Kpakpo Allotey retains ABU lightweight title

Accra, March 26, GNA - Kpakpo Allotey, also known as the "Bukom Flash" on Sunday morning retained the African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight title when he out-pointed Ben "Congo Soldier" Ankrah at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Accra. The fight also served as the final eliminator for a Commonwealth title shot.

After 12 gruelling rounds, which left the face of Ben Ankrah contoured and bleeding, the scorecards of the three judges awarded the fight to Kpakpo by a 2-1 decision. Ataa Eddie Pappoe and Emmanuel Brenya gave the fight to Kpakpo via 116-112, and 116-114 verdicts respectively, while Dan Nunoo Mensah scored in favour of Ben Ankrah with a 114-116 decision.

The fight generated a lot of hype, which was induced by the result of their first meeting. Then at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Kpakpo sustained a deep cut over his left eye and the referee stopped proceedings in the eighth round to give victory to Ankrah. The first victory played a psychological game in this fight as Ben Ankrah swung into action immediately after the first bell and scored freely with his left jab, which connected well and had Kpakpo in trouble several times.

Congo Soldier sustained the pressure with looping left punches, which were precise and effective, thus slowing down the forward march of Kpakpo. The fourth round witnessed an explosive performance from Kpakpo who surged forward and mixed up with Ankrah. Kpakpo appeared the fitter of the two, during the fierce exchanges and he adjusted his fight plan accordingly from there, putting excessive pressure on his opponent.

In the seventh round Congo Soldier hit the canvas but the referee ruled it was the result of a low blow and allowed him time to recover before the fight resumed. Kpakpo assumed total control from the ninth and stunned Ankrah with six rapid left and right combinations, which drew applause from the sparse crowd. Ankrah went down again in the ninth and claimed he was hit by another low punch and the referee caused a point to be deducted from the haul of Kpakpo. The next two rounds produced some spectacular boxing from both boxers with Congo Soldier repulsing the attack of Kpakpo with accurate counter punches. But the pressure of Kpakpo was so intense that the defence of Ankrah capitulated, making him vulnerable to the bombs of Kpakpo who opened a cut under the left eye of Ankrah.

In other fights of the night, Thomas Awinbono battled Ishmael Tetteh to a draw in an uncompromising national super welterweight title fight over 12 rounds. In other under cards, super middleweight Michael Gbenga stopped Eric Kwadey via a third round TKO, while Frank Frimpong needed only one minute, thirty six seconds to stop Sihu Timothy from the Republic of Benin in the first round of their heavyweight contest. Prince Doku was another winner of the morning when he won a unanimous points' decision over Aminu Turkson in a super featherweight contest.