No championship belts for national boxing champions in over 18 years
There has not been any championship belts for Ghana’s national boxing champions for almost two decades due to unavailability of title belts.
During the past few years, national champions have been decorated orally with nothing to show to confirm their status as the finest in their respective divisions.
A section of some aggrieved boxers complained to GNA Sports that the menace was ‘killing their moral’ and have challenged the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) to address the issue within the shortest possible time.
According to them, the GBA deducts its share of monies from their purses during both local and international bouts but are yet to come to terms where the monies are channeled.
The boxers added that their only source of solace was in the West African titles, usually competed for alongside the ‘oral’ national titles.
Ahene Truly, Vice President of the GBA when contacted by GNA Sports on the allegations confirmed the worry of the boxers and pointed out that his outfit has taken steps to address the problem.
“I think for the past 18 years, there have been no championship belts. We are very much aware of the situation and are considering solutions.
Truly recalled that the last time national champions were decorated was during the era of Nii Quaye Mensah, a former GBA Chairman, who also served as President of the Commonwealth Boxing Council, from 1998 to 2000.
The GBA Vice President said attempts to track the old championship belts have proved fruitless with no positive response from stakeholders in that regard.
Truly explained that the championship belts are very expensive and the Association cannot handle it with the meager resources at their disposal.
“The championship belts are very expensive and we cannot solve that problem with our share from the purses.”
Meanwhile, GNA Sports gathers that a set of championship belts cost within the region of $4,000 – $5,000.
Former GBA Chairman, Moses Foh-Amoaning was not readily available for his comment.
Source: GNA