"Bukom Banku" strips naked to make weight

Accra, July 31, GNA - Controversial Braimah Kamoko, also known as "Bukom Banku", caused a stir during the weigh-in session, as he striped naked, to make the required 175 pounds, ahead of his bout against Argentine Hector Velazo, for the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) Light Heavyweight title.

At a weigh in session, held at the Media Centre of the Ohene Djan Stadium, Kamoko, first weighed 176 pounds, which disqualified him from competing for the title and had to undergo a weight shedding exercise to reduce his weight by one pound or forfeit the opportunity to contest for the title.

In a bid to make the weight, Bukom Banku was compelled to run around the Ohene Djan Stadium for almost one hour, with his loyal fans following him amidst singing.

On his return to the centre, Bukom Banku requested for an unofficial weigh-in and again failed to make the weight as he could only shed 0.50 pounds off his weight.

In a desperate attempt to make the weight, Banku, took off his underpants and returned to the scale naked, in front of the fully packed Media Centre before making the exact 175 pounds he needed to qualify for the fight.

By the rules, boxers are to mount the scale with only an under-pant, with their bare chest, but the Ghanaian went beyond that and stripped naked, in order to make the weight.

Ring official, Roger Banor, told the GNA Sports that in extreme circumstances like that, Bukom Banku was right in removing his underpants to make the weight.

Bukom Banku, will on Saturday seek to annex the world title as he battles Velazo at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Three other boxers; Emmanuel Tagoe, Ishmael Tetteh and Ishmael Aryeetey, also failed to make the weight at the initial weigh in and had to under the mandatory one hour weight shedding exercise before making the mark.

Other bouts slated for the night are; Joshua Okine and Mohamed Abdullaev of Uzbekistan for the vacant WPBF Welterweight Championship and Albert Mensah and Karen Tevosiyan of Russia going for the vacant WPBF Super Lightweight Championship.

Emmanuel Tagoe and Samuel Kamau of Kenyan will vie for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Super Featherweight Championship, whilst Ishmael Tetteh and Peter Masshamaite of South Africa battle for the WBO Africa Middleweight title. The last bout of the night will be between Isaac Tetteh and Ishmael Aryeetey, for the WBO National Featherweight Championship.