Fans of Ghana boxing can raise the flag high following the nations domination on Saturday night at Bukom Boxing Arena.
Azumah Nelson’s Fight Night, Round IV: Ghana vs. UK turned out to be a one-sided affair in favor of the host nation. In main event, Ghana national super featherweight champion Wahab Oluwaseun cut short what was an entertaining battle with a third round KO over the U.K.’s John Hicks.
Oluwaseun used his length and athleticism to get in and out with combinations. Hicks landed several telling blows but Oluwaseun’s came in multiples. A one-two followed by another one-two – the finale a searing right cross square on the jaw – sent Hicks tumbling to the mat in the third. He struggled to his feet, barely beating the count but referee Roger Barnor had seen enough (watch highlights below).
In the night’s co-feature, welterweights Raphael Kwabena King of Ghana and England’s Anthony Ayinde battled for six rounds with King eking of a split decision by scores of 57-56 for Ayinde, and 58-56, 57-56 for King.
Wassiru Mohammad defeated Felix Okine via six-round unanimous decision in the all-Ghana, super bantamweight affair. Final scores were 60-35 and 60-34 twice.
In an amateur attraction bout, Azumah Nelson Jr., son of the legendary champion, received a three-round split decision Prosper Dzidzor in a thrilling encounter.
Perhaps the expectations for Nelson Jr. are too high. And his father, the night’s promoter, reminded reporters of this after the bout. But Nelson Jr. did look promising early on, winning the first by landing the cleaner punches and showing ring generalship reminiscent of “The Professor.”
But he struggled once Dzidzor went on the offensive in the second and third. The underdog fought with the abandon of a fighter who had little regard for his opponent’s warrior bloodline.
Dzidzor was the busier, more effective fighter in the second, but Nelson gamely fought back, at times able to slip in well-placed counters in between Dzidzor’s barrages.
They went to the war in the third as Dzidzor continued to throw punches in bunches. A short right cross dropped Nelson Jr. midway through the stanza. The betting favorite was more stunned than hurt and rose quickly. He finished the round strong, backing Dzidzor up with two powerful hooks.
Nevertheless, much of the crowd thought Dzidzor deserved the decision. The three judges didn’t agree, scoring the bout had it 2-1 in Nelson Jr.’s favor.
