Michael “One Bullet” Ansah can now claim bragging rights over Sheriff “One Time” Quaye. Ansah won their all-important rubber match on Saturday night, scoring a fifth-round TKO over Quaye at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
Quaye was ahead on the scorecards when he was floored by an Ansah left hook in the fifth which subsequently led to a stoppage, although Team Quaye felt the bout was halted prematurely.
“He ended the bout too early,” Quaye trainer Lawrence Carl Lokko told BoxingAfrica.com. “This is boxing and things like this happen so I was expecting him to allow him to continue but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“There have been instances when fighters had come up from a knockdown to win fights so I was disappointed with that call from the referee.”
However, referee Erasmus Owoo stood by his decision. “He was wobbling and could barely stand on his legs,” he told BoxingAfrica.com. “I asked him to walk closer to me but he was going backwards with his hands down and that convinced me to stop the fight.
“It was the best decision to take at the time because my job in the ring is to avoid death and I believe I executed that perfectly.”
Ansah (20-10-2, 14 KOs) would agree. The national lightweight champion lost a 12-round split decision to Quaye in their first encounter, back in October 2019. He would avenge the defeat via seventh-round TKO in March 2019, setting the stage for the anticipated third bout.
It looked like a repeat of their first match early on. Quaye (19-3-1, 12 KOs) dominated the pace from the opening bell. In round one, both fighters failed to open up but Quaye landed more.
Ansah took his time, in search of a single blow that could end the fight. They threw more in the second but Quaye wisely avoided standing toe to toe.
Quaye continued to box at a distance at a distance in the third, landing the jab from the outside and quick combinations at midrange which pushed Ansah back. The latter, however, never stopped pressing forward.
A fight broke out in the fourth as the combatants began firing power shots. Quaye concentrated his attack on Ansah’s rib cage but the punches lacked steam. Just as the round was about to end, Ansah landed a big right hand which drove Quaye to the ropes.
Ansah stalked in the fifth, landing a powerful left hook early in the frame that dropped Quaye to the excitement of the 2,000-plus fans in attendance.
Quaye got up wobbly and dazed as referee Owoo administered an eight-count. His lack of balance convinced the ref to stop the fight, handing Ansah a fifth-round KO victory.
Afterward, a jubilant Ansah ruled out a fourth fight.
“I don’t think I will fight Quaye again because I have nothing more to prove,” said Ansah. “I have the bragging rights and that is it for me.
“I knew I will stop him because he was not throwing any dangerous punches when the bout started. It was an easy win for me and like I always say, I will beat him anytime and anywhere.”
A dejected Quaye said the referee should have allowed the bout to continue.
“I feel down because I was not expecting this from the referee,” Quaye informed BoxingAfrica.com. “I think he ended the fight too early but this is boxing and I have to learn from my mistake going forward.”
With the win, Ansah is now in line to fight for the Commonwealth lightweight belt.
UNDERCARD ACTION
Alfred “Bukom Bomber” Lamptey earned a fourth-round stoppage victory over veteran George Krampah to win the West Africa Boxing Union (WABU) featherweight title.
John Laryea successfully defended his national featherweight crown by fourth-round TKO over Kamarudeen Boyefio.
In a super lightweight contest, Robert “Stopper” Quaye remained undefeated with a third-round KO of Raymond Kofi Ansah.
Daniel Aduku retired Naimou Samson in the seventh round of their super welterweight fight.
Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola knocked out Taryel Jafarov of Kazakhstan in two rounds in an international middleweight contest.
Daniel Gosh stopped Isaac Okine in two rounds a bantamweight bout.
Edward Kambassah suffered a second-round TKO loss to Holy Dogbetor in their featherweight clash.
Michael Abban enjoyed a successful pro debut, stopping Benjamin Sackey in two.
The event was promoted by Box Office Sports Promotions in collaboration with Ace Power Promotions.
