What had been billed as a match up of equals between flamboyant Braimah "Bukom Banku" Kamoko and hard hitting Bastie Samir turned out to be a one sided beat down of Ghana's former light heavyweight king Kamoko on Saturday at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
What next after Bukom Banku vs Bastie Samir ?
There has been talk of a rematch
Recommended articles
There were critics of the match up when it was first announced and with just cause.
Kamoko's career as a top boxer had been in a slump for years. A serious eye injury led to an enforced absence that robbed him off his best years and his last two bouts had been glorified circus shows against another washed up rival,Ayittey Powers.
Samir's once promising career had hit a wall way before he beat Ade Shabazz last year in the U.S.A. A fighter who had once caught the eye of Oscar de la Hoya and Mayweather as a potential world beater had returned home to find meaning and restart his career.
Perhaps in each other they saw a chance for different ends. For Kamoko, a chance at one more big payday while cementing his legacy as the greatest box office attraction on the local scene. For Samir, a chance to become relevant again on the back of a well known name. This was a chance he was not going to get in the US.
The result was a well promoted and patronised bout that gave life to the country's local boxing scene.
The quality of the buildup and the atmosphere created on fight night was always going to be hard to match in terms of quality in the ring based on several factors. Kamoko was dropping down a division to fight at cruiserweight , a division he had not competed at since his early years.
It is rare to find a top light heavyweight drop down in weight and stay competitive much more one who is as inconsistent about his training as Kamoko.
A wily power puncher at his best , he had lost his sharpness and brute power over the past few years and his strategy was to keep Samir and his lumbering hooks at bay with a sharp jab. Bastie Samir is a natural cruiserweight and looked in far better shape even before the fight than Banku, whose flat footed, hands down style was like painting a bullseye on his face. Samir obliged.
Mention must be made of fight referee Fred Ghartey who put up one of the worst displays of professional in ring management to be witnessed at the Arena.
From instances of not moving Samir to a neutral corner during knock downs, poor counting of knock downs and a general mishandling of situations which cost both boxers at times of advantages, he did not cover himself in glory. His stoppage of the fight for doctors to check on a cut Banku had sustained from a punch was uncalled for at a time Samir was clearly rocking him.
At the end the best man won and hopefully Samir finds a a management savvy enough to turn this win into a meaningful stab back at the paid ranks of boxing that he has descended from.
At age 37, Bukom Banku has paid his dues. For years he has brought thousands of fans and kept the sport popular and relevant. As a professional fighter there is very little for him and he will only endanger himself if he continues. It is time for him to say goodbye.
All that talk of a rematch should be shelved. It will only serve as poor mass entertainment.
There are a lot of meaningful local fights that can be made and hopefully, the commercial success of this bout will open the doors for more of these fights to happen.
Emmanuel " Gameboy tagoe and Raphael Mensah ,the world awaits you.