Mr Jacob Zwennes, a Ghanaian boxing promoter and manager based in the United States, who was instrumental in facilitating the participation of Theophilus Lopez Allotey and Daniel Selassie Gorsh at the ‘Battle of the Beasts’ event at the Bukom Boxing Arena, has extended his congratulations to both boxers for their exceptional performances.
Zwennes, the head of Errol Hawk Sports Management, confided in Yours Truly that although he has been relatively inactive on social media, he was determined to secure a strong opponent for his protégé, Daniel Gorsh, who has struggled to find worthy challengers to defend his title—something that could lead to ring rust.
According to Mr Zwennes, he offered Allotey and his team the opportunity to fight for the WBO Africa title because he considered them disciplined and deserving. He explained, “I made it possible for them to contest for the title, and I believe I deserve some credit. I personally covered all the WBO fees for both Allotey and Gorsh, whom I co-manage. Both are outstanding fighters with very bright futures. I have always known Allotey comes from good boxing stock, which is why I selected him for this bout.”
He added, “Both Gorsh and Allotey are well-mannered fighters with charisma. I want to see Ghanaian boxing flourish again. I long for the return of the glory days of Ghanaian boxing. I knew this was a 50-50 bout, but I chose to stage it because we need high-quality matchups like these if we’re to compete on the global stage.”
“Congratulations to Theo Allotey on his victory—he deserved it. He was the better man on the night. Those familiar with Gorsh know he wasn’t at his best. He struggled to make weight and was clearly drained. The event’s schedule also took a toll on him. The official weigh-in occurred at around 11:00 a.m., yet the public weigh-in wasn’t held until 9:30 p.m., forcing Gorsh to remain at the venue for over 10 hours the day before the fight. This was incredibly demanding, especially considering that Allotey, a natural super flyweight moving up in weight, didn’t face the same burden.”
Mr Zwennes further stated that Gorsh was not his usual self and did not perform to his full potential. “For your information, we included a rematch clause in the contract, and we intend to trigger it later this year. We’ve offered Legacy Rise Promotions the first right to host the rematch, but we’re prepared to explore other avenues if necessary,” he revealed.
“Once again, congratulations to Theo Allotey—an excellent boxer—for his victory. I would love to see both fighters meet again at full strength to truly determine who the superior fighter is,” he emphasised.
Jacob Zwennes, brother of former Ghana Boxing Authority President, Lawyer Peter Zwennes, and a figure who has been actively involved in boxing for nearly five decades, noted that while Ghana is blessed with immense boxing talent, much work remains to be done by all stakeholders to ensure sustained progress in the sport.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
Comments are closed.