Ghana’s Patrick Allotey reclaimed the WBO Africa super welterweight title after stopping Tanzanian Hamisi Maya in the eighth round of their title bout staged at the Idrowhyt Events Centre at Dansoman in Accra Saturday night.
Allotey produced a devastating uppercut in the early minutes of the eighth round that dazed Maya before following it up with a flurry which of punches made that forced referee Roger Banor to step in to rescue defenceless Maya.
It was the 31st career knockout and 42nd victory in 46 bouts for Allotey who took back the crown he relinquished in 2019 to fight for the world title against Mexican Jaime Munguia in the United States.
Before that technical knockout, Maya appeared strong enough to last the distance as he gave a good account of himself in the preceding rounds.
Maya, 24, made up for his lack of physique and tough body with a longer reach and quick reflexes, combined with sharp combinations, to give his Ghanaian opponent a tough time.
Allotey, who had not fought since December 2020, relied on his powerful right throughout the entire bout as he struggled to find his range against his younger opponent. He connected a straight right to the temple of his opponent in the first round before landing a straight right to Maya’s face in the third round.
Allotey’s long absence from the ring appeared to have taken a toll on him as he looked a bit rusty and stamina suspect. He was exposed in the fifth round as the
Tanzanian released a powerful left from his waist that caught Allotey on the face and shook him momentarily before he came around to see through the remaining minutes of the round.
Allotey continued his onslaught with powerful right shots which he used effectively to batter his opponent.
Both fighters visited the canvas in the sixth a seventh rounds, including the third round which was ruled as a slip.
Referee Barnor on a number of occasions warned Maya for consistent clinching whenever he was in trouble, as well as using his elbow in the seventh round.
In the eighth round in while trying to find his range, Allotey unleashed a powerful shot that caught his opponent flat-footed and the Ghanaian continued to punish his opponent until referee Barnor stepped in to save Maya.
Allotey was decorated by Ghana Boxing Authority president Abraham Kotei Neequaye with support from the NDC MP for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, and the WBO Africa Supervisor, Samir Captan.
In other bouts on the night, Emmanuel Quaye stopped Frank Dodzie via a second round technical knockout in their vacant West Africa Boxing Union (WABU) super welterweight championship fight, while Faisal Abubakar recorded a fourth TKO win over Emmanuel Allotey in their Super lightweight bout.
In a 12-round vacant West African Boxing Union (WABU) heavyweight championship bout, Haruna Osuman beat Nigerian John Martin Cyril via a second round TKO, while Joseph Akia Nettey also made light work of Robert Nunoo with a fourth round TKO victory.
Hard-hitter Gideon Alllotey beat Michael Darku in their eight round middleweight encounter, while Emmanuel Sackey defeated David Lamptey in their eight-round super featherweight bout.
–graphic.com.gh
