Sports News of Thursday, 4 April 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-04-04
Commey received GH¢50,000 and a car for winning the IBF lightweight title
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Don’s Promotions, Michael Nii Yarboi Annan, has taken a swipe at the government for donating a paltry GH¢50,000 and a car to the newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight champion, Richard Oblitey Commey, for winning the world title.
The astute boxing promoter believed the financial reward and the saloon car given to the boxer were not sufficient enough for a boxer who had laboured for a decade before putting Ghana’s name on the world map again.
“The money to Commey is a peanut; it’s an insult and this is not how we should be treated. Commey is worth more than that; he is a world champion”, he exclaimed to the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra last Thursday.
In his view, the best reward for Commey should be the rehabilitation of the ramshackled Bronx Boxing Gym in the heart of James Town in Accra where the boxer trained prior to becoming a world champion.
“I think the best presentation is a memento to Commey for his feat and a complete renovation of the Bronx Boxing Gym which made him the world champion”, he suggested.
According to him, it is about time boxers who won world titles were given their due just as footballers and other athletes who got more than they bargained for.
“How much do we give to the Black Stars just for playing an international match? have they won any title before? But see how we throw money at them; see how we treat other athletes; we must do the same to boxing”, he stressed.
In spite of his disapproval of the donation, Mr Annan, who is also the CEO of outsource accounting firm, Object Consult, however, challenged Commey to hold on to the title for a longer period and possibly unify his division.
He believes Commey has the potential to unify the title and urged him to work harder to make Ghana proud.
He, also, challenged the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) to seek the interest of boxers and fight for better rewards for them when they won world titles.
