Ike Quartey is threatening to sue the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for their refusal to grant Quartey’s boxer, Samuel Takyi, a release letter for a proposed June 11 bout in South Africa.
Takyi, a super featherweight prospect, was the first Ghanaian in 29 years to earn medal at the Olympic Games when he captured bronze last Summer. After making a successful pro debut last April, he was slated to face South Africa’s Mandlenkosi Sibuso Saturday, June 11, in a super featherweight contest at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg.
That fight is now in jeopardy as Quartey, Takyi’s promoter and trainer, is at odds with the GBA over a proposed undertaking which the GBA has demanded Takyi sign in order to grant him the release letter (full story HERE).
This undertaking would commit Takyi – and any other Ghana boxer who would sign it – to remit a percentage of their purse to the GBA for the entirety of their boxing career.
“The Ghana Boxing Authority claims they will use it for the development of the sport but it’s not their duty. The Ghana Boxing Federation which manages amateur boxing does development,” Quartey said during an interview with Joy Sports.
“I will sue the GBA if they fail to give Takyi his release to fight in South Africa. They want to deny his right to make income and take care of himself.”
GBA guidelines state: “No boxer ordinarily resident in Ghana or licensed by the Ghana Boxing Authority shall be allowed to travel outside the country to engage in any professional boxing unless he has obtained a release letter from the Authority.”
“Boxers Licensed by the Ghana Boxing Authority and fighting under the flag of Ghana or not are expected to remit a % sum to their Authority, such % amount will be determined from time to time by the Ghana Boxing Authority. With effect from January 1 1996, the payment of a % by boxers engaged in local tournaments shall commence, such % to be determined from time to time by the Authority.”
These clauses have caused a number of issues between fighters and the regulatory body, leading current GBA President Abraham Kotei Neequaye to now demand fighters who wish to fight outside of Ghana to sign the new legal undertaking.
One major issue with the payment clause is Ghana’s current standing with Boxrec.com, the official record keeper of boxing. As it stands, Ghana is considered the most corrupt boxing nation in the world. Promoters must now submit videos of any sanctioned bouts, to go along with numerous documents in order for any fights in Ghana to be validated by Boxrec.
This has led to numerous bouts in Ghana being unrecognized as an official fight worldwide. That includes Takyi’s pro debut. As it stands, Takyi’s official record is 0-0.
“Until Ghana sorts out its issue with Boxrec.com, they should not be demanding that fighters pay any sort of ‘out of country’ fee,” said one official. “At least when the fighters fight outside of Ghana, they are guaranteed that their fight will be recorded.
“If you fight in Ghana, you never know. So until Ghana can prove to Boxrec that they are trusted, they should not demand payment from boxers who want to fight elsewhere.”
