The race for the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) presidency is gathering pace, and Ivan Bruce-Cudjoe has fired a clear early salvo.
The boxing promoter and businessman intensified his bid for the sport’s top job with a strategic visit to the United Boxing Association of Ghana meeting grounds at James Town last Tuesday, directly engaging coaches and key stakeholders ahead of the crucial June 2 elections.
With the clock ticking towards a decisive transition in Ghana’s professional boxing governance, Bruce-Cudjoe is positioning himself as the candidate of reform — a man, he insists, ready to deliver a long-overdue “reset” of the sport.
The upcoming polls follow revised arrangements announced in February, which outlined a May–June electoral window to restore full administration after the tenure of the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC). Delegates are expected to elect a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer and four Executive members, with a formal handover slated for June 4.
Although the official opening of nominations is yet to be confirmed, behind-the-scenes lobbying is already in full swing.
Graphic Sports sources indicate that former boxer and immediate past GBA First Vice-President, Rabbon Dodoo, has emerged as the early frontrunner for the presidency, enjoying significant backing within the boxing fraternity.
But Bruce-Cudjoe, CEO of Cabic Boxing Promotions and Management, remains undeterred and emphatically confident.
Having initially filed his candidacy for elections that were later aborted following the resignation of then GBA President Abraham Kotei Neequaye and the subsequent dissolution of the board, Bruce-Cudjoe believes the extended delay has only strengthened his resolve and sharpened his blueprint for change.
At the heart of his campaign is a sweeping overhaul of Ghana’s boxing structure, one built on competitive integrity, regional expansion and improved welfare for fighters and coaches.
“The vision to reset Ghana boxing remains the same; we are going to promote real competition across all 16 regions to ensure that you have to beat all regional champions before you can be the national champion,” he told coaches during the engagement.
“I’m very confident such a champion will make us proud on the global stage, and we’ll surely get world champions in no time.”
Beyond competition reform, Bruce-Cudjoe is also pushing a strong institutional agenda, promising to work closely with the National Sports Authority (NSA) to professionalise coaching structures across the country.
“I also have a plan to engage the NSA so we can collaborate to appoint coaches on good salaries to the 16 regions to develop and train more boxers in an open, all-inclusive administration for the success of Ghana boxing,” he assured.
His pitch is to expand the talent base, deepen competition, and align incentives across the ecosystem — from grassroots gyms to elite fighters.
With safety concerns and declining competitive standards dominating conversations around Ghanaian boxing in recent months, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh