Evans Bernie-Johnson, manager of Ghana’s 2-time WBO Africa junior featherweight titlist, Isaac ‘Golden Eagle’ Sackey has slammed the less than two months old new Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) administration as well as the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana for what he perceives as a clear case of unfair treatment of certain boxers preparing for title fights.
Mr. Bernie-Johnson who returned to the country only on Tuesday with his boxer from Kazakhstan where Sackey unfortunately lost a bid for the WBA international super bantamweight title, is calling out the Abraham Neequaye led GBA for not showing up to motivate his ward during preparations for the fight as they did for another boxer recently.
Sackey (25-2-1, 20 KOs) also lost the WBO Africa belt he was holding for the second time and surely the world number 12 ranking as well but it is the nonchalant attitude of the Ghanaian boxing governing body and coaches union that has made his manager furious.
“First of all, John Laryea the expensive boxer fought for WBO Africa title, the GBA didn’t visit him in training to give him morale support,” Bernie-Johnson began.
He added more:
“Then came Alfred Lamptey my own boy, big up champ. When he was preparing to fight for WBO and WBC youth titles, the entire GBA board visited him in training, which is good. Ghana professional coaches association also went to give him morale support, which is also good. But you ask yourself what happened to John Laryea, is he also not a Ghanaian boxer?
“Then fast forward to Isaac Sackey, we just went to fight in Kazakkstan this past weekend, I was monitoring, all his training during our preparations , not even a single soul, the GBA or the coaches like the support they gave Alfred Lamptey that we are giving you the same morale support so that it will motivate you, ginger you.
United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana make donation to Team Alfred Lamptey after visiting him in training before his fight for double world youth titles against Iddi Kayumba on Tanzania on September 4
“Not necessarily the monetary support but your presence and advice for the boy alone will just boost up his morale to perform wonders in the ring but none of them, not the GBA nor the coaches association.
“The big question that I’m asking now is that is it Selected Boxing Authority or Ghana Boxing Authority? Yes I’m confused because I can see its now no longer Ghana Boxing Authority, it is Selected Boxing Authority. If the board now pinpoint boxers to support, they should let us know so we also know the way we do our things because it is rather unfair.
“What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander, everybody deserves fair treatment. I’m not against Alfred Lamptey at all, he is my boy and I love and support him and appreciate the GBA and the coaches’ motivation of him. But the GBA should do better and let equality prevail in their treatment of all boxers, they shouldn’t do selective justice, what they have just done is so clear bias.”
Credit: Augustus Dodoo
You must be logged in to post a comment.