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Salita Promotions announced the signing of former Ghanaian Olympian and highly touted super bantamweight prospect, Prince Octopus Dzanie, to an exclusive promotional contract.
A native of his country’s capital city of Accra, the undefeated Dzanie (21-0, 17 KOs) is a tall (5’9”), rangy fighter with excellent power and, similar to his all-time-great countryman Ike Quartey, a busy, piston-like left jab that sets up his often fight-ending right hands.
Octopus was a name given to him at birth by his grandfather, a former fighter who fought under the same moniker. Dzanie went 87-15 as an amateur and was a three-time Ghanaian Champion and an All-Africa Bronze Medalist before representing Ghana at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China. He also spent time training in Canada with Emile Awe Rudan and former Olympic bronze medalist Chris Johnson.
As a professional, he is trained by Abdul Ramany Iddrisu and managed by well-known boxing insider Vincent Scolpino of VMS Boxing. He won the WBO Africa Bantamweight Championship in 2017 with an eight-round knockout over countryman Isaac Quaye.
“The road to becoming a world champion is long when you’re in Ghana, but all the necessary preparation has been done here,” said the confident Dzanie, “Getting signed on to VMS and Salita Promotions means I’ll be a world champion in just a few fights.”
Scolpino, who with Dzanie is hoping to match the work he did with Ghanaian former two-time bantamweight world champion Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko, says he’s optimistic about the pact with Salita.
“I’m pleased that we have signed a promotional agreement with Salita Promotions, one of the premier up-and-coming promotional companies,” said Scolpino. “I’m sure they will move him into a title shot. I saw the potential in Prince Octopus, that’s why I signed him to a long-term management agreement. I know he has the power to become a world champion.”
One great Ghanaian warrior, perhaps the greatest of all time, who already believes in Dzanie is two-weight world champion Azumah Nelson, who says he likes his countryman’s chances on the world stage.
“Prince Octopus Dzanie is a tough boxer with a hunger for glory, who will take the world by storm,” said Nelson. “He is clearing every obstacle to become world champion.”
New promoter Salita, known for his work with bringing several international prospects to successful runs in the United States, says Dzanie is a blue-chip prospect with tremendous possibilities.
“Prince Octopus Dzanie is that rare fighter tucked away across the globe who can make a big splash over here,” said Salita. “I’d like to thank him and his manager Vinny for bringing him to my attention. I’m excited for the work we will be doing to bring Prince to his dreams of a world championship.”
This weekend, Dzanie will have his first fight under the new promotional banner by taking on veteran countryman Kamarudeen Boyefio on the 15th. Salita says plans are already underway to bring him to the United States to live and train.
On Saturday, June 5th as King’s Promotions will present a day/night doubleheader at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The start times are 3 PM and 8 PM ET.
In the afternoon main event, undefeated Devar Ferhadi takes on Blake Mansfield in a super middleweight contest scheduled for eight-rounds.
Capping off the night portion of the card will be a fantastic eight-round super middleweight clash featuring Brandon Robinson and Genc Pllana in a bout scheduled for eight-rounds.
Ferhadi of Frederick, Maryland, has a perfect record of 8-0 with seven knockouts. Ferhadi came to the United States from Iraq, and is also a medical doctor. Ferhadi is coming off a fifth-round stoppage over previously undefeated Vincent Baccus (4-0-1) on December 6, 2019 at the 2300 Arena.
Mansfield of Burlington, North Carolina has a record of 7-3-1 with four-knockouts. The 32 year-old Mansfield is a six-year pro who has wins over Hakeem Atkinson (1-0) and Antowyan Aikens (10-2-1). In his last outing, Mansfield lost to Aaron Casper on November 7th in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Filling out the rest of the matinee card:
In six-round bouts: Greg Outlaw (8-0, 3 KOs) of Bowie, Maryland takes on Andrew Rodgers (4-9-2, 2 KOs) of Elkhart, Indiana in a super lightweight bout; Joseph Jackson (16-0, 12 KOs) of Greensboro, NC fights Terrence Williams (5-4-1, 1 KO) of York, PA in a junior middleweight clash; Kashon Hutchinson (7-5, 1 KO) of Reading, PA fights undefeated Edgar Torres (8-0-1, 4 KOs) of Woodbridge, VA in a welterweight contest.
