Jackson Malinyingi was game but Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab was unperturbed. Wahab (22-0, 15 KOs) successfully defended his WBO Africa super featherweight title with a seventh-round TKO over Tanzania’s Malinyingi (12-5-1, 3 KOs) Saturday night in front of a boisterous crowd at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The bout highlighted a night of non-stop action on an event promoted by ACE Power Promotions in conjunction with Streetwise Management and DiBella Entertainment.
The 23-year-old Wahab, a Nigerian who fights out of the Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation in Accra, was making the first defense of the continental belt he won last July when he knocked out Muksini Swalehe in Lagos, Nigeria.
“I feel good and great for defending my title because my opponent came in with a good plan,” Wahab told BoxingAfrica.com.
“I came in to win and not necessarily a knockout and, in the end, I got what I wanted.”
Not without a fight.
Wahab controlled the first as he operated behind a long jab and stepped into land combinations to Malinyingi’s body.
The two began trading in the second. Again, Wahab attacked Malinyingi’s ribcage but the Tanzanian responded in kind, showing no signs of slowing down. He enjoyed an even better third as he caught Wahab with a left hook square on the jaw.
Wahab began to separate himself in the fourth, opening up with several eye-catching shots. Malinyingi refused to give an inch, coming forward and attacking with determination.
Wahab switched tactics in the fifth and sixth, boxing behind the jab and maintaining distance from his shorter foe. He was back to power punching in the seventh, driving Malinyingi to the canvas with a volley to the head and body.
Malinyingi gamely rose but could barely stand straight, forcing veteran referee Roger Barnor to step in and halt the bout in the seventh.
“I feel very good at 130 pounds and looking forward to face Shakur Stevenson and any other super featherweight in the world because I believe I have a chance against them,” said Wahab.
Wahab’s UK-based manager, Streetwise head Michael Amoo-Bediako, says Wahab is on the right path.
“I am pleased with Wahab’s performance but there is more to learn on his development and that is what we are looking at,” said Amoo-Bediako, who also manages former world lightweight champion Richard Commey.
“Boxing is about development and we have to focus on giving Wahab the right preparation to be able to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion.”
On the undercard, Emmanuel Sackey easily outpointed Success Tetteh, winning an eight-round unanimous decision in super featherweight action. Cards read 80-70 twice and one card of 80-69.
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Ahmed Abdulai, who is also managed by Amoo-Bediako, stopped Issifu Osman in two rounds.
Nigeria’s Raphael King earned a third-round TKO over Henry Mensah in a welterweight contest.
In a welterweight bout, Sampson Segbedzi secured a unanimous decision win over Francis Aryee.
