Boxing News of Wednesday, 10 May 2006

Source: GNA

TV Stations are sitting on gold mines - Boxing promoter

Accra, May 10, GNA - Alhaji Tofiki Murtala, a boxing promoter and Chief Executive of the Ambitions Boxing Promotion Syndicate has revealed that television stations in the country are sitting on gold mines of boxing, which they stand of making fortunes if well harnessed.

In an interview with the GNA Sports, Alhaji Murtala said TV stations can collaborate with promoters to stage international fights in the country and sell the rights to other international organisations to make the needed fortunes.

Alhaji Murtaa said the plan should involve a perfect marketing strategy and business opportunity for television stations in the country.

"Can you imagine what we stand to gain as a nation if we are able to put our funds together to stage a fight with two or more high profile and world class boxers in the country", he asked.

"International television stations would scramble for it and will be ready to pay any amount to secure the rights to rebroadcast and through this we can also improve upon our economy". Alhaji Murtala added.

Alhaji Murtala who is regarded as one of the best boxing promoters in the country said the idea will not only boost the finances of the television stations but also provide Ghanaian boxers the opportunity to improve upon their career.

According to the promoter, Ghanaian boxers suffer a lot of inhuman treatments such as racism chants and cheating by officials when they travel outside the country to engage in fights and that it was necessary that they are protected from such situations to ensure proper and efficient staging of international fights locally. "Our boxers are good but they always find themselves in conditions that works against them".

Alhaji Murtala therefore appealed to the television stations to consider venturing into boxing promotion. 11 May 06