Ghanaian lightweight, Emmanuel “Gameboy” Tagoe [32-1, 15 KOs], could have a shot at Devin Haney‘s [25-0, 15 KOs] World Boxing Council (WBC) World Lightweight title before the winner of the clash between Ryan Garcia [20-0, 17 KOs] and Luke Campbell [20-3, 16 KOs], at least that is what Tagoe’s manager Peter Kahn believes.
In an exclusive interview with KBOXtv‘s Kofi Baisie ahead of Tagoe’s clash with Mason Menard [36-5, 25 KOs], Kahn stated that a victory for Tagoe could see him in line for a WBC world title shot “Right now Emmanuel [Tagoe] is rated No. 9 in the WBC, after this fight and victory, he is going to move up and don’t be surprised if he fights Devin Haney for the WBC title before Haney fights the winner of Garcia and Campbell.”
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) had ordered Garcia to face Tagoe in a final eliminator back in July 2020 to determine the next mandatory for then titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko [14-2, 10 KOs] but the undefeated American decided to fight for the WBC lightweight interim title instead and Kahn says this was because the 22-year-old is scared to take on Tagoe.
“If he [Ryan Garcia] would have fought Emmanuel he’d be one fight away from a world title, fighting Luke Campbell; he’d have to beat Campbell, he’d have to beat Devin Haney to get to the real champion that is Teófimo López [16-0, 12 KOs]. Ryan Garcia wanted to avoid fighting Emmanuel.”
“Now it is unfortunate that the WBO decided that once Garcia wasn’t going to take the eliminator they decide to put the eliminator on hold. I spoke with them, I spoke with the President Francisco “Paco” Varcarcel, I was very disappointed because we began speaking with Denys Berinchyk and his people who was the next available contender and it was very disappointing.” He further stated
Tagoe would secure that victory over the American lightweight in the early morning of Saturday 28th November 2020 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, the USA by a Majority Decision (MD) after 10-rounds.
The Gameboy, who returned from a 16-month layoff would dominate the majority of the fight, even cutting Menard above his left eye during the fourth round before beginning to showboat around the ninth which allowed the American to land some shots on him.
