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09/25/2008 Archived Entry: "'Beast' Heads to Las Vegas"
'Beast' Heads to Las Vegas
Ghanan Olympian Bastie Samir signs with Cameron Dunkin and TKO Boxing promotions
Press Release
Samir wins in the first round of the 2008 Olympics (Photo courtesy AFP/Getty Images).
LAS VEGAS, September 24, 2008 -- 2008 Ghanan Olympian Bastie “THE BEAST” Samir is moving to the boxing capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada, this month to pursue his dream of becoming the middleweight champion of the world, it was announced today by his manager Cameron Dunkin and promoter Chet Koerner of TKO Boxing Promotions.
The 22 year old Samir, captain of the Ghanan team, compiled a record of 96-7 as an amateur competing in numerous international tournaments including the World Championships in Chicago in 2007. He lost a heavily disputed second round bout to Brazilian Washington Silva at the Beijing Olympic Games last month by a score of 9-7.
Said Dunkin, “He fought at 178 in the amateurs but he was weighing in at 170 or 171. So he’s going to fight at middleweight as a pro. He’s a hard puncher and very strong, truly the assets that will help him more so in the pro ranks.
Chet and I are very high on him, we’ve heard people compare him to John Mugabi which is a great compliment. He’s moving to Las Vegas in the next couple of days and he’ll train at Chet’s new gym in town, TKO Boxing Gym.”
Former world champion and boxing legend Azumah “The Professor” Nelson sees greatness ahead for his young fellow countryman saying, “His amateur career has given Bastie the much needed experience to succeed at the professional level. He has nothing left to prove as an amateur.”
Details of Samir’s professional debut as well as the next TKO Boxing Promotions card will be announced shortly. Samir is trained by Ofori Asare and John Rajala.
Said Dunkin, “Chet and I are really looking forward to unleashing Bastie on the boxing fans here in the very near future."
Cameron Dunkin has managed numerous world champions over the last two decades and is recognized as one of the best managers in boxing.
Earlier this year he was awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America’s prestigious Al Buck award for “2007 Manager of the Year” as he guided three of his fighters to upset world title victories: middleweight Kelly Pavlik, featherweight Steven Luevano and flyweight Nonito Donaire.
Other fighters currently managed by Dunkin include highly regarded prospects James Kirkland, Mikey Garcia, Argenis Mendez and the recently signed Russian amateur sensation Matvey Korobov.
Formed earlier this year, the Las Vegas based TKO Boxing Promotions stable includes: junior middleweight Anthony Thompson, middleweight James Countryman, lightweights Rolando Reyes, Raul Tovar and Terrence Crawford, the sister team of Katie and Emily Klinefelter, featherweight Carney Bowman, super bantamweight Rafael Valenzuela and junior flyweight Austreberto Juarez.
Further information on TKO Boxing Promotions can be viewed at www.tkoboxingpromotions.com
