Taking the fouls showed Agbeko was well prepared – Foh Amoaning

As Abner Mares' controversial win over Ghana's Joseph Agbeko continues to receive global condemnation and carping criticism, a former chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Moses Foh Amoaning, has made an assertion, which can only come from objective and fair-minded persons, but which can, in the same breath, attract rebuttals from people draped in blind nationalism.

In an interview with Happy FM on Monday, Foh Amoaning noted that apart from the shameful officiating brazenly exhibited by referee Russell Mora, the former IBF Bantamweight Champion would be the first to admit that he did not fight in a more clinical and compact manner.

Despite that assertion, he was in full agreement with the global verdict being issued on the outcome of the fight that Mares' controversy-laden victory was without a doubt, a Russell Mora-assisted one.

According to him, he and Agbeko had held pre-bout discussions prior to the cancellation of the first fight, and knowing Abner Mares' style of fighting, the appropriate strategies were mapped out to effectively deal with the Mexican.

Foh Amoaning commended Agbeko for his good physical condition, which enabled him to withstand the over twenty illegal punches thrown by Abner Mares, but expressed disappointment that despite the fighting spirit exhibited by Agbeko, Mr. Mora came into the ring with an intention unhealthy for the pugilists sport.

'Agbeko's ability to take in those fouls showed that he went into the fight well prepared. But in boxing, it is the referee who makes the call, and not the judges. Once the referee makes the call, the judges respond accordingly.

'The referee made two wrong calls, and the judges responded accordingly, otherwise the fight would have ended in a majority draw, and Agbeko could have kept his title,' he added.

He said Agbeko's attitude to the illegal blows from Abner Mares was the best. 'The decision Agbeko took not to respond to the fouls was the best.

'In boxing, when you are fouled and you keep complaining, it affects your psyche. Agbeko reacted rightly, and by so doing, he avoided being penalised.'

He was optimistic that a re-match would be cast in the mold of the Azumah Nelson-Jeff Fenech fight.

Meanwhile, the Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority, Mohammed Amin Lamptey, has, in an interview with Chronicle Sports, noted that the authority has lodged a protest against the conduct of the referee with the WBC and IBF.

He described Mr. Mora's handling of the bout as a 'total embarrassment to world boxing,' noting that such conduct, if allowed to continue in boxing, could lead to the pre-mature end of boxing careers.

On his part, a respected boxing promoter in Ghana, Alhaji Tofiq, says in view of the IBF's detest for disgrace, he expects them to mete out some punishment to Russell Mora to serve as a deterrent to would-be culprits.

Joseph Agbeko's coach, Ali Adama, says the bizarre circumstances under which the boxer lost his IBF title had won him more admirers, who are commiserating with him on the occasion of that controversial loss.

According to him, Agbeko was ever-ready for a re-match within 90 days if granted, but added that it should be on neutral grounds.