Maiden professional boxing league launched

Accra, Sept 26, GNA - The first professional boxing league, which will get under way from October 11 this year, was launched in Accra on Friday.

The event, which will pitch ten boxing clubs in the city of Accra against each other, is under the sponsorship of Far East Mecantile, distributors of Mortein insecticide sprays.

Consequently, the league, which will be known as the Mortein Professional Boxing League will gulp an amount of 425 million cedis. Afko Imex Company, distributors of Samsung electronic products will support the sponsorship deal with 100 million cedis, while Metropolitan Television (Metro TV) will telecast the event live as its contribution to the deal.

The event, which will run till February 28, 2004 will take place at the premises of Metro TV and over 60 boxers are expected to participate. Among the participating clubs are Akotoku Academy, Attoh Quarshie, Believers, Billy Kotei, Black Panthers and Fire Service Boxing Clubs. The rest are Fit, Panix, Sagacious and Wisdom Boxing Clubs.

Launching the event, Mr. Moses Foh-Amoaning Acting Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) said the scoring system for the league will be three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss and an additional one point for a knock out.

He said the event will take place on every other Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and be beamed live on Metro TV, with the overall best in each division, as well as the best boxer for every fortnight being decorated.

Mr. Foh Amoaning said other items such as fruit drinks and other incentives will be added to the sponsorship package to motivate the boxers and clubs to participate in the league.

He added that an insurance package of 30,000 per month per boxer will be provided by the Germini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) to cover the boxers in the league.

Mr. Foh Amoaning said the league is meant to monitor Ghanaian boxers, prepare them for international events and raise funds for the development of boxing in the country.

The acting chairman said the GBA is expecting an amount of one billion cedis part of which will be used to set up a welfare fund to take care of the needs of retired and active boxers. Mr. Foh-Amoaning said plans are far advanced to extend the league to other parts of the country.

He said the league is one of the systematic strategies developed by the Authority to produce world champions for the nation. Mr. Talal Fatal, Chief Executive of Metro TV said, his station was involved in the promotion of boxing during its earlier stages and "we are putting on our gloves again to help in the revival of the sport in the country."

He called on participating clubs to parade exciting boxers to make the league attractive.