Jantuah Launches Kumasi Rumble

US-based Ghanaian pugilist, Kofi Jantuah, has launched the first international boxing contest to be held in the Garden City of Kumasi on August 16, 2008.

Jantuah aka 'Pride of Ashanti', who returned from the US recently after 11 years, met the press at the Alisa Hotel on Monday July 14, 2008 to launch the programme to mark what he described as 'the revolution of boxing in Ghana'.

The press conference was attended by some dignitaries including Moses Foh-Amoaning, Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA); Gyane Quartey, member of the promotion team; and Thomas Duah.

Speaking to the gathering, Jantuah said he had failed in his early attempt to give Ghana a world middleweight title against Arthur William in Germany last year, and he blamed the inability to win the title on his earlier association with American promoter Don King.

“It is my objective to popularize the sport in Kumasi to give back to society what was given to me when I was growing up in the streets.

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) fight against Russian Seigei Rukuluv is part of the plans to bring boxing actively in Kumasi,” he stated.

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE SPORTS indicated that if Jantuah wins the fight against Seigei, he will be the number one contender to the world title belt.

The Ghanaian pugilist expressed his deepest gratitude to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his support.

He disclosed that the Ashanti King had accepted to be at the ringside to motivate him on the day of the fight.

By Pierre Toto