Ghana boxing fans will finally witness the touted, undefeated Eslih Owusu when the American-born Ghanaian makes his Ghana boxing debut on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old Owusu (2-0) will take on veteran Benjamin Ankrah this Thursday, December 16, at Accra’s Seconds Out Boxing Gym in an event presented by Fight Ready Promotions.
Owusu, who weighed 157 pounds to Ankrah’s 156 at Wednesday’s weigh-in, says he plans to make an emphatic statement against Ankrah (17-23, 8 KOs) in his debut on native soil.
“I’m not looking forward to a long night against Ankrah,” Owusu told BoxingAfrica.com. “I expect him to attack me but I can assure him that the more he comes forward, the more punishment he will receive.”
Owusu arrived in Ghana on Monday with his trainer, Daniel Oko Odamtten and manager, Jacob Zwennes of Errol Hawk Management. Odamtten, the man who guided the career of Africa boxing legend Ike Quartey, is considered one of the finest Ghana boxing trainers in history.
While Accra is old ground for Odamtten, his latest charge is excited to be back home.
Owusu (left) with Odamtten
“This is my second time in Ghana,” said Owusu. “It’s been over ten years since last I came here but this time around; it’s to start my boxing journey and to create a base here.
“That is what I believe will help me announce my presence here and I can only do that with emphatic wins in my bouts.”
The smooth-boxing southpaw has fought only twice professionally; unanimous decision wins over Bryan Abraham and Leonardo Ladeira—both in the U.S.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this will be his first fight in a year.
“Owusu is a very good fighter but we need to introduce him to the Ghanaian boxing market,” said Odamtten. “The plan is to have two fights here in Ghana before moving back to the US.
“Fighting here is not going to be on and off but we will be coming back from time to time to fight and go back. This, we believe, will help break into Ghana’s rich boxing market.”
On Thursday night, Owusu begins his Ghana journey against Ankrah who is winless in his last 12 bouts. The young fighter traces his boxing roots from his grandfather who was also a professional boxer. Born in Massachusetts, the southpaw watched Ike Quartey (his favorite Ghanaian boxer) and the likes of Azumah Nelson growing up.
“My father is a boxing addict and I remember he used to take me to fight nights when I was very young. That was how I gained interest in the sport and decided to take it up as a career,” Owusu recalled.
Ghana fight fans will soon see how far he’s come.
In the other pairings, rising star Faisal Abubakar will slug it out with Francis Mensah in a super lightweight contest while Jacob Dickson engages David Okine in a cruiserweight bout.
In lightweight action, Richman Ashiley will fight Enoch Lamptey; Cudjoe Darah against Eliasu Sulley in a super middleweight contest while Solomon Martey locks horns with Isaac Okine in a super bantamweight bout.
In what is expected to be one of the most exciting fights on the card, Jacob Laryea meets Moses Lartey in a welterweight contest.
