Retired Ghanaian boxer Braimah Kamoko, popularly known as Bukom Banku, has attributed his son’s defeat in the final bout of the 86kg cruiserweight category at the 2023 African Games to the overwhelming crowd presence.
Abubakar Kamoko, affectionately known as Ambitious Tilapia, fell short of securing gold as Algeria’s Kanouni Ousama emerged victorious in the final showdown.
Despite a commendable performance leading up to the finals, where he defeated Nathan Nlandu Mbeli from Congo, Kamoko failed to clinch the gold medal.
However, his father, Bukom Banku, believes that the pressure from the large crowd was too much for his son to handle, especially considering it was his first time competing in front of such a massive audience.
🥊A defeat for Abubakar Kamoko (Tilapia). He takes home silver #3SportsGH #Accra2023 pic.twitter.com/qJixKP8gBs
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) March 22, 2024
In an interview with 3FM, Bukom Banku expressed confidence in his son’s abilities but noted that the daunting crowd atmosphere took its toll on the young boxer.
“He can follow my rules But he lost because this is his first time that’s why. He was tensed because of the crowd. Because the guy can’t stand my children. He was pressured because he hadn’t fought in front of such a crowd. Abu Kamoako is a very good boxer. He began training at the age of seven. He really took after me,” he told 3FM,” stated Bukom Banku, highlighting the familial connection and his son’s promising talent in the sport.
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Abubakar Kamoko’s silver medal, however, marked a significant achievement for Ghana, surpassing his father’s bronze medal accomplishment 25 years ago.
Despite the defeat, Kamoko’s performance contributed to Ghana’s impressive showing in boxing at the Games, where the nation secured four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, finishing third overall behind Nigeria and Algeria.
Contrary to his father’s explanation, Abubakar Kamoko attributed his loss to fatigue and inadequate rest times between fights.
“I fought yesterday [Thursday]. I thought the final was Saturday, so when I fought yesterday and this morning, I wasn’t feeling well at all. I was having body pains, so my coach gave me medicine to take, but still… I want to beg Ghanaians. They should forgive me. I will come back stronger,” Kamoko remarked, acknowledging the physical challenges he faced leading up to the final bout.
Ghana’s Ambitious Tilapia who won silver in the Cruiserweight class at the African Games says he wasn’t feeling too well on the night of the final.
Asked Ghanaians to be patient with him and that he’ll get back stronger. #Accra2023 pic.twitter.com/nLgZmVP6Tr
— Yaw (@theyawofosu) March 25, 2024
Ghana’s remarkable achievements in boxing contributed significantly to the nation’s overall success at the African Games, where it secured a record-breaking 69 medals.
This outstanding performance propelled Ghana to sixth place out of 53 participating nations, showcasing the nation’s prowess and commitment to excellence in sports on the continental stage.