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04.07.2004 Sports News

Anyetei reclaims title

04.07.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, July 4, GNA - Anyetei "the Chameleon" Laryea on Sunday morning reclaimed his National and West Africa Super Bantamweight title he relinquished last year by dethroning current holder Jonathan Yartey via a majority decision.

Judge J. B. Owusu-Ansah scored the fight 114-115, Fred Ghartey recorded it 114-114 while Osabutey made it 113-118 in favour of the former champion who returned home after unsuccessful exploits in the United Kingdom.

Anyetei improved his record to 14 wins, two losses and six KOs while Yartey dropped to 10-1-0 (six Kos) The bout was one of two title fights put together by Landmark Promotions and Management syndicate Limited, which also featured six contests, dubbed "the Night of Redemption and Remembrance" staged at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The defeat notwithstanding, Yartey exhibited an immaculate resistance and resilience from the beginning through to the 12th round, which was also replicated by the less fancied opponents in all the bouts.

Yartey opened fire at the start of the first round and confused his experienced opponents with some left-right combinations but the "Chameleon" quickly got his acts together to take control of the final session of the round.

He dominated the subsequent four rounds but Yartey stepped up his gear to take control briefly mid-way, but could not sustain the pressure as Anyetei cheered on by his teaming fans took over.

Yartey visited the canvas in the second round from a stray right hook and twice in the fourth and eighth rounds while the "Chameleon" also slipped on a few occasions following an early morning shower which made the canvas slippery.

But disaster nearly hit the organizers with just two more fights to go. Abdulai " the Classic" Amidu connected a desperate upper cut to Stephen "Ataa Jata" Okine in their 10 round Super Lightweight contest, which sent Jata sprawling on the canvas unconscious. It took doctors Daniel Carl Sonne and S. A. Quaye some time to revive the boxer who had given a good account of himself until the sad incident occurred, one minute seven seconds in the sixth round of their scheduled 10 rounds.

But just after the sad event, Braimah Kamoko, also known as Bukom Banku brought some life back to the venue.

Spotting a new ginger hairdo with a long yellow and black apparel with a yellow headband to match, the Moslem Banku, came into the ring holding a the Holy Bible with a while wooden cross accompanied by background music "I belief I can Fly" and "Asembeni" played by Tiny and the late Terry Bonchaker respectively.

But after failing to knock out his Nigerian opponent Babatunde Alimi in the first round of their Light Heavyweight Contest, as he had predicted, Banku realized he was in for a fight of his life.

And although he dominated, he had to rely on the magnanimity of referee Emmanuel Brenya who stopped the fight in the 43rd seconds of the seventh round although the Nigerian was not in any danger. It was Banku's longest stay in the ring; his other previous fights had not travelled beyond the second round.

Yet another boxer who had his first real test was James "Hot Ice" Toney who annexed the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International Middleweight Champion after a gruelling battle with last-minute opponent Ayittey Powers.

His original opponent, South African Mpush Makembi failed to honour the fight and Powers was contracted as a last minute replacement. Powers who had not psyched himself up for the tasked ahead really drilled Toney with his hefty punches but lost on points.

Judge Godfed Cobblah scored it 118-108, Jacobs recorded it 117-111 while Eddie Pappoe made it 118-109 all in favour of Toney.

In the other bouts, Mustapha Appiah recorded a third round TKO against George Assie in a super featherweight contest, Alex Brew won a unanimous decision over Mohamed Jess of Benin in a lightweight contest while Charles Adamu won a TKO over Lokko Raul also of Benin in a super middleweight contest and Ange Adjaho (Benin) had a unanimous decision over Sunday Okolo (Nigeria) in a Super Featherweight contest.

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