Box Office Promotions say they have no idea about Ayittey Powers’ decision to pull out of his April 18 bout Braimah Kamoko.
Alex Ntiamoah Boakye represents the syndicate and expressed surprise when Citi Sports spoke to him. “I only got calls from friends about what Powers said but trust me that we are not going to take it lightly. This is a fight that is going to be big for Ghana boxing,” he said.
“People think the windfall will be for my company. No. This is for the whole Ghanaian boxing industry.” “We have spent a lot of money and resources into this fight. We have brought rings from outside the country. The amounts that have gone into commercials run into the millions.”
“Contracts have been signed. We are just waiting to hear from Powers officially.”
Powers said after visiting controversial Nigerian preacher T.B Joshua at the weekend, spiritual direction has led him to call of the fight to a later date.
Disappointed patrons
Big fights such as these usually demand stringent clauses to be signed, and Alex Ntiamoah indicated that this was the case for this bout as well.
“We have clauses in the contract, yes. But if he wants to leave the fight, we will take it up with the Ghana Boxing Authority. They usually decide these things.”
“I know people will be disappointed if the fight doesn’t happen, in which case we simply have to give monies back to those who have paid for the tickets.”
Citi Sports spoke to many people on the streets who were simply gutted at the news of Powers withdrawal. It is clear that the expectations behind this fight would have lifted the country’s boxing to a slightly higher level of appreciation.