Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana
Nelson Azumah: Tagoe needs luck to upset Garcia
Boxing legend, Azumah Nelson, says he does not have high hopes for former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion, Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe, defeating American Ryan Garcia in their world title upcoming eliminator in San Antonio, Texas. Rather, he believes the Ghanaian boxer may count on luck for an upset win in the April 9 showdown.
Azumah, who won world titles in two divisions, questioned the thoroughness of preparations of Bukom-born Tagoe and wondered if his main intention was to make money from the fight.
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“I think about this Garcia fight as one that Gameboy going in for the money and coming back home; I don’t see anything beyond that,” he told the Graphic Sports last Wednesday.
According to Azumah, although he wishes Gameboy well, he believes the odds are against him and he may be run over on the night.
“Honestly, I don’t know if he can win this fight, and can't tell if he will win. We can only wish him all the best.”
Azumah maintained that while Gameboy had shown the willingness to fight and the zeal to win, for which he was training very hard ahead of the fight, he was running into a formidable and younger opponent.
“You may never tell that despite the odds not favouring him, anything can happen in boxing. A good punch from Gameboy can drop his opponent for good. Things happen in boxing,” explained the former WBC featherweight and WBC super featherweight champion.
Tagoe has pitched camp at his Florida base in the US ahead of the biggest fight of his career against Garcia, who is regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world currently.
The Ghanaian turned to the USA on February 15 after spending two months in Accra during which he trained at the Bukom Boxing Arena under the guidance of experienced Ghanaian trainer, Lawrence Carl Lokko.
While Garcia aims to use next month's showdown as a tune-up after nearly 15 months of inactivity, Tagoe sees the clash at the Alamodome in San Antonio as a chance to earn a shot at the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) lightweight title held by stable mate, George Kambosos Jr.
