An unbeaten Ghanaian called Duke Micah says he's unfazed about his upcoming world title fight, and is coming to conquer Johnriel Casemiro
- Duke Micah challenges for his first world title Saturday against the more experienced bantamweight title holder Johnriel Casemiro.
- Nicknamed "The Baby-Faced Terminator," Micah told Insider he is coming to the behind-closed-doors Uncasville ring to conquer, then bring the world title back to Accra, Ghana.
- He said he is unfazed at the pedigree of his opponent, who has trained alongside Manny Pacquiao and is riding the high of a stoppage win over Zolani Tate, last year.
- Micah's world championship match is one of five on a Premier Boxing Champions event broadcast on Showtime — the greatest boxing event of the pandemic to date.
Duke Micah is talking up a good fight ahead of the toughest challenge of his eight-year pro career on Saturday, September 26.
The 28-year-old Ghanaian challenges Johnriel Casemiro for the Filipino's WBO bantamweight championship in Uncasville's Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
It is a Premier Boxing Champions event broadcast on Showtime pay-per-view — boxing's biggest event in the pandemic era so far.
But despite the big stage against an opponent who has, for years, been training alongside boxing's modern day great Manny Pacquiao, Micah is unfazed, and told Insider he is coming to conquer.
"I'm doing great, feeling great," he said recently, promising to live up to his nickname as "The Baby-Faced Terminator."
Micah said: "It means I'm coming to destroy. It is a name given to me, you see me in the ring … that's who I am. I am going to terminate you in the ring."
With a pro record of 24 wins (19 knockouts), unbeaten, it is a nickname that is seemingly deserved because of his ability to throw punches in bunches, with accuracy, against a variety of opponents to date.
But in Casemiro, Micah meets one of the very best operators in the 118-pound weight class, an established champion, and a fighter coming off a big knockout win over Zolani Tete, late last year.
While Micah is respectful of Casemiro, he does not appear overly bothered about the champion's pedigree or prowess.
"He's a good boxer but he hasn't fought someone like me," Micah said. "I know what I'm coming to do. I don't let people take things from me. When I'm in the ring, I conquer.
"This opportunity, somebody who is training with Pacquiao … I'm grateful to fight this guy. He's a true champion.
"He can fight, he can box. But this isn't a big deal, man."
Micah intends to win, in style, and take the world title back to Ghana
Micah told Insider that little would mean more than being able to beat Casemiro in style, win the world championship, and take the title back to Accra so he can celebrate with his friends and family in Accra, as well as the Ghana government.
He said that he grew up in poverty in his grandmother's house after his mother and father divorced. There was little money, and so only one brother between him and his twin could go to school.
He took that as an opportunity to concentrate on boxing.
"We didn't have much money, come from a poor family," Micah said. "I have a twin brother and I told him, 'Hey man, I can't continue my school,' so he went to a good school, and I went into boxing."
Over the years Micah developed his skills on the amateur scene and in the professional ranks in Africa, Europe, and in America.
Now, he is determined to triumph so that he can take the title to West Africa and spread positivity in his homeland.
"To have a world title … something that people will like, love … people will be happy," he said.
"Every good person, when you are good, people celebrate you. This is a good thing for me, dream to win, fight [and beat] a good boxer. It's blessed."
Micah and Casemiro's match is one of five championship bouts on the Showtime pay-per-view.
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