International ring official, Ataa Eddie Pappoe says boxing has declined in Ghana due to amateur’s boxers’ rush to turn professionals.
Top boxers globally have gathered huge amateur boxing bouts under their gloves before switching to become professionals but same cannot be said about the average Ghanaian boxer currently.
American boxer, Floyd Mayweather had an amateur record of 84 wins and 8 losses with Philippine pugilist, Manny Pacquiao gathering 60 fights and losing 4 of those.
British heavyweight, Anthony Joshua who even started boxing as late as age 18 clawed 48 fights, 3 losses and 18 knockouts.
Ghana’s former World Lightweight champion, Ike Quartey had an amateur record of 50–4 before turning professional.
An average Ghanaian boxer currently is quick to turn professional with as little as five fights maximum and that Atta Eddie Pappoe deems as not the best.
“Our boxers are too much in a hurry to become professionals, they don’t spend time enough at the amateur level.
“We have boxers from Romania, boxers from Kazakhstan, boxes from Ukraine, Russia and all those boxers, they do about 300 fight before becoming professionals.
“Our boxers are too much in a hurry, they do about two, three fights and then they want to turn professionals.
If you watch the league that we normally have in Accra, even to throw common punches, they can’t throw punches properly.
“There are a lot of things they do lack and our boxes are prepared to get to the professional ranks.
“They are just too much in a hurry to leave the amateur ranks to travel.” Atta Eddie Pappoe told Radio Gold Sports.
