Black Bombers' Frederick Lawson Tops All In Ghana-Australia Boxing

Frederick Lante Lawson, a 64kg Amateur Boxer of the Black Bombers, Ghana’s National Amateur Boxing Team emerged the overall best boxer at the end of a ten-day Ghana-Australia joint Amateur Boxing training exercise held in Perth, Western Australia, from 28th August to 6th September, 2010.

The training programme was initiated by Mr. Ray Quarcoo, President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF) and fully sponsored by Mr. Dave Harper, Chief Executive Officer of Geodrill Ghana Limited and Chairman of the Sponsorship Committee of GABF, as well as other Australian Mining Companies.

Lante Lawson won all his fights during the training bouts held on 4thand 5th of September, 2010 in Perth with good points of 36-28 against Luke Jackson and 5-4 Luke Woods, both senior boxers of the Australia National Amateur Boxing Team.

Other Ghanaian boxers who distinguished themselves against the Australians include Maxwell Amponsah (91kg), who beat Patrick Eneaya 18-16, and Prince Octopus Dzanie (56kg) who defeated Jayden Hansen 26-18 points. Ahmed Saraku (81kg) also overcame Dane Mulivai 9-6, while Habib Ahmed (75kg) beat Sam Hogan 8-4 on aggregate.

However, the remaining Ghanaian boxers who lost their bouts also proved their worth in the ring.

In general, Ghana’s participation in the joint training exercise was beneficial because, apart from improving the Bombers' tactical and technical skills, it also exposed the team’s lack of staying power (endurance), hand speed and general fitness for which the Federation and the nation must urgently address before the team's participation in major international competitions.

Ghana’s 15-man contingent, led by the GABF president, Mr. Ray Quarcoo, has since returned home and commenced another sponsored residential training at the Bridge Foundation Boxing Gym at Roman Ridge, off the Tetteh Quarshie- Achimota road in Accra.

The GABF wishes to thank the CEO of Geodrill Ghana Limited, Mr Dave Harper, and the other Australian mining companies for sponsoring the team to Australia. GABF is also grateful to the Boxing WA and the Ghanaian community in Perth for their wonderful hospitality and more especially, Mr. Ted Turner, Chairman of the Boxing Australia Inc. through whose untiring efforts our team was finally granted entry Visas by the Australian High Commission, which made it possible for the team to travel on schedule to Australia for the exercise.

The Federation also expresses its gratitude to the National Sports Council and the Sports Ministry for facilitating the Bombers trip to Australia. GABF, however, wishes to request for more sponsorship from companies and individual philanthropists for the successful upkeep of the Bombers as they remain in camp in preparation for upcoming international competitions.

All such cash and kind support can be channeled through the Federation’s Secretariat on the telephone and contacts provided below:

+233-244017226 and +233-244 819096 amateurboxing.gh@hotmail.com

SIGNED:KWAME AMPONFI JNRSECRETARY GENERAL, GABF Tel: (+233) 244-819096