Ghana’s Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe will now have to beat former world champion, Mzonge Fana to win the IBO Lightweight world title this Friday, December 2 at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra following the withdrawal of hitherto opponent, Fernando David Saucedo of Argentina.
Initially billed for November 25, Saucedo had requested and got the fight postponed by a week in order to recover from a reported broken hand in training. But with barely 4 days to fight night, the Argentine has now completely pulled out of the fight, necessitating a change in opponent for Tagoe.
The lot fell on the experienced Fana (38-10, 16 KOs), a former 2-time IBF Lightweight world champion who also previously challenged for the WBC super featherweight world title and also lost a bid for the WBO Lightweight world title to Terry Flanagan only in July this year.
BabyJet Promotions who are staging the IBO championship in Ghana say it was not difficult getting Fana in because they had been in contact with the experienced South African for nearly a month when Saucedo first requested a postponement.
“Yes Fana is ready to give a good fight on Friday, we gave him a standby contract three weeks ago because we know anything can happen in boxing,” BabyJet Promotions Operations Chief, Randy Opoku Afriyie said.
29 year old Tagoe (26-1, 13 KOs) has won 26 straight fights since losing on debut way back in June 2014 and has racked up an impressive haul of over 8 career titles. The Ghanaian showman, ranked number seven in the WBA lightweight world ratings hopes to finally lay his hands on a version of the lightweight world title with victory come Friday night.
Emmanuel Tagoe rises to number 7 in latest WBA ratings
Ahead of his bid to win a version of the world title when he takes on Fernando David Saucedo of Argentina for the IBO Lightweight championship in Accra on December 2, Ghana’s Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe has risen to number seven in the latest WBA Lightweight ratings.
Tagoe (26-1, 13 KOs) who holds the WBA International Lightweight belt, moved two places up to occupy the spot which now places him in good position for a shot at the WBA Lightweight world title currently held by hard punching Jorge Linares.
“It’s a big boost and the perfect motivation I needed to go all out and win the IBO title. To me the WBA world title is the ultimate and I hope to get my chance next year but first I have to win my next fight (against Saucedo),” Tagoe said.
“I thank God almighty for the love he continues to shower on me, my fans, my management led by Asamoah Gyan and the entire BabyJet Promotions team. I thank everybody for all the support you give me, it’s appreciated,” Tagoe added.
He continued: “This is not the time any celebration, nothing has been won yet. I’m still on the way to achieve all my dreams and the only way to make it happen is to work harder and with the backing of my coach and team, we’ll get there.”