In four-round bouts: Yahu Gavriel Blackwell (3-1, 2 KOs) of Baltimore, MD fights Nicoy Clarke (2-6) of Jersey City, NJ in a heavyweight bout. Also seeing action against opponents to be named will be debuting fighters in super lightweight Quadir Albright of Chester, PA against an opponent to be announced, and bantamweight LeAnna Cruz of Allentown, PA. fights Marissa Messer Belenchia (1-1) of East Haven, Connecticut.
Robinson of Upper Darby, PA has a record of 15-2 with 10 knockouts. The 32 year-old Robinson is a five-year professional. Robinson has wins over Brandon Clark (2-0), Ernest Amuzu (25-3) and Martez McGregor (8-2). Robinson, who has won four in a row, is coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Josue Obando on March 7, 2020 at The 2300 Arena.
Pllana of Hagerstown, Maryland by way of Kosovo, has a record of 8-3-1 with four knockouts. Pllana, 27 years-old is a four-year professional known as “The Sexy Albanian” and has wins over Jason Bell (3-0) and Kevin Newman II (11-1-1). Pllana is coming off a loss to Raphael Igbokwe on November 28th in Houston, Texas.
In six-round bouts: Rasheed Johnson (7-3, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Rafiq Muhammad (4-0, 2 KOs) of Richmond, VA in a welterweight clash; Jonathan Rodriguez (8-1, 3 KOs) of Bethlehem, PA takes on Sebastian Baltazar (1-4) of Tacoma, WA in a bantamweight fight; Khainell Wheeler (4-1, 4 KOs) of Bethlehem, PA will fight Vincent Baccus (4-2-1, 3 KOs) of Okmulgee, OK in a super middleweight fight.
In four-round bouts: In a battle of undefeated lightweights James Bernadin (3-0-1, 2 KOs) of Lancaster, PA fights Osvaldo Morales (4-0, 2 KOs) of Harrisburg, PA; Elijah Morales (7-0, 4 KOs) of Trenton, NJ fights Andres Abarca (2-4) of Normandy Park, WA in a welterweight contest; Eric Monroe of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Roudly Lolo (0-0-1) of Camp Hill, PA in a super middleweight affair.
Former amateur star Sandy Ryan has signed promotional terms with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
The 27-year-old Derby boxer, who claimed gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2014 World Championships, had been one of Team GB’s leading medal hopes for the rescheduled Tokyo Games before deciding to turn professional with STN Sports in March.
Following a glittering amateur career, Ryan will start life in the pro ranks campaigning at Super-Lightweight with trainer Clifton Mitchell, and the Midlands talent is ready to target World Titles with an ultimate ambition of fighting at the home of her beloved Derby County Football Club.
“I’m really happy to have signed with Matchroom,” said Ryan. “I’m looking forward to showing the world everything I can do. We will move at a pace to achieve my goals of becoming a multi-weight World Champion. I dream of boxing at Derby County’s ground Pride Park one day. Shout out to my manager Paul Ready and STN Sports – I’m working with the best team in the game.”
“I’m excited to welcome Sandy to the team,” said Eddie Hearn. “I’ve watched her develop on the GB team and everyone has always felt she would become a major force in the pro game and there couldn’t be a better time to enter the scene. Women’s boxing is on an all time high and there are some huge domestic and international fights out there for Sandy over the next few years.”
“I’m very excited to get this deal over the line for Sandy,” said Director of STN Sports Paul Ready. “Thanks to Frank Smith & Matchroom for the smooth negotiation process. Sandy already has a huge fan-base in Derby, this will spread nationwide. I’m confident she will become a multi-weight Undisputed World Champion.”