Former IBF Bantamweight title holder, Joseph Agbeko says Ghanaians have no right to criticise boxers when they lose.
Isaac Dogboe’s world title bout defeat to Robeisy Ramirez was greeted with criticism by Ghanaians, while he was largely belittled after losing his WBO Super Bantamweight title to Emmanuel Navarrete in painful fashion.
The rematch defeat was also treated in the same critical manner by large sections of Ghanaians. But Dogboe has probably received better appeal from the public than compatriot Richard Commey.
After losing his IBF lightweight world title to Teofimo Lopez in 2019, Commey, 36, has struggled for consistency, winning just one of his four fights since then. He’s been called by Ghanaians to retire.
Meanwhile, former IBF Welterweight world champion, Joshua Clottey advised Commey to stop chasing another world title.
All the ‘harsh’ assessment and analysis Ghanaian boxers have received does not sit well with Agbeko, who seemed to label them as ‘glory hunters’.
“These fans [complaining] don’t even come to the stadium and pay to watch, so we can have some bargaining value for earnings, they only sit here and watch, and when you lose, they want to insult you. When you win, they want to share the glory, but when you lose everyone wants to insult,” Agbeko said to Joy Sports.
Agbeko further explained professional boxers receive no state support, so Ghanaians cannot demand state-level results.
“The one in the ring wants to win more than you watching,” Agbeko started. “And one thing they have to know is the government does not invest into our preparations towards any fight. If Ghanaians know they want to criticise boxers, they should be ready to invest into the preparation of fighters.
“They should put pressure on the government, so they invest in preparation of fighters, so whenever a fighter loses – like the Black Stars do after funding support – they can insult us.”