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Everyone Is Going To Know
Who Sugar Ray Narh Is
By Tim Donaldson
Ray Narh? Haven’t heard of him? Neither had I when I was
asked to interview him. So I went looking on the all-knowing
World Wide Web. And when I finally gave up my search, I knew
about as much as I did when I started.
Here are the facts. Ray Narh is from Ghana. He represented
Ghana as a boxer in the All-African games, the Malaysia
Commonwealth Games where he won gold, and the Sydney
Olympics. He held the Ghanaian and West African Super
Featherweight Title and the NABC Lightweight Title. His
professional record is 23 wins, 20 by knock out, and 1 loss.
So why haven’t we heard more about Ray Narh?
There could be lots of reasons. Bad promoters. He has
changed promoters and is now represented by Square Ring
Promotions. Lack of television exposure. He is to be on the
Hopkins, Jones undercard. Maybe some of the fault lies with
the boxing writers. Well. Maybe, but he is taking his story
to the press instead of waiting for us to find him.
So who is Ray Narh? “I am a puncher and a boxer. And I am a
fighter like Sugar Ray Robinson. My boxing lifestyle is just
like Sugar Ray Robinson, just put it that way.” He grew up
in a country that has given the world some of the toughest
boxers that we have ever seen. Ray explained, “Boxing is
big. Boxing and soccer is big, real big, like football and
baseball are big over here. Everyone wants to fight.” And in
a country where boxing is big, Ray was able to distinguish
himself. He fought Smith Odoom for the Ghanaian
Featherweight Title and West African Featherweight Title in
his fourth professional fight. “I just came off the Olympics
and no one wanted to fight me, and look what I did to him. I
stopped him in the second round. I got to prove to the whole
world that I am not just running my mouth because when that
fight happened the whole of Ghana was against me because
they said that I was biting too much that I can chew. So it
was me against the world, and I proved to them that I could
do it.” For those that did believe in him, “People bet
houses. Man, I made people rich that day.”
But Ghana could not keep a fighter like Ray. He belonged to
the world. “The University of Boxing is America, so if I
want to make it big, I have to come here and fight the best.
If you want all the world to love you and know how tough you
are, you have to come here and do it.” Moreover, Ray is
confident that everyone will know who he is. “Because since
I came here, I have been able to beat some quality fighters
to become NABC champion. I was rated 10th by the IBF, but
due to inactivity, I got kicked out of the ratings. But now
I know that Square Ring is going to push me harder and give
me the right fights. Then, I am going to be on top.”
If you are wondering about the one loss, Ray doesn’t think
that you need to. He took the fight against Almazbek
Raiymkulov on little notice because of the pressure to get
television exposure. “If you see my record, ever since I
have been knocking everyone out. If I ever get the chance, I
will fight him again and prove that he is nothing.” It was
just a bump in the road, and he is sure he will not repeat
it.
In April, Ray is fighting on the Hopkins, Jones undercard.
But like so many television fights, Ray does not know who
will be his opponent. That does not concern Ray. “I don’t
care who they put in front of me. Some people have to study
so much tape before they know what to do. Me, I know what to
do with you, so I don’t get scared. I will pass right
through you. I’m not just being overconfident, that is just
the way it is. When the bell rings I know what to do.
Because he will come out and he will probably jab. And if he
jabs, I know what to do with the jab. If he comes with the
right, I know what to do with the right.”
When asked whom he would like to fight, he said, “Everybody
in my whole division. If I were to start naming names, I
would never finish.” He went on to say “it should be
somebody so good that if I destroy that person, they know
that Ray is good. I want to fight the most deadliest person
out there.”
After April, Ray only wants one thing. “I am going to win in
April, and I wish my next fight is going to be for a world
title. That is all I wish.” This time I was able to get a
few names out of Ray, a couple that were mentioned were Juan
Diaz, Juan Lopez, and even Manny Pacquiao. “I would love to
fight Pacquiao, but I would not mention them now because I
am not a household name. But if I win a title….”
So all I can say is look for Ray Narh. He is a hard hitting
fighter who has the determination to be a champion.
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