Night” is now May 16

The much awaited bout between Braimah “Bukom Banku” Kamoko and Michael “Ayitey Powers” Okine has now been rescheduled for Friday, May 16, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and promoters, Box Office Sports met on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 afternoon to set the new date. However at the time of going to press, the camp of Powers are yet to agree and inform the organisers of the new turn of events which the GBA say they will need one week to consider the new date.

The fight which was initially fixed for last year 2013 then to be promoted by Golden Mike Promotions who fell out of contract with Bukom Banku, before he was taken by Box Office and they decided April 25, 2014 which was shifted forward to April 18, to avoid clashing with another boxing bout at the Accra Sports Stadium. The big fight dubbed “Judgment Night” has attracted much publicity and interest that the request by Ayitey Powers for change of date as advised by his spiritual father, Prophet T.B Joshua has affected the bill in a way. Sources close the GBA said they wanted to impose severe sanctions on Powers if he fails to show up for the fight on April 18, but the Authority overseeing the promotion and development of professional boxing in Ghana and the promoters agreed to offer him another chance since boxing fans and many Ghanaians want to see whether he is a braggart or can stand Banku who is unbeaten in 26 fights.

The source said the GBA is not enthused with the way things are going and will go every length to protect the image of Ghana Boxing.

Powers early last week chickened out of the big bout against “Bukom Banku” claiming he has been directed by his spiritual father not to fight on April 18, which is Good Friday and as a born again Christian, cannot fight on that holy day.

Meanwhile, Box Office Director Alex Ntiamoah Boateng told yours truly everything is being done to make the fight come on and those who had already bought should not be worried. He promised to use the one month to streamline all the lapses in the organization of the fight to provide adequate security and making the venue very comfortable for the VIP who are paying 100ghc. He hinted that an exclusive entertainment package will grace night and those who can afford 10ghc for popular stand and 50ghc for ring side will have their money’s worth.

In another development, the camp of Bukom Banku has expressed their disappointment in Ayitey Powers because they want to use the fight as a warm up fight for the WBO African Cruiserweight Champion who has a fight in Germany.

Manager Abram Kotey Neequaye said he had to train hard to bring his weight down to the cruiser weight, however Banku is not perturbed.

“We are ever ready to fight Ayitey Powers any time anywhere. He called for the fight, why is he running away? Asked Coach Emmanuel Tagoe.

Ever since returning from Nigeria where he was delivered, Ayitey Powers has been training secretly.