Japanese featherweight champion Harugi Uehara was in full training a Wednesday (3 March) for his fight for the World Featherweight title against Ghana's David "Poison" Kotei in Accra on Saturday (6 March).

The Japanese, who is 10th in World Boxing Council ratings, confidently predicted a knock-out when he first arrived in the west-African country. But he has since tempered his forecasts, saying "I'm in for a good fight".

The fight will be Kotei's first defence of the title he won against Mexico's Ruben Olivares in September last year.

He defeated another Mexican, David Sotelo on points in a non-title about in Accra in December.

The fight is causing wide interest in Ghana. Head of State Colonel Acheampong cancelled an official cocktail party, celebrating Ghana's 9th year of independence, because it clashed with the fight.

Col. Acheampong said he wanted as many people as possible to watch kotei or "Poison" has he likes to be known, defend his title.