WBO Africa lightweight champion, Emmanuel “Gameboy” Tagoe, has promised a seventh-round TKO over Russia’s Vyacheslav Gusev when they clash January 26 at Accra’s Bukom Boxing Arena.
Tagoe and Gusev will throw down for the IBF International lightweight and WBO Global lightweight titles in the main event of the Baby Jet Promotions show.
The 30-year-old Tagoe, 29-1 (14 KOs), is coming off a career-best win, unanimous decision win over faded former world champion Paulus Moses of Namibia last October. Now he’ll look to improve his dossier in what may be his final fight in his native Ghana.
Tagoe, who has won 29 out of 30 professional bouts, with 14 knockouts, vows to end the bout within the distance and with a big bang before he relocates to the United States of America under the promotion of New York-based Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic from his Oyarifa training base, Tagoe said he was in fine shape and reiterated his determination to ensure the fight did not travel the full distance.
“I will stop him in the seventh round,” he said. “He can’t last the distance with me. With this being my final outing in Ghana, I am looking forward to making my final home appearance a memorable one.”
The boxer’s manager, Abraham Kotey Neequaye, said Tagoe was well prepared for the bout, which he believed would put him in good stead for a world title shot.
“Gameboy is really preparing well for this bout. As you know, he is the best lightweight boxer in the world and I know that he will beat Gusev come January 26.
“The significance of this bout is that after he wins the fight, he will be placed between one to fourth in the ratings and this will enable him to get a world title shot quickly,” Mr Neequaye told the Daily Graphic.
The bout is expected to be graced by IBF president Daryl J. Peoples; the vice-president for WBO Trans-Oceanic, Danny Leigh, and Tagoe international adviser Peter Kahn.
–graphic.com.gh
