By Prince Dornu-Leiku: Ghana syndicate Heart of Lions Promotions’ boss Victor Ahiakpor popularly called Abramovich says he is in boxing to help revive the sport in this country and not just to make money.
When they stage their maiden promotion next weekend, Abramovich promises that it will mark the beginning of the renaissance of the fistic sport as Heart of Lions Promotions strive to instill professionalism and discipline into their boxers.
“We need to take boxing in this country to a different level, it needs different direction. We are not doing this for money because we are putting in more than we will make. I have so much love for the game.
“Boxing fans should come not for the money but to see a different promotion,” Mr. Ahiakpor told Ghanaian journalists at Monday’s press conference to formally announce the October 8 bill.
Headlined by the WBO Interim Africa Super Featherweight championship between Ghana’s Osumanu Akaba and Theodore Lokossou of Benin, Abramovic is also keen on professionalism by all within Ghana boxing.
He told ALL SPORTS: “I promise to make a world champion within a short time but the boxers should be professional. Some of our boxers are ill-disciplined, they don’t behave professionally so I appeal to them to try and cooperate and let’s work as a family. They should understand us, we should understand them.”
Dubbed ‘Night of Only the Strong,’ the promotion has a total of nine bouts as well as side attraction entertainment package that features two of Ghana’s hottest music stars at the minute, R2Bees and Eduwoji as well as hilarious boxer Braimah Kamoko alias Bukom Banku telling a story about boxing to wow the crowd.
These are part of a host of innovations Heart of Lions Promotions are bringing into the boxing arena in the country. They are also pledging to make world champions within record time hence their motto: ‘Making champions.’
And the boxing fraternity have opened the doors and are extending a warm welcome to Abramovich and his Heart of Lions Promotions, among them the enigmatic Bukom Banku.
“We have a lot of talents in this country but no helper so I’m glad that then man Abramovic himself has stepped in.
“We need people like him to manage and promote boxers because Osumanu Akaba here can be a world champion, I can be a world champion and many others but no helper,” Banku said.