jamesmcdonnell wrote:Ghana is meant to be a fantastic place from what I've heard.
Ex-European Champ Upbeat About Ghana Boxing
(10/11/2005)
Former European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Derek Williams, says he is convinced about Ghana’s ability to win back her place in world boxing in the nearest future.
Williams told the Graphic Sports in an interview that the potentials that parade in the local gyms possess great talents that needed some support to put Ghana back to her rightful place in world boxing.
He said it was this fact that had shot up his interest in Ghanaian boxers, some of whom he now wishes to manage and promote in European and American rings to greater heights.
Williams said he chose Ghana to help talents develop into big stars because of the country’s history.
Among the current crop of talents, he said he had knowledge about Commonwealth super welterweight champion, Osumanu Yahaya, whose manager, Alhaji Toufik, has become a source of inspiration to the Briton.
Yahaya, who won his title in Britain earlier in the year, is the only Ghanaian with a credible international title after his two compatriots, Osumanu Akaba and Joshua Okine, lost their WBC International and Commonwealth titles respectively just last week.
Ghana’s other few honours have come from continental titles, including Lee Manuel’s ABU heavyweight title.
Apart from directly managing boxers, he said he intends to partner Alhaji Toufik’s Ambition Promotions and Al Hamilton’s Commonwealth Sports Awards to promote big fight events.
Outstanding boxers from such programmes, he said, would be supported to earn bigger fight opportunities in Europe and America.
Williams came to Ghana for the first time last week in the company of Al Hamilton, also of British origin, and the two were at ring side to watch last week’s “braging rights” show at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Accra.
