Former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion, Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe, says he is fully fit and ready to face Russian Vyacheslav Gusev at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday.

The Ghanaian, 30, was billed to fight Gusev on January 26 at the arena but a fractured right hand forced the organisers to reschedule the bout to February 23.

The Bukom lad will be vying for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) International and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Global lightweight titles and says he is as fit as a fiddle to beat Gusev.

“I am very fine now and ready to face Gusev. I won’t predict a knockout but when it [the fight] begins you will see for yourself,” Tagoe told the Graphic Sports via telephone.

The fight is the last in the country for the boxer, referred to in boxing circles as ‘Gameboy’, as he embarks on another world title search in the United States under the famed Lou DiBella Entertainment label.

International matchmaker Michael Tetteh, who also works for BabyJet Promotions, promoters of the upcoming bout, also predicted victory for Tagoe on Saturday.

“He has fully recovered. He is ready for a showdown and he is looking forward to the fight. This is his last fight and he wants to make the fans very happy and create a memorable event out of it,” he stressed.

The Russian journeyman, Gusev, 33, last fought and defeated unfancied Thai, Yotchanchai Yakaeo, in September last year via a technical decision in Russia.

A native of Prokopyevsk in Russia, Gusev has 30 professional fights under his belt, with five losses, but faces an experienced Ghanaian boxer for a chance to grab a world title shot.

Reports in Russia suggest he has intensified his training regimen and is well-psyched up for the bout. He is expected in Accra on Thursday with his team ahead of the official weigh-in on Friday.

Meanwhile, a high-powered delegation that comprises Daryl Peoples, President of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Danny Leigh from Australia, the WBO Global President and Peter Kahn from the USA are also expected to arrive in the country tomorrow to witness the fight.

-Graphic.com.gh