The camp of Bastie Samir has indicated they will avoid the risk encountered in the first fight if a rematch would come on as indicated in the contract signed for the fight.
Coach Ofori Asare told the Times Sports yesterday his ward who handed Braimah ‘Bukom Banku’ Kamoko his first and only defeat in over 20 fights took a major risk in fighting in cruiserweight.
“That aside, we were subjected to a number of treatment that suggested that somebody or a group of people wanted to please Bukom Banku’s camp but we overcame all to emerge victors.
According to the Asare who doubles as head coach of the Black Bombers, the national boxing team, he has received several calls from many quarters inquiring whether his camp was willing to accept a rematch.
But in his response, a decision will be based on what measures the promoter put in place to ensure a fair playing ground for the two boxers.
He said Bastie fought the first fight from a disadvantaged position as he had to move up in weight to fight at cruiserweight.
In the next fight, Bastie will not fight in cruiserweight again, he said, adding that the best they can do is to fight in light heavyweight.
“Moving from light heavyweight (76kg) to cruiserweight (92kg) was not a gamble many boxers will take against a boxer like Bukom Banku. It slowed our boxer down and made it difficult for him to fight his natural style.”
But while they await a response from a promoter to stage a rematch, Team Bastie is currently focused on getting ranked as the boxer hopes to revive his career.
“We have applied to the appropriate quarters to be ranked but we know that will be difficult because Bastie has been inactive for a while. Our second plan is to get a continental championship which we hope to win to earn the ranking automatically.
Explaining the gloves storm that heralded the fight, Coach Asare explained that it was unfortunate and an attempt to demoralise his boxer.
Narrating the event of the night, Coach Asare said they were given a 10 ounces gloves required for boxers at that level which was further inspected by the supposed fight referee, Roger Barnor who was changed in the last minute without informing them.
“We were surprised when Banku protested that we were using eight Ounces gloves. It shocked us the more to find out that after the verification, Banku insisted we change the gloves, a request we adhered to as a result of a plea from the president of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
The manner in which the fight referee was changed remains a matter of concern to him and his camp and has appealed to the GBA to hold a stakeholders meeting to discuss some of the strange happenings of the evening to avoid a repeat.
He denied reports of him calling for the GBA to sanction the referee (Fred Ghartey), adding that ‘what I’m interested in are the reasons he will give for some of the decisions he took on the day
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