US bound Anyetei Laryea wants Akaba

Accra, Nov 25, GNA - Anyetei Laryea, 26, Ghana's colourful bantamweight boxer who is due to leave for the United States next month in pursuit of better opportunities wants to fight Osumanu Akaba, the World Boxing Council (WBC) International featherweight champion.

Barring his mind to the GNA Sports in Accra on Thursday, the boxer who is referred to as "the Chameleon" said Akaba was one boxer he would like to fight to prove to all and sundry that he a world class material. He said he could not understand why the WBC championship fight was between Malik Jabir and Akaba, whereas he had a better record than both of them and was indeed available.

The "Chameleon," who has a fight record of 13 -12-1 including a points' victory over Jabir said his only loss was to a featherweight in the UK and that he accepted that particular fight at short notice because of the financial benefits attached to it.

Anyetei said he was ready to fight and demolish Akaba 'at any place, any time" even without training because he was miles ahead of the champion.

"It is a disgrace to boxing that Akaba will call himself a champion when I am around," he said.

On his botched Commonwealth title fight with Joseph Agbeko, the Chameleon said he had just returned from Britain and was highly overweight and if had tried to make the weight under the circumstances, he would have lost shape.

He said his coach, Nii Quaye "Alloway" Kotei advised him not to shed his excess weight within such a short period because it would affect his conditioning.

Anyetei said he had abrogated his managerial contract with Vince McBean and that any interested manager who understood boxing very well should contact him at the Attoh Quashie Gym at City Engineers, James Town for discussions.

On his career, he said he was preparing to travel to the United States because "America is the market for boxing and I know if I go there I shall be a world champion within a short time."

He said he had received invitation from some of his friends who are in close contact with American promoters and matchmakers and that, he was anxious to get there and "give Ghana another world title."

Anyetei said the facilities in Europe and the US were far better than what exists in Ghana and advised wealthy people who love boxing to build modern gyms with the state of the art equipment so that boxers could train there in preparation for important fights.

He said he welcomed the return of Ike Quartey to the ring because he believed that Ike still has what it takes to become a world champion, adding that Azumah Nelson and Ike were great champions and he would be the next Ghanaian to earn such recognition.