Tagoe declared National Featherweight Champion

Accra, Aug 20, GNA - Emmanuel Tagoe has been declared the winner of the National Featherweight Championship bout against Malik Jabir, which ended abruptly at the James Town Mantse Agbona last week, according to the Match Commissioners Report.

The bout ended abruptly during the 11th round, when the lights went off for a second time, culminating in the throwing of plastic chairs and other objects thus compelling the referee to end the fight. A copy of the match commissioners report, J.A Annan copied to the Prior to the halt, Tagoe was leading 100-93 on the cards of all three judges.

The report referred to section 6.7 p.24 of the GBA's regulations, which states, "In the event that at the discretion of the referee, it becomes impossible to continue the bout for reasons unrelated to the action taking place in the ring.

"These include power failure or unforeseen events, or if one of the fighters is unable to continue for unrelated to a blow, the fight will be ruled a technical draw up the fifth round.

"If the fight has progressed beyond the fifth round, the winner will be the boxer who is ahead on points at the time it becomes necessary to suspend the bout."

With regards to how the tensioned-packed bout ended, it perfectly fits into the last sentence, making Tagoe, who was leading at the time the bout was stopped the winner.

The report commended the organizers for a wonderful event amidst tight security which could have lived up to expectation but for some nasty incidents which roared its ugly head. The ruling therefore makes Tagoe, the national featherweight champion.

The event, which was to mark the Homowo festival was organised by Will Power Boxing Promotions, founded by former National champion, Napoleon Tagoe.