Ashie, Quaye in verbal tirade …ahead of Indece Day clash
Former African Boxing Union (ABU) super featherweight champion, George Ashie is relishing his upcoming International Boxing Federation (IBF) Continental Africa Junior Welterweight bout against Robert Quaye to prove that he is still a fierce fighter whose best days are not over.
In his heyday, the 37-year-old (32-5, 24KOs) was highly regarded in the super featherweight division but his career trajectory has not quite fulfilled the potential he exhibited at the early stages.
Speaking at a media launch of the event at the Bukom Boxing Arena yesterday, Ashie, popularly called the ‘Red Tiger’, was adamant he had nothing more to offer, warning Quaye that he would use him to stake his claim as a top-rated pugilist.
“I will urge all boxing loving fans to come and see the surprise I have for them. I know I have been absent for a while but I will show them my absence has made me better and it will be evident on the day.”
The fight billed for March 6 at the Bukom Arena dubbed ‘Rumble to Freedom’ under Box Office Sports (BOS) Promotions will be the fifth edition of the series and forms part of this year’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.
In response to Ashie’s apparent threat, 29-year old Quaye (20-0, 17KO’s) said he was ready to live up to his ‘Stopper’ alias by ensuring Ashie did not go beyond the seventh round to maintain his enviable unbeaten record.
“I’m a fighter of few words and always want my performance in the ring to do the talking. One thing I can assure the fans of is that Ashie won’t go beyond the seventh round.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Box Office, Alex Ntiamoah promised an exciting night of boxing action, stating that they were lining up exciting undercards to give boxing fans a full treat.
He said that the boxers will embark on community engagements to soar interest in popular boxing communities and among their followers.
Deputy Communications Director at the Presidency, Mr.Jefferson Sackey said the resilience of boxing as a sport across the country was in sync with the Independence Day theme “Working together, bouncing back together.”
This, he said, has fostered the partnership between the National Anniversary Planning Committee and Box Office Sports to stage the show.
He said as Ghana worked together to come back to economic prosperity from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, boxing was a key industry that would be tapped for recovery due to the economic potential it boasted.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
