IBF Lightweight champion, Commey calls on President

Accra, March 12, GNA - Richard Commey, the new International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lightweight World Champion, on Monday presented his title to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House.

Commey, Ghana's 9th world champion, won the title last February, when he beat Russian Isa Chaniev through a technical knockout.

In the presence of the President of the Ghana Boxing Association (GBA), Mr. Peter Zwennes, and the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Perry Curtis Okudzeto, President Akufo-Addo recollected the pledge made by Richard Commey some two years ago.

“I remember vividly the promise you made on the stage at the Bukom Boxing Arena, a couple of months, after I became President, and you have lived up to your pledge. Well done.

“The path you have trodden, despite the defeats and disappointments, you stuck to your guns knowing you had it in you to do it. It is a great story. It is a little bit my own story,” President Akufo-Addo told Richard Commey.

Richard Commey in his remarks said that his victory “is for Ghana, for Ga Mashie, and for the whole country.”

He told the President that he was determined to ensure that more world champions were produced through his own foundation, saying “we want to help them with equipment”.

Commey appealed to the Government and the GBA, to look at issues of transparency with boxing promoters and managers, and the welfare of boxers in the country.

To this, President Akufo-Addo said “It is good that you have spoken in front of the President of Association.

“It is for them also, with the support of the Ministry, to make sure that, in future, whatever arrangements are entered into on behalf of the boxers, are ones that balance the interests of the promoters, managers, as well as the boxers, so that the labourer becomes worthy of his hire,” he said.

GNA

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