By: Kwame Bediako
Former world champion Amir Khan has revealed the driving force behind his decision to co-promote a landmark boxing event in Ghana. Through his Amir Khan Promotions, he partnered with Legacy Rise Sports to organize the Battle of the Beasts fight night at the iconic Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
The event attracted boxing legends such as Azumah Nelson and Joshua Clottey, former World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua, as well as celebrities from Ghana’s vibrant music and film industries. Reflecting on the sold-out event, Khan told talkSports that the motivation came from a lack of international promoters visiting Ghana.
“If you look at some of the promoters like Eddie (Hearn), Frank (Warren), they will never come to Ghana. No one looks at Ghana. So we decided, why don’t we come to Ghana,” he explained. His initiative was aimed at shining a global spotlight on Ghana’s rich boxing heritage and untapped potential.
The event was co-promoted by Legacy Rise Sports, owned by Sharaf Mahama, son of Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama. Khan praised the partnership, saying, “The President’s son, Sharaf and Shahid have been so helpful. When I met them, they said let’s do a show here together and obviously we pushed it well.”
Before departing Ghana, Khan met with President Mahama, who expressed his commitment to investing in the development of boxing in the country. Khan also suggested that future events could be held in larger venues than the Bukom Boxing Arena, which has a seating capacity of 4,000, to accommodate bigger audiences and further elevate the sport’s profile in Ghana.
The Battle of the Beasts event not only celebrated Ghana’s legendary boxing culture but also marked a historic step in bringing international boxing promotion to the country.
Khan’s involvement signals a promising future for Ghanaian boxing on the global stage, with hopes of more high-profile events to come at venues like the Bukom Boxing Arena, a symbol of Ghana’s boxing legacy.
