A word of caution for Okine

Accra, Jan 16, GNA - Mr Al Hamilton, Chairman of Commonwealth Sports Awards has cautioned Ghana's Joshua "Bukom Tsatsu" Okine ahead of his fight against Namibian Ali Nuumembe (not Ugandan), describing his opponent as a classic boxer.

"Okine will have to work extra hard to overcome the Namibian, because I have watched him on several occasions and he not going to have it easy" Hamilton cautioned the former Commonwealth Welterweight champion.

Speaking to the GNA Sports in an interview, Mr Hamilton said the Ghanaian needs to step up his training if he is to survive the threat from the Namibian.

He warned that, "It will be suicidal for Okine to regard his opponent as mince meat, because Nuumembe is one of the best African boxers in UK".

Mr Hamilton added that the weather in UK is also not friendly and called on Okine to be prepared for a similar climatic condition he experienced when he lost his Commonwealth Title to Kevin Anderson in September last year.

Okine will come up against Nuumembe in a Commonwealth Welterweight eliminator on February 12, in the UK.

The winner of the fight will have a shot at the Commonwealth Title. Mr Hamilton who has for the years been involved in boxing promotion in Ghana, called on corporate bodies to support boxing and other disciplines since the nation stands the chance of winning more laurels from those areas.

He said much support has been given to football to the detriment of other sporting disciplines and this is affecting the development of the sports in general.

"Its about time corporate bodies come together and contribute financially to the development of other sporting disciplines such as athletics, boxing and weightlifting among others, which have been relegated to the background over the past years".

He also commended the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for introducing the Mortein boxing concept, which he said is a sure way of serving as the ideal platform for the gradual development of boxers in the country.