Isaac Sackey returned to the win column on the opening night of the Ghana Professional Boxing League Saturday night.
Sackey, the former WBO Africa super bantamweight champion, earned a six-round unanimous decision win over debutant Isaac Taylor at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. Final scores read 59-54, 59-54 and 58-55.
Sackey (26-2-1, 20 KOs) had too much experience for Taylor, earning a win for Attoh Quarshie Boxing Club against Taylor’s Akotoku Boxing Academy.
“I am looking forward to the next fight in the league already and I hope to use it as means of staying active,” Sackey told BoxingAfrica.com.
“This win is good for me because my opponent fought well and I have to congratulate him for his performance.”
Sackey was the busier, more confident fighter against the relatively inexperienced Taylor (0-1). Taylor kept his space and relied on his jabs, neither of which deterred his opponent.
Sackey went on the attack in the third but Taylor remained cautious, finally opening up in. the fourth and fifth but landing little of note. In the sixth round, Sackey pressed the action again, landing a series of powerful shots which caused Taylor to clinch his way to the fight’s end.
The bout headlined the inaugural show of the league, organized by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) in collaboration with IMAX Media Group.
It is expected to be run in two seasons annually with the first season set to end in June.
The league has been met with criticisms from promoters who argued that the GBA had broken its statutes by serving as a promoter while also acting as a regulator of the sport in the country.
However, Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports described the league as a gamechanger on the boxing calendar which he said would offer fighters the chance to remain competitive.
“This is a novelty league and my ministry is in support of it because we believe it offers the chance for the fighters to remain competitive throughout the year.
“It is my wish that all the stakeholders within the boxing fraternity would come together to support it to make it successful for the benefit of the fighters,” Ussif said during the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Former GBA president Peter Zwennes echoed the minister’s sentiments.
“This is a laudable initiative that needs attention by all stakeholders and I’m glad it has started well,” said Zwennes.
“It is very important for boxers to be in good shape and this league provides that platform to fight.”
On the undercard, John Quaye of the Sea View Boxing Club won a well-deserved unanimous decision over Stephen Addy of The Gym in a super lightweight contest.
Seconds Out Gym’s Burkinabe fighter, Alexis Kabore, defeated Michael Tagoe via seventh-round TKO in a super featherweight contest.
In a light heavyweight contest, Emmanuel Dekeh of Fit Square Boxing Club defeated Michael Osumanu Osunla from Black Panthers Boxing Gym via a controversial split decision.
Adam Hab Deen Salanon of the Panix Boxing Club stopped Palm Springs Boxing Club’s Daniel Otoo in two rounds after Otoo failed to answer the bell for the second stanza of their scheduled six-round flyweight contest.
