Hammond is new West African Lightweight Champion

Lartekwei Hammond is the new National and West African lightweight champion. He knocked out Sam Ray in the 10th round of a title fight at the Kaneshie Sports Complex.

In the first round, both boxers sized up each other with Hammond, making use of his longer reach to pump a few jabs into the face of Ray. Ray tried unsuccessfully to connect some over-head punches.

From the second round, the duel became fierce as the two boxers traded very powerful punches to the admiration of the fans. When the third round began, Hammond rocked Ray with a left -right combination and followed it up with an uppercut, which apparently deflated the confidence of Ray. From the fifth round it became apparent that the fight would not go the distance as Hammond pummelled his opponent with series of combination punches. Ray was, however, courageous enough as he kept on chasing Hammond round the ring without really connecting his punches. The ninth round was a very fierce one as both boxers stood toe to toe in the middle of the ring and traded hefty punches. And once again, it was Ray who came out bruised in the exchanges.

As the bell rung for the 10th round, Hammond chased Ray into his own corner and hammered him with powerful left and right combinations and he finally hit the canvas, with his gum shield almost out of his mouth. When referee Confidence Fiagbe began counting, Ray announced he could no longer continue and the referee declared Hammond the winner by a knock out. In one of under cards, involving Ibrahim Marshall and Aloyi Moyoyo, Referee Shadrach Acquaye stopped the fight in the first round in favour of Moyoyo, when Marshall appeared to be defenceless under a barrage of punches. Marshall, had earlier, been felled by a vicious right. He however protested vehemently against the verdict and the Ghana Boxing Authority officials announced there would be a rematch to settle the scores, while upholding the verdict of a knockout.

In other fights of the night Moro Tijani Stopped Roger Abayateye in the first of their scheduled eight round lightweight contest while Moibi Mohammed gained a unanimous points decision over Emmanuel Odoi in a grudge six round featherweight duel. Alfred Tetteh kayoed Kofi Boateng in the second round of a billed, six round featherweight encounter. The fights were watched by an appreciable crowd, which included the deputy ministers of Youth and Sports, Mr Sylvester Azantilow and Professor Patrick .