Malik Jabir retains title

A new boxing rising star, Abdul Malik Jabir, made a successful first defence of his National and West Africa Super Bantamweight title when he registered a sixth round technical knockout over "stubborn" Osumanu Akaba in their scheduled 12 round contest at the Kaneshie Sports Complex in the early hours of Saturday.

Malik who weighed one pound less than his opponent improved to 5-3-2 at the end of their fierce battle, organised by Prince and Baseline International Promotions dubbed, the "Boom-boom night".

Both boxers, opened up very early in the first round, but Malik's stray right hook sent Akaba to the canvas. That early shock ironically brought out the beast in Akaba as he pinned Malik to the ropes with right-left combination.

The trend continued in the second round with occasional in fighting but Malik, cheered on by Bukom fans, stepped up his performance to open a deep cut on the right eyelid of Akaba. Referee S. K. Tetteh had to stop the fight for some few seconds to enable ringside doctors to attend to Akaba.

The injury seemed to infuriate Akaba as he went all out and decked Malik in the fourth round.

Akaba however could not respond to the bell for the seventh round after a fierce exchanges in the sixth round, which deepened his cut.

In the vacant National and West Africa Featherweight championship between Eric Odumase and Ben Odametey, judge Atta Eddie Pappoe scored it 112-116 in favour of Odametey, Confidence Hiagbe scored 115-115 and T. B. Owusu Ansah scored it 115-113 for Odumase; declaring the fight which was clearly dominated by Odumase draw.

In the under cards, James "Hot ice" Toney continued his winning spree when he stopped Ali Mohammed 1:29 second of the second round of their scheduled six round Super Middleweight contest.

Ben Ankrah won a unanimous decision over Badu Akutteh in a six round Super lightweight contest while Osumanu Adama stopped Alarape Akeem 2:25 seconds of the second round of their six-rounder contest of the Super Welterweight bout.

In the Welterweight contest Agoe Ashong strolled past Mohammed Bameyi with a unanimous decision.