Mortein boxing gets bigger

Accra, Dec 16, GNA - The Mortein Boxing League that was initiated three years ago by the Ghana Boxing Authority, (GBA) has taken another further step towards the development and promotion of boxing in the country.

This follows the creation of an opportunity for champions who emerge from the competition to have a shot at national titles. As a result of this new arrangement, Isaac Nettey of Square Deal Boxing Gym and champion of the Super Flyweight Division of the League will challenge Isaac Quaye, holder of the National Super Flyweight title.

Lante Ady, holder of the Mortein Boxing League Bantamweight title will also challenge National Bantamweight Champion, Galley Cudjoe for the title in that division.

Also in line is an opportunity for another Mortein sensation, Yakubu Amidu, National Super Featherweight champion who is expected to mount the ring to battle Tossavi Louis of Benin for the newly created West Africa Super Featherweight title.

The bouts have been fixed for December 26 at the Frank Ofori Tennis Court of the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra and will have six other fights on the bill.

The bill, which is under the auspices of Far East Mechantile, distributors of Mortein Insecticides and the GBA will attract a rate of 15,000 and 20,000 cedis at the popular stand and ring side respectively. Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Chairman of the GBA told the GNA Sports that the concept of a boxing league for the nation is gradually taking shape, following the opportunities provided the graduates of the league to vie for national and West African titles.

He said the aim for the creation of the league is to form a platform for up and coming boxers to rise from the amateur ranks to the professional level.

According to Mr Foh-Amoaning, the December 26, promotion is the fulfilment of a great vision and stabilisation of the concept as it is gradually paving the way for boxers to rise through the ranks to the world level. Mr Foh-Amoanin g said more of such fights would be made available to graduates of the league in order to sustain the dream of developing boxing talents for the nation.

The GBA Chairman also announced that the West Africa Boxing Union (WABU) has been activated with Ghana, serving as the temporal secretariat, adding that this will further enhance the chances of Ghanaian boxers in their bid to get to the international scene. The Mortein Boxing League in its maiden edition in 2003, saw two boxers being selected from each weight category to compete for the ultimate crown.

It was expanded in 2004 with the selection of four boxers from each weight category vying for the title. The 2005 edition has however seen a major break through thus creating the platform for the graduates to take a shot at national and West Africa titles. 16 Dec 05