Manyo Plange is undefeated, experienced and has a well-padded foundation from the amateur ranks and after years seems to have finally found a path to the light of boxing – relevant fights and opportunities for world title championship.

The meeting with Melvin Lopez of Nicaragua on July 26 in Las Vegas will define his next phase for very clear reasons. The young boxer is gradually approaching his mid 30s and should know whether or not he will join the list of world champions produced by Ghana.

To be the best one must fight the best – these words mirror Plange’s situation as he seeks greatness in the sport.

“Every boxer’s dream is to become a world champion. When I set out in the sport of boxing, that was my target. I know this year is my time to become a world champion and I am ready to fight anybody.”

“I am very hungry for world title glory and I am ready to fight any and every relevant name in the division from Naoya Inoue, John Riel Casimero , Nonito Donaire and Guilermo Rigondeaux,” Plange told Joy Sports.

Plange is the number two contender on the latest WBA rankings with behind Gary Antonio Russell the number one contender and the regular champion, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Japan’s Naoya Inoue, the super champion who holds the WBA and IBF titles.

A good run from the amateur ranks sent him through competitions on the west coast of Africa, the continental championships and the AIBA world championships which he attended twice. When it was time to win laurels he won three gold medals at the African championships, a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Qualifier, silver medalist at the Africa Games 2007 in Algeria. He was also rated the number one super flyweight during the period.

Back in his native Ghana he became so invincible that his bouts were more of entertaining the fans and finishing off his opponents when he wanted to.

Manyo’s quality is largely due to his run in the amateur ranks which saw him captain Ghana’s national team the Black Bombers and compete on all major stages.

“My long amateur experience has been very beneficial to my professional career. I have travelled around a lot and have seen many fans and situations and it has built me well.”

Fourteen years ago at the All Africa Games staged in Algiers he put up a spirited performance to earn a silver medal which eventually sealed his ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games At the Olympics, he upset Harry Tanamor in his first bout and lost to Paulo Carvalho.

He is a two-time participant in the Commonwealth Games and prior to that at the 2006 edition. He is a product of one of the Fit Square Gym, noted for producing a good number of talented young boxers in Ghana’s capital Accra, run by his trainer Lartekwei Lartey. The gym has also produced a good number of Olympians and medalists from other tournaments.

Manyo has an impressive run of 21 wins, a draw and no loss with 17 of the wins coming via knockout. Melvin Lopez, brings into this fight his orthodox style and 25 wins with one loss making up his record.

The Nicaraguan boxer, crumbled via a TKO loss on a similar occasion during an eliminator with Jose Velazquez in October 2019.