Ray Narh keen on world title fight

*Ghana’s Ray Narh says his determination to become Ghana’s next boxing world champion knows no bounds. The man famously called The Emperor is still awaiting news from his managers and promoters on his next opponent for the defence of the WBC USNBC Lightweight title he won last month within 90 days of claiming the title but Ghanaian is already eyeing a fight for a world title by the end of the year.

Narh says his second round stoppage win overAngel Hernandez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the April 3 undercard of Bernard Hopkins’ defeat of Roy Jones Jnr is a message to the big boys of the lightweight division that The Emperor is ready to begin his reign.

“Yes I am feel great coming from a long hiatus to win this title but I am not resting yet. The victory is my message to all big cats out there that I am coming for them. Diaz, Soto, all of them, I am ready to beat anyone. The agenda to become Ghana’s 8th world champion is on and nothing will stop me,” Narh told SportsInGhana.com in a chat from his US base.

Hernandez was a last minute replacement for Mexican Michael who pulled with just days to the fight but Ray Narh says he was no easy opponent despite the easy win. “No opponent is easy for me and the guy came into the fight with so much aggression. Maybe he wanted to surprise me but that is when I knew i had to slow him down and then started hitting him hard.

“Then i had him covered and delivered more jabs and shots to his head and soon he was running for cover,” Narh said of the victory which he dedicated to his wife Kate Narh and daughter Jada Rae because “Kate gave me Jada Rae and I love them very much, they are my everything.”

The 22nd knock out of his 24 career wins with just one defeat has opened up the question if the former Olympian trains towards knock-outs ahead of fights. But Ray says that is hardly the case. “I don’t know what to say about that but I always train to go the distance but the knock-out comes by itself. And it makes me a knock-out specialist but my aim is to win fights and it doesn’t matter to me how,” Narh stated.

Now as he waits on word of who will be the opponent for the mandatory defence of the WBC USNBC crown, Narh says he is fired up for anyone in the lightweight divison anytime, anyday. That is why he will go for nothing than the victory he believes should set him up for a world title fight by the end of the year.

“I am up and already training for the defence of this title even though I don’t know who will be the opponent yet. I want to win the world title and apart from the WBC title which is my main target, I am interested in the WBA, WBO and the IBF. Whichever will give me the first opportunity to fight for their belt, I will be appreciative and grateful,” he said.

He may be living and fighting very far away from the homeland but Ray Narh has told SportsInGhana.com that he still have the nation at heart and he fights for Ghanaians anytime he steps into the ring.

That is why he is counting on the prayers of his countrymen as he continues the quest to retsore Ghana’s sunken image on the world boxing map. “I want to tell my loving boxing fans that it our time to shine is here and we ain’t letting it off the hook so they should go on to have the faith and believe in me and I will make them proud,” Narh pledged.

The Emperor added: “Ghana needs a world title and I have decided to put my life on the line to bring it so they should continue to root and rally behind me and joy and happiness will be ours when the final battle is won.”