Samir Fights Tomorrow

After getting his professional career to a flying start a fortnight ago, former Black Bombers captain, Bastie Samir, takes up another challenge on Thursday in Maryland, USA.

Sami, a middleweight, will storm the Michael's Eighth Avenue in Maryland to face Mexican-born Joel Gonzalez, a 31-year-old boxer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 22-year-old Ghanaian announced his arrival in the professional ranks in grand style after a first round knockout of Jamaican Marvin Blair on November 8 at the Valencia Ballroom in Pennsylvania, USA.

Samir, an orthodox, will once again face a relatively experienced opponent in Gonzalez who already has three professional bouts to his credit.

The Ghanaian who now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, fights out of the TKO Gym and has signed a three-year managerial contract with the highly-respected Cameron Dunkin, who has produced some world champions like middldweight Kelly Pavlik, featherweight Steven Luevano and flyweight Nonito Donaire.

As an amateur, Samir had a record of 96-7 and also featured in many international competitions including the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China and the Boxing World Cup in Chicago, USA, last year.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Samir's Ghanaian trainer, Ofori Asare, said “Samir is both a fighter and a boxer.

I say this because he uses his strength when he has to and relies on his skill when the need arises. He can surely go places if he repeats this first performance.”

Samir turned professional after featuring for Ghana at the Beijing 2008 Olympic games together with five other boxers.

Gonzalez won his pro debut against Gonzalo Alvarez through a TKO last June and lost via a knockout in his second bout against Jesse Vargas on September 5.

He won his last bout against Abraham Young on Septmber 26 this year in Nevada.