Brother's calls from Iraq help boxer stay focused

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

One person will be on boxer "Sugar" Ray Narh's mind after he fights "Quiet Storm" Jadschi Green tonight at the heated tent outside Heinz Field.

	IF YOU GO ? What: Iron City Pro Boxing card When: 7:30 p.m. today Where: Heinz Field Featured: ?Sugar? Ray Narh vs. Jadschi Green for the NABC lightweight title belt Tickets: Start at $20 and are available at Ticketmaster locations, by calling 412-323-1919 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Narh's twin brother, Reynolds, has been in Iraq with British security forces for about a month. The Narhs are from Ghana in west Africa.

"He does call me a lot and tells me he's all right," Ray Narh said yesterday. "That helps me calm down a little bit."

Ray Narh, who has lived in Sewickley Heights for about a year, said he's more concerned about his twin than vice versa.

"He's not worried about the result," Narh said with a big, confident grin.

Narh (12-1 with 11 knockouts) and Green (11-4, 9 KOs) are fighting for the vacant NABC lightweight belt in a scheduled 10-round bout.

The Iron City Pro Boxing card begins at 7:30 p.m. and also features NABC cruiserweight champion Rayco "War" Saunders of Beltzhoover against Anthony Williams of West Virginia.

"I'm ready for this. I've stepped up my training," Narh, 26, said. "I want the people of Pittsburgh to come and support this like they do with the Steelers. I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. I want them to cheer me on like they do for the Steelers."

Narh was on the 2000 Ghana Olympic team after winning the gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He turned pro three years ago.

Green, 26, of East Orange, N.J., stopped Pennsylvania junior welterweight champ Luis Alberto Santigo in eight rounds in June.

"He's got speed," Narh said of Green. "He's got a lot of things, but I've got everything I need to make me the world champion."

Green has a reputation for having a strong left hook, but one of his managers believes that's only part of the picture.

"They're both pretty equal," Darren Antola said of the matchup. "It's going to come down to strength. Everybody talks about my guy's left hand, but he is dynamite with both hands."

This is the third bout at Heinz Field. The first was in the plaza under the scoreboard, the second in the Great Hall.

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