Kojo Issah wins WABU Middleweight title

Kumasi, Dec 29, GNA - Kojo Issah of Queen Elizabeth Boxing Club of Kumasi, on Saturday recorded a second round technical knockout over veteran Okaidja Okweja of Accra Panix Boxing Club to win the vacant West African Boxing Union (WABU) Middleweight title at an international boxing tournament held at the Rex Cinema Hall in Kumasi. The 12-round contest with other supporting bouts were put together by Agyaba Boxing Syndicate in collaboration with the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).

The two combatants who indicated their determination to win the title, went into action immediately the fight commenced and traded hefty punches to the admiration of the spectators. Issah was however the most aggressor and succeeded in pummeling his opponent with some left and right accurate hooks that nearly sent Okweja to the canvas but the latter managed to weather the storm till the end of the first round.

The second round began on a fast note with Issah using his longer reach to advantage to ward off his advancing opponent, but just as Okweja was warming himself into the game, Issah threw caution to the wind and engaged him in a give-and-take affair. His strategy worked to perfection as he pummeled and dazed his opponent with a combination of blows that left Okweja's corner with no option than to throw in the towel.

Supporters of Issah went into wild jubilation when the champion was decorated with the WABU title belt to signify his new status. In the Lightweight fray, Joseph "Madingo" Laryea of Bukom Boxing Club of Accra, a Commonwealth-rated boxer lost by a technical knock-out to Yakubu "Black Mamba" Hamidu of Fit Square Boxing Club also of Accra in the third round in their six-round contest.

Hamidu exhibited good boxing skills and talent in the first and second rounds and as the pattern continued in the third round, Laryea's corner threw in the towel to save their ward from further punishment who at that stage had been turned into a punching bag.

In the Super-Lightweight contest, Sarfo Tyson of Queen Elizabeth Boxing Club of Kumasi recorded a first round technical knock when he decisioned Joe Nyame of Accra Boxing Club in their fight. In the Featherweight fray, Patrick Okai of Attoh Quarshie Club of Accra also recorded a second round technical knock out win over Mustapha Rocky of Akotoku Boxing Academy of Accra, while Benjamin Tutu of B.B. Boxing Club of Kumasi also knocked-out boxing gym mate David Tyson in the first round of their six-round contest. Veteran Issaka Ibole of Akotoku Academy stopped Spanar Somia of Accra Boxing Club in the fourth round in their six-round Super Middleweight bout.

In an all-foreign affair, John Napari, a Cameroonian, recorded a first round technical knock-out victory over Aduku Nsor from Kenya in their heavyweight bout.