Ghana’s aspiration for boxing success at the 2024 Paris Olympics is in jeopardy following Joseph Commey’s defeat at the World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand.

Commey, a light welterweight who replaced Samuel “Ring Warrior” Takyi, was just two wins away from securing his Olympic berth. However, American boxer Emelio Garcia dashed the Ghanaian’s dreams with a unanimous points decision victory on Wednesday, May 29.

Commey’s defeat adds him to the list of eliminated Ghanaian boxers at the qualifiers, including featherweight Amadu Mohammed, heavyweight Jonathan Tetteh, super heavyweight Mark Kojovi Ahondjo, and middleweight Henry Malm.

Ghana’s hopes now hinge on the remaining two boxers: flyweight Theophilus Allotey and middleweight Ornella Sathoud, the team’s sole female representative.

Allotey will face Anvarzhan Khadzhiev from Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, May 30, needing two wins to qualify for Paris. Sathoud is set to take on Aynur Rzayeva of Azerbaijan on Saturday, June 1, in the women’s middleweight category.

This marks Ghana’s final opportunity to secure boxing spots for the Olympics, having previously failed to qualify in tournaments held in Senegal (2023) and Italy (2024).

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