Ghana’s tough-talking cruiserweight champion, Brimah Kamoko (Bukom Banku), has dropped the strongest hint yet of when to hang his gloves.
He says he has six more years to bring an end to the more than two decades of his boxing career.
He did not state what he will be doing next but said the decision to quit in 2021 was not negotiable.
The local champon and former light heavweight king dropped the hint Sunday morning at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi where he registered a sixth round technical knockout over his long-time pal, Michael Ayitey Powers, in their ‘repeat or revenge’ contest.
Banku’s only wish though is to clinch the world cruiserweight title to silence his critics of being only a local champion in that weight category although dominating other divisions at the world stage in the past.
“I am 37 years and want to end my career in six years after a bout in Tamale. My next move is to fight Nathan Cleverly (a Briton) for the world title,” Banku said after the exciting fight.
Powers failed to answer the bell for the sixth round after a rather impressive challenge in the early rounds with some overhead punches but his strength wore out as the fight progressed.
Despite the disappointing end to the fight, Powers’ performance was far better than what he exhibited on May 26 at the Accra Sports Stadium in their first clash.
Banku improved to 27-0-0 while Powers dropped to 25 loses, a draw and 21 wins, 17 of which came by way of knockout.
Banku, in a rather confident mood sized his opponent after a first round balanced game and accelerated early in the second with calculated attack while Powers, who appeared stamina suspect preferred to hung on the ropes to indulge in in-fighting.
That benefitted him briefly but he was soon to consign his energies to clinching and occasional overhead punches. Banku responded with incessant pummeling and uppercuts and forced Powers to drop his guard a couple of times.
Banku was in his best elements in the fifth round which he had predicted to end the fight and rightly dazed Powers who failed to answer the call for the sixth round.
Banku was presented with a brand new SUV Range Rover, a ticket for a holiday trip to South Africa and a cash prize of Gh¢100,000 donated by Joy Industries, producers of Joy Dadu Bitters.
The Kumasi bout which was promoted by LandMark Production was driven on the heels of entertainment where it featured Ghana’s top artistes including self-acclaimed dancehall king, Shatta Wale and arguably the country’s best rapper, Sarkodie.
But it was the crowd that blew the minds of officials who had feared a low turnout following a rather unimpressive first clash at the Accra Sports Stadium on May 26.
The about 10,000 fans that thronged the Baba Yara Stadium remained the highest in recent times for a boxing bout in Kumasi.
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