Black Bombers begin AIBA Championship campaign on Sept. 27

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – Ghana’s national amateur boxing team, the Black Bombers will begin their campaign at the 2011 International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan on Tuesday, September 27.

Ghana is represented by five boxers at the championship scheduled from 22 September to 10 October, 2011.

They are Duke Micah (Flyweight), Maxwell Amponsah (Light Heavyweight), Michael Amoo Bediako (Light Welterweight), Norris Thompson (Welterweight) and Emmanuel Quarshie (Middleweight).

Flyweight Micah will be the first Ghanaian to mount the ring at the Heydar Aliyev Sport and Concert Complex in the Azerbaijan capital, when he pitches his strength against Japanese Susa Katsuaki in preliminary round in the 52-kg category.

Micah, 20 will hope for a place at the next round of the competition at the expense of the Japanese, who is seven years’ his senior.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that the winner of the Micah-Katsuaki bout will face either Usenaliev Azat of Kyrgyzstan or Mexican Emiddio Elias at the next round.

On Wednesday, September 28, Amponsah, a bronze medallist at the recent All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique will battle it out with Draskovic Bokso of Montenegro in te 81-kg division.

United Kingdom-based Norris will have his turn on Thursday, September 29 against Kholiqov Komiljon of Tajikistan in the preliminary round of the 69-Kg category.

Light Welterweight Amoo Bediako will face Georgian Koba Pkhakadze in the 64-Kg division on Friday, September 30 whilst Emmanuel Quarshie will slug it out against Chakaev Arbi of Austria in the 75-kg division 24-hours later.

The tournament also forms as a qualifier for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Over 500 boxers from 113 countries are competing for honours in the global championship.

Ghana has yet to a medal in the history of the biennial championship.