Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, has praised everyone who helped the Ghana Professional Boxing League (GPBL)’s inaugural season be a success by contributing or providing support in a variety of ways.
Before declaring the second season officially begun at the Trust Sports Emporium’s Mudor Conference Hall, Hon. Mustapha Ussif revealed his new position as a “Ambassador for Ghana Boxing.”
Hon. Mustapha Ussif urged corporate institutions to sponsor and support boxing because it has given the country 10 world champions, including Isaac Dogboe, who will fight for a second world title on April 1st, D. K. Poison, Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, late Alfred Kotey, Nana Yaw Konadu, Joshua Clottey, Joseph Agbeko, Richard Commey, and Emmanuel Tagoe.
He praised 18-year-old Charles Tetteh of the Panix Gym, who won Best Boxer for the first season of the Boxing League, as well as his coach Charles Quartey, whose Charles Quartey Memorial Boxing Gym won Best Gym.
The welcome address of the event was delivered by IMAX Boxing Promotions Director of Communication, Mr. Ernest Ardey.
The Ghana Boxing Authority’s (GBA) President, Mr. Abraham Neequaye, pledged that the following edition would be better and more competitive thanks to the addition of the teams from the Ghana Armed Forces and Ghana Prisons, bringing the total number of participating teams to 14.
He said that all of the difficulties would be overcomed and that the competitors would have access to new prospects.
The Chairman of IMAX MEDIA, Mr. Maxwell Techie was also there to grace the launch ,including the Managing Director of the IMAX MEDIA Group , Mr. Cephas Takyi.
Alhaji Fadi Fattal, Group Director of Imax Boxing Promotions, revealed that more than $1.7 million had been committed to supporting Ghana Boxing. In addition to thanking the crowd, he made a pitch to businesses to support him in improving the league. He promised that young boxers and musicians would be included as side shows.
A Premium Motors representative who donated two Renault vehicles in season one promised surprises for the victors of season two.
Mr. Akuette Addy, an administrator at The Gym Boxing Club and a former boxing coach who presided over the launch and is a representative of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation internationally, anticipated that the presence of the security teams will enhance the security measures.
The United Coaches Association’s President, Coach Ofori Asare, advised all clubs to be competitive and field top-notch boxers to excite the crowd.
The Ghana Prison Service sent a strong warning to the Ghana Armed Forces ahead of the season two of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.
The Ghana Boxing Supporters Union (GHABSU), led by Veep Sam Gyan, was present to provide Kpanlogo music entertainment for the guests.
On Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, the second season of the Ghana Professional Boxing League gets underway.