Bukom Banku drops out of IBF ratings

Braimah Kamoko a.k.a Bukom Banku has paid the price for his extended ring inactivity after his name was missing in the latest IBF ratings for Cruiserweights released over the weekend.

Other Ghanaians in the IBF ratings are Albert Mensah, who is rated number 5 at Super Lightweight with a world title shot imminent, as well as now US based Frederick Lawson who makes a debut entry into the Welterweight ratings at number 14.

Ghana based Nigerian female slugger, Helen Joseph, maintains her number one rating in the IBF Women’s Featherweight division with a shot at the world title scheduled for Accra against American Melissa Hernandez on May 30.

Kamoko occupied the 15th spot in last month’s ratings, but has now been completely taken off after failing to fight in nearly a year.

Banku’s last fight was on May 3, 2013 when he overcame the challenge of George Tevdorashvili after the Georgian retired in round 6 of their scheduled 10-rounder at the Accra Sports Stadium. It improved Kamoko’s unbeaten career record to 26-0, 20 KOs, but he has not fought since, amid endless postponement, on-off-on brouhaha of his much anticipated bout against local rival Ayitey Powers.

Purported fights for both the IBF International Cruiserweight and WBA Cruiserweight titles in Germany and China respectively also fell through in addition to the boxer eventually breaking up with his hitherto manager, Henry Manly-Spain.

Kamoko, however, retains his place in the WBA ratings where he sits at number 9, two steps lower than the number 7 he occupied last month.

Emmanuel Tagoe a.k.a Game Boy is also rated by the WBA as number 6 Junior Lightweight, US based Bastie Samir is number 7 rated Super Middleweight, Rafael Mensah is at number 8 in the Lightweight division and Joshua Clottey at number 14 Super Welterweight, all WBA.

In the WBO ratings, Maxwell Awuku is number 6 in the Super Featherweight division whilst Alfred Tetteh is number 14 at Junior Featherweight.