In boxing, boxers are categorized according to their weight. Yeah, size and weight is a sacrosanct factor in boxing. In other sporting disciplines like soccer, basketball and rugby, how an athlete weighs isn’t really a matter of importance.
Unlike other sports, the efficiency of a boxer is dependent on his or her weight. That’s why sportsmen in this discipline are grouped in….Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, LightWelterweight, Welterweight, LightMiddleweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight and so on and so forth.
Even with this, there’s an amount of weight a woman and a man should have based on category they find themselves.
Now back to Banku and Bastie, originally, Banku fights in the category of Super heavyweight division while Bastie fights in lighter weight division. .
So, for fairness to prevail in the bout, Banku had to shed some weight and even weighed lesser than Bastie. I don’t think this match would even be sanctioned if the match was of international recognition. The match was just some sort of publicity stunt because they was no title at the end of the day.
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Banku had a lot more reason to lose this fight, looking at the energy to lose weight at that short period and how long his body took to adapt to his new weight. Imagine been bedridden with some severe malaria; you lose weight and when you finally stand on your feet, you feel light. Often times you end up holding objects for support until your body finally adjusts.
Boxing Conclusion
So, in conclusion, Bastie should push up to super heavyweight for rematch with Banku for us to add how it goes because, an eagle is vulnerable in water because of its inability to swim but much stronger on land. Usually, any boxer who sheds weight to fight in a lower division becomes vulnerable making his opponent prowess.
Banku shouldn’t have fought in this division
The Flip Side
• Banku losing weight was to his advantage as he was actually out of shape for the bout.
• He had height advantage which he should have utilised.
• Over confidence killed Banku.
Profile of Braimah Kamoko (Bukom Banku)
Braimah Isaac Kamoko is also known as Bukom Banku was born August 17, 1980. The Ghanaian professional boxer, whom until the 22nd of October, had an undefeated record of 28-0-0.
Bukom Banku has now suffered a defeat from another Ghanaian boxer, Samir Bastie bringing his record to 28-0-1 (21 K0)
Profile of Bastie Samir
Bestie Samir, nicknamed the beast, is 31 years old and was born on May 19, 1986. The Beast has an impressive record of knocking out all his opponents in his 15 bouts.
He won the African Amateur Championships in the welterweight division in May 2007. He represented Ghana and won silver at the 2007 All-Africa Games boxing welterweight division. Bastie qualified for the Olympics 2008 in the light-heavyweight division. He relocated to the US in 2008 and won many professional bouts there.
Bastie knocked out Banku in style at the BUKOM ARENA before thousands of boxing fans.
Story By Kwame Boakye Yiadom Jr
