The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye says the Ghana capital is ready to host the rest of the boxing world come November 25 when local showman, Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe faces Fernando David Saucedo of Argentina for the IBO Lightweight world championship, amid the head of the city even declaring himself the chief promoter of the impending event which is billed to take place at the country’s newly built first ever boxing arena.
“We want to thank BabyJet Promotions for your ability to bring a bout of such level to the city of Accra and the country Ghana. It is our hope that our brother will do well to win the title to add his name to the list of others who have won world titles for Ghana,” Hon. Okoe Vanderpuye told a team from BabyJet Promotions at his Accra Metropolitan Assembly office on Wednesday.
“I can assure you that I will be there that day, I have been talking about it in my constituency, Ablekuma South. When I go out to prepare the ground for the coming election I have been telling them about the fight so I am your chief promoter, I am promoting your fight every day,” the Mayor said amid smiles.
Furthermore, Hon. Vanderpuye expressed delight that new boxing stadium is not only ready for the country to use but it gets to stage a world title fight within days after its inauguration which is set to be executed by President John Dramani Mahama himself on November 14.
“Government recognizes that Accra and for that matter Bukom area and Ga-Mashie has always been a centre that has produced great boxers and I think it’s on that note that His Excellency the president himself initiated to have this stadium built within the area,” he said.
“And I am very happy that just when the president will commission the facility that a fight of this magnitude has been accepted internationally to take place there. This shows that we did not just build the facility but it’s one that meets international standards and I know this will open the door for many more international fights to take place there,” the Accra Mayor continued.
Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuye added: “Let me also use this opportunity to urge the youth to take seriously the opportunity that this facility offers to train and work hard to develop their boxing careers to fight and win world titles on behalf of the country.”
