Emmanuel Tagoe nick named “Game boy” is determined to make history as he prepares for a final eliminator for the WBO lightweight title. The witty and tough talking Ghanaian lightweight contender Tagoe, who is the nephew of Nana Yaw Konadu (former WBA bantamweight World champion) will be making history to have been the first Ghanaian boxer to contend for world title in the same family after he secures a victory over Garcia in the final eliminator.
Tagoe (31-1, 15 KOs) 31, has worked his way to the mandatory spot with the WBO lightweight division after he won the vacant WBO lightweight African title against former world titlist Paulus Moses in October 2018. In February 2019, Tagoe secured a uninamous decision win in an IBF lightweight international championship against the hard punching Russian pugilist Vyacheslav Gusev and defended later in July same year before moving to the United States.
“It’s a dream come true, it’s history in the making whichever way you look at it. This is what I have been working for” Tagoe said.
“What is important is, I’m on a mission to win another world title for Ghana and this eliminator with Garcia is a means to an end and the target is Lomachenko who holds the WBO lightweight world title”.
“This fight is as good as the world title fight itself and we will not take chances, this is what we have been working for over 16 years of my career.” Tagoe expressed.
The WBO has ordered for negotiations for a fight between Tagoe and Garcia in a 20 day period to work within a purse limit of $150,000 otherwise they will go for purse bidding.
Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) 21, has reportedly been ordered by the WBC to face Luke Campbell for the interim WBC lightweight title to have a crack at the regular title controlled by Devin Haney after the #1 contender Javier Fortuna accepted to fight Jorge Linares on August 28. . In a convoluted mix of two sanctioning bodies ordering Garcia to an interim title and an elimination fight for WBC and WBO respectively, Tagoe is waiting to take his chance and make history.
“I’m confident something positive will come up, I work with one of best teams you will ever find in boxing, we are waiting for what come up next.” Tagoe said in an expectant demeanour. Emmanuel Tagoe is promoted by Luo Dibella Entertainment and co-managed by Peter Kahn who was recently nominated by Boxing Writers Association of American (BWAA) for the boxing manager of the year award dubbed the 2019 Cus D’Amato Manager of the year but lost the award to Keith Connolly.