Prince Dornu-Leiku

Odoi Laryea fired up for Commonwealth title October 19

Odoi LaryeaGhana’s Gabriel Odoi Laryea is relishing the opportunity to claim the first international title of his career when he faces Englishman, Martin Ward at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland, UK on 19th October with the Commonwealth Bantamweight belt at stake.

World title chasing Odoi says this:

is the perfect chance for him to announce himself to the world and is working very hard in training, all in his determined bid to win the Commonwealth title despite the fact that he will be fighting in enemy territory for the first time ever.

“I am going for a win because I believe in the training I’ve been going through, I know it’s my first fight outside Ghana but I’m ready to face anything I face in the ring. I thank my manager, my coach and my fans for their support over the years and I assure them we are bringing this title back to Ghana,” Laryea told East Side Boxing exclusively in Accra.

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Isaac Ekpo fired up for WBO Super Middleweight world title fight October 19 against Robert Stieglitz

Ekpo being crowned new WBO AFrica Super Middleweight kingGhana based Nigerian slugger, Isaac Ekpo is expressing delight at landing a shot at the WBO Super Middleweight title but has quickly got down to fervent training ahead of his big night against incumbent champion, Russian born German, Robert Stieglitz on October 19 at the Messehalle, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany.

Ekpo, 22-1, 16 KOs, managed by the Ghana based syndicate, Landmarks Promotions and Management is excited at chance to realize the childhood dream of following in the footsteps of Nigeria’s greatest boxers by becoming a world champion. He has vowed to put up his best in the bid to successfully wrestle away the world title when he steps into the ring in Germany.

But 30 year old Ekpo, nicknamed Grenade is not getting ahead of himself, acknowledging the huge task facing him against the experienced Stieglitz (45-3, 26 KOs) in what will also be the first fight outside Africa for the Nigerian who has fought all over West Africa.

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Maxwell Awuku fired up for world title

Maxwell AwukuGhanaian, Maxwell Awuku, currently ranked number 6 by the WBO at Junior Lightweight is relishing his impending trip to the United States of America to begin the new phase of his career, and the former WBO and WBA Pan Africa Super Featherweight champion is pledging to return home a world champion.

Experienced Awuku, 35-2-1, 23 KOs, has just received his US visa after getting a P1 approval and is expected to depart Accra for his new life in the US by the first week of September and he is already setting lofty targets after spending almost a decade of his professional career on the African continent.

Hitherto, in his 10th professional fight back on November 24 2006, Awuku caused a major upset with an astonishing victory over former world champion, Lehlo Ledwaba who boasts Manny Pacquiao in his fighting resume. Former IBF Bantamweight titlist, Lewdaba was trying to get back to the top but Awuku’s defeat forced the South African into permanent retirement.

Awuku was also once lined up to fight Rene Gonzalez for the WBA world title but fell through at the last minute. Still, Awuku never got the credit he deserved until he defeated world title contender, Joseph Laryea in 2009, successfully defending the WBA Pan-Africa title he had won after beating Ledwaba.

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Commey and coach hail Ricky Burns sparring

Commey and BurnsHighly rated boxer, Richard Oblitey Commey returned back home to Ghana last Friday to a gargantuan welcome at the Kotoka International Airport after beating Paul Truscott in London on July 13 in a final eliminator for the Commonwealth Lightweight title.

With new surprise recipient of the particular belt, Derry Matthews scheduled for his first voluntary defence against Curtis Woodhouse on September 21, Commey has returned home to train and possibly fight for the IBF International title before the eventual clash for the Commonwealth championship by close of year.

But perhaps the biggest gain of their journey to the United Kingdom may have been the one-week sparring and training camp they had with WBO Lightweight champion, Ricky Burns in Scotland as Burns prepares for the defence of his world title against Raymundo Beltran on September 7 in the United States.

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Rafael Mensah dares WBA champs Abril and Gamboa

Rafael MensahFresh from earning a career high number 9 ranking on the WBA Lightweight ratings, young Ghanaian pugilist, Rafael Mensah is knocking on the doors to the WBA Lightweight championship.

Rated number 9 in the latest rankings released on Monday, undefeated Mensah has vowed to work his way to the top for a possible shot at champion, Richar Abril or even interim champion, Yuriorkis Gamboa, both Cubans.

