George Ashie of Ghana won the vacant interim WBO Africa lightweight title with a 12-round majority decision over South Africa’s Michael Mokoena at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana.
Mokoena controlled the action during the first quarter of the bout, using his boxing skills and reach to keep Ashie off-balance.
According to ghanacrusader.com, Ashie suffered a cut above his left eye in the fourth via accidental headbutt. This upset the Ghanaian, who attacked Mokoena with renewed vigor.
Ashie’s aggression carried over into the following round. A hard right uppercut in the fifth rattled Mokoena, but the South African did well to remain upright.
They continued to trade in the sixth and seventh, with Ashie getting the better of the action against his game opponent.
Ashie was the stronger of the two in the exchanges. As he had done early on, Mokoena reverted to boxing in the ninth, working the stick and using movement against his aggressive foe.
Ashie was busier in the tenth, working Mokoena with combinations but the South African remained resolute, peppering Ashie with jabs as he waded in.
Mokoena was the aggressor in the eleventh, showing greater durability. Ashie fired back with jabs, but Mokoena was able to work his way inside and land upstairs.
The two went for broke in the final round. They stood in the middle of the ring and traded, each refusing to give ground. In the end, the judges ruled in Ashie’s favor by a slim margin.
In the co-main feature, Isaac Sackey defeated compatriot Raymond Commey to win the vacant WBO Africa super bantamweight belt.
Sackey dominated Commey from start to finish to win the bout via unanimous decision. The scorecards read 117-111, 120-109, 120-109.
Popular Ghanaian boxer Ayitey Powers failed to turn up to face his tough opponent Enoch Quaye also known as Gbese Bruno.
Ayitey Powers was nowhere to be found during the fight, leaving Bruno his opponent with the option of having to fight another person, unwilling to disappoint hundreds of his fans who showed up at the Bukom Boxing Arena to watch the match.
Prior to the bout Ayitey overweighed his opponent on the scale but Bruno went on to agree to the fight on Thursday.
In his absence, Bruno fought one Mawuli Fofoli who obviously was no match for him; he barely survived the last bell as his corner threw in the towel in round 5. Bruno’s heavy punches landed on the lad, making his legs wallow though he never retired to the canvas.
Addressing fans gathered at the Arena, Enoch Quaye expressed disappointment in Ayitey Powers but still vowed to fight him anytime Powers call on him.
