Patrick Allottey scrapes through tough challenge to win WBO Africa title
Ghana’s Patrick Allotey needed a stinging trademark right hook to cause neutralizing damage to Hamisi Maya and end what was eight rounds of inability to solve the latter’s complex ring puzzle.
Maya was dazed after that, connecting hook to his face and barely able to stand on his feet. This prompted the experienced Referee Roger Barnor to jump in, embrace Maya tightly and signal the fight to an end.
Indeed, Maya had continued a tradition of awe-inspiring performances by boxers from Tanzania at fight nights put together in Ghana.
Allottey was deservedly decorated with the WBO Africa Super Welterweight title belt at stake by the WBO’s supervisor for Africa, Samir Captain, completing the Sankofa (returning to take something) mantra.
Allotey had previously held the same title in 2018.
The packed Idrowyth Events Center in Dansoman, Accra, which had a mainly pro-Allotey fan base, had nail-biting moments from the starting bell in the first round as Maya came in with a very technical approach.
The lanky Tanzanian who had a reach advantage also used his southpaw stance to keep Allotey at bay, making it initially difficult for the Ghanaian to penetrate and land.
Allottey eventually got some decent body shots but almost always got countered by Maya. The second round saw both boxers brawl initially, after which the Ghanaian settled to stun Maya with a big right to the body, forcing the latter into a clinch.
The action continued in the third with a lot of ring movement by both boxers. Midway through, Allottey landed two-body shots followed by the stiff clinch, which forced both boxers to slip onto the canvas. However, Maya established his reach again, making it touch for the Ghanain to reach him.
The Tanzanian started round four on a good note by connecting some good headshots to push the Ghanaian to raise his guard and defend. The latter found his rhythm again and responded with a couple of his expected straight jabs to the body.
The fifth was a very interesting mix as the Ghanaian drew spontaneous cheers from the partisan crowd with some good single shots. He also chased the lanky Maya around the ring, looking forward to delivering another power lunch to weaken him.
The straight shits from Allottey caused a swelling below Maya’s left eye. But Maya had other plans.
He immediately switched into attack mode and released a chain of head jabs on Allotey. As usual, both boxers were forced into a clinch after some hot exchanges.
The sixth round proved a good one for Allotey as he caught Maya with a scarce three punch combination. The latter countered and caught the Ghanaian walking into his well-calculated right jab.
In the seventh, Allotey managed to get a punch, though, but the tactical Maya clinched in a bid to frustrate.
At this point, Allotey’s trainer Ofori Asare was screaming, ‘get him on the body and move’. He listened and executed, but Maya looked unperturbed.
The Tanzanian, known as the African Beast in the ring, kept moving around the ring and observing Allotey closely to wrap up the round.
In other bouts, Ghana’s Haruna Osman stopped Nigeria’s John Cyril Martin in round two to win the West African Heavyweight title. Emmanuel Quaye also recorded a second-round stoppage of veteran Frank Dodze to annex the West African super welterweight title.
Joseph Akai Nettey needed four rounds to stop a stubborn Robert Nunoo to retain his RBO and Ghanaian light flyweight titles.
The fight might was put together by Cabic Promotions in partnership with Millennium Telesat and broadcast live on the Joy Prime channel.
Source: Ghana News