“For now, I have to thank my coach, Ofori Asare and my manager/promoter, Anthony Kermah of Landmark Promotions. I turned professional in 2010 and I’m happy with the way my career has been managed up to this time,” Rafael Mensah told East Side Boxing exclusively when we caught up with him training at the Wisdom Gym in Accra.

Mensah, 19-0, 14 KOs, has shot ahead in the world ratings on the back of annexing the WBA Pan-Africa Lightweight belt via a unanimous victory over Bilal Mohammed back on July 13 and he is still basking in the glory.

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Emmanuel Tagoe stops Robles in round 9 to win IBF International title

Game Boy wins in AmericaGhanaian, Emmanuel Tagoe silenced his critics with a round 9 technical knockout win over Gerardo Robles on Friday night to claim the IBF International Junior Lightweight belt and edge closer to a bid for world championship glory.

Tagoe, now 22-1, 9 KOs, was at his crafty best despite the resistance of the American at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California in his first fight in the United States before Robles threw in the towel in the 9th of the scheduled 12-rounder.

The impressive display by the Ghanaian showmaster in a foreign land amid fighting for the first time outside the shores of Ghana in a now 23-fight career which began with what also remains his only career loss in June 2004, has now catapulted Tagoe’s world title aspirations unto a higher pedestal.

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Emmanuel Tagoe set to rumble against Robles Friday night

Game Boy vrs Robles weigh inThe countdown is over and tonight at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, United States, Emmanuel Tagoe puts his world title credentials under the spotlight against American, Gerardo Robles in a fight for the IBF International Junior Lightweight belt.

For Tagoe who will be fighting in the United Stated for the first time, the clash against Robles entails more than the title at stake with victory setting him up for a potential crack at the IBF world title by the end of the year.

It’s also a stage for the Ghanaian showmaster to answer his critics and prove that he can take on the big boys of world boxing even in the US.

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Gyan promises Emmanuel Tagoe world title fight in Ghana

Tagoe with team in their training campBaffour Gyan, Manager and Agent of WBA International Junior Lightweight champion, Emmanuel Tagoe AKA Game Boy is promising to stage a world title fight in Ghana for the boxer should he overcome American Gerardo Robles this coming Friday August 9 at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, USA.

Gyan, elder brother of Ghana national soccer team captain, Asamoah Gyan and a former Ghana international himself, is personally in camp with Tagoe as the boxer prepares to face Robles in his first fight in the United States with the IBF Intercontinental Junior Lightweight belt at stake.

Baffour is not only supervising the assiduous training sessions Tagoe is undergoing at the Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, but the President of the Ghana based BabyJet Promotions and Management is also busy holding talks with the IBF for Tagoe to get a crack at the world title itself before the end of the year against incumbent champion, Argenis Mendez who defends the IBF Junior Lightweight belt against Arash Usmanee on August 23 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York.

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Bastie Samir back in US sparring with Mayweather

Bastie fixGhanaian boxer, Bastie Samir is back in the US sparring with Floyd Mayweather as the pound-for-pound king prepares for the biggest fight of the year against Saul Canelo Alvarez on September 14.

Bastie, senior brother of recently crowned IBF Youth Welterweight champion, Issah Samir started his professional career in the USA.

He previously sparred with Mayweather before the unbeaten American fought against Miguel Cotto in May last year but came down to Ghana at the end of 2012 to receive herbal treatment on an injury. Whilst here in Ghana, he fought three times, claiming knockout wins in all before the call came from Mayweather that he once again needed the services of the former Black Bombers captain.

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Agbeko holds no grudge against Russel Mora

Agbeko painFormer IBF Bantamweight titlist, Joseph King Kong Agbeko will be more than happy to shake hands and warmly embrace American referee, Russel Mora any day. Agbeko was at the suffering end of one of the most controversial boxing officiatings ever in his first fight against Mexican Abner Mares in August 2011 as referee Mora failed to punish Mares for several low blows much to the chagrin of Agbeko and the boxing world.

In the event, the Ghanaian lost the IBF belt which he then held and even though the IBF ordered an immediate rematch barely four months later, Agbeko was not in his groove and lost that one via a unanimous verdict.

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