A boxer's cry: I was swindled by bout organizers
Ghanaian super bantamweight boxer Galley Kudjo feels swindled by arrangements that got him into the ring last weekend, where he failed to annex the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa Super Bantamweight.
Kudjo's advertised opponent, Felix Friday, a Nigerian was replaced at the 11th hour following strange developments concerning his eligibility and availability for the fight.
The official weighing for the bout took place at High Gate Hotel at Asylum Down in Accra where Galley weighed 53.90kgs while Felix tipped the scale at 55.50kgs.
The authorities ordered Felix to shed off the 2kgs excess weight, and he was eventually disqualified for allegedly presenting fictitious documents.
In place of Felix, a local boxer, Isaac Nettey, was called in and according to Kudjo, a member of the organizers called to inform him that owing to the new development, he would be fighting Nettey.
Appearing on Asempa Sports, a bemused Galley told show host Chris Opoku that while Isaac Nettey was not at the official weighing, on the fight day he weighed 57kgs, far in excess of legal limits.
But Galley said he agreed to fight his overweight opponent based on assurances from the organizer who informed him that Nettey 'will go down' in an early round (Round Four) so he could be declared the winner of the bout.
As it turned out, not only did Nettey fail to go down in Round 4, he lasted the 10-round bout to win a majority decision.
Galley Kudjo, now 24 fights, 20 wins (10 KOs) and 4 losses, feels cheated of a golden opportunity, plus he suspects his opponent was doped.
Asked why he would cry foul and speak ill of someone obviously stronger than him in a fight, Kudjo said Nettey for a strange reason, refused to be hurt by his (Kudjo's) left hand, a tool he claims has led to the fall of his opponents once they take the punch.