By Prince Dornu-Leiku
US based Ghanaian boxer Mohammed Nii Ayi Bruce says he has now settled to the hustle and bustle of life as a professional boxer in America and that soon he will be parading as a world champion. The man nicknamed Bruce Lee has admitted that he found adjusting to life in America difficult in his early days, even losing his first two fights in the USA.
But the 25 year old Welterweight has since turned the corner and has racked up four straight victories, claiming the International Boxing Association (IBA) Intercontinental Welterweight title last December in the process.
“When I went to the US, I was not having a regular gym to train and also there was no coach but things are very different now. I work with two coaches who train me every day so I’m learning a lot and I can only improve.
“I thank my fans for their support and I promise them that I will bring them a big title soon,” Ayi Bruce told journalists during his pre-departure press conference at the Media Centre of the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra on Good Friday.
The boxer was flying back to the US after a short holiday in Ghana, why the pre-departure press conference put together by Golden Concepts, local promoters of Ayi Bruce. According to Mike Tetteh, CEO of Golden Concepts and Golden Mike Boxing Promotions, the pre-departure press briefing will become a regular event for any of their boxers who are travelling outside the country.
“This is in line with our ambition at Golden Concepts to make boxing big and professional in Ghana. Ghana is a big boxing country and it’s about time we did things professionally, this pre-departure press conference is just one of many new plans.
“We wish Ayi Bruce well for a safe journey because even though he is leaving to the US tonight, we will be with him in spirit and keep praying for him,” Mr. Tetteh said in a statement at last Friday’s event.
Ayi Bruce, 19-3, 12 KOs, currently resides in Albany, New York in the US and having beaten Jose Angel Roman in his last fight in February, is looking forward to another fight within two months as he continues the quest to join the list of Ghana’s world boxing champions.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
