Former welterweight world champion Joshua Clottey has raised significant concerns about the adverse effects of the pro boxing league on both amateur and professional boxing in Ghana. Clottey emphasizes the detrimental impact of inexperienced amateur fighters making their debuts against seasoned professionals, questioning the sanctioning of such mismatched bouts.

Clottey points out that this practice not only harms the amateur arm of the sport but also jeopardizes the confidence and potential careers of debutants who face experienced opponents. The lack of appropriate regulation and oversight in these matchups is a pressing issue, according to Clottey.

The CEO of Box Office Sports Promotions, Alex Ntiamoah-Boakye, a prominent figure in Ghanaian boxing promotion, echoes these concerns. Ntiamoah-Boakye, who has been at odds with the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), believes that the absence of a clear-cut plan and limited activity for amateur boxers in Ghana is driving them to turn professional prematurely, purely to make a living.

He highlights the case of Samuel Takyi, who won a bronze medal at the Olympics. Ntiamoah-Boakye notes that during Takyi’s success, an amateur league was in session, keeping fighters active. However, the current situation has forced many amateur boxers to seek opportunities in the professional league to sustain themselves.

Despite these critiques from respected figures in the boxing community, Ghanaian boxing stakeholders have been slow to address the issues, allowing the sport to languish. The blog raises questions about the urgent need for a strategic plan in 2024 to revive and develop boxing talent in Ghana, potentially rebuilding what was once the powerhouse of African boxing.