info@businessghana.com
On a rain-kissed night when boxing royalty, global icons and Ghanaian showbiz elite gathered under the bright lights of the Bukom Boxing Arena, Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey rose to the occasion with a masterclass that may well signal the arrival of Ghana’s next world champion.
In what was billed as the co-main event but carried the energy of a headline act, Allotey outclassed his bitter rival Daniel Selassie Gorsh to clinch the WBO Africa bantamweight title in front of a full house and millions watching live on DAZN.
With the crowd still buzzing from the electric opening ceremonies and celebrity arrivals, Allotey wasted no time establishing his dominance.
From the first bell, the southpaw prodigy was a picture of precision and poise, setting a blistering pace that Gorsh simply couldn’t match. He worked the angles, varied his punches, and made Gorsh miss time and again, drawing roars from a partisan crowd that had braved the rain just to witness greatness.
Judges had no doubts, scoring it 117-111, 118-110, 118-110 in favour of Allotey — a unanimous decision that only told half the story of his technical brilliance and tactical control.
“This is just the beginning,” Allotey said post-fight, eyes fixed on the future. “I’ve told Ghana I’m coming for the world title — this is my time.”
Having already secured national and UBO Africa titles, Allotey’s latest conquest completes a regional trifecta — all within a year of turning professional. His relentless performance and rapid rise through the ranks have now turned whispers of world title dreams into real conversations.
While Allotey stole the show, American powerhouse Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti ensured the international spotlight stayed firmly on Accra.
In the final bout of the night, he stopped Ghana’s own Jacob “The Beast” Dickson in the fourth round to capture the inaugural WBC Bridgerweight title.
Dickson, fighting in front of a patriotic crowd well past 4 a.m., was floored three times before the referee waved it off.
Electric atmosphere, global eyes
The Bukom Boxing Arena has not witnessed a night quite like this in recent years.
With the sound of traditional drums giving way to pulsating lights and booming entrances, the venue became the epicentre of global boxing.
Seated ringside were living legends — Ghana's own Professor Azumah Nelson, former IBF champ Joshua Clottey, British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua, and former world champion Amir Khan, whose AK Promotions co-organised the event with Sharaf Mahama’s Legacy Rise Sports.
The spectacle extended beyond the ropes. Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku; National Sports Authority boss, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah;, and GOC President, Richard Akpokavie all took in the action, rubbing shoulders with A-list music stars such as Kofi Kinaata, D-Black and Telecel Ghana Music Awards Artiste of the Year, King Promise, who lit up the stage with a rousing performance alongside Kojo Black.
But perhaps the most moving moment came when the celebrated world champion in two divisions, Azumah Nelson, a proud member of the exclusive International Boxing Hall of Fame, was honoured with a commemorative WBC belt as part of the “Year of Africa” tribute — a standing ovation for the legend that reminded everyone of Ghana’s rich boxing heritage.
Earlier in the night, Ahmed Abdula produced a statement win over Mohammed Haruna to become Ghana’s new national cruiserweight champion. And in a clash laced with legacy, Abu Kamoko — son of the legendary Bukom Banku — showcased polish and promise in dispatching Stephen Ackon via unanimous decision.
British-based Ohara Davies gave local fans a taste of his elite class, schooling Uganda’s Mohamed Alliseni over eight one-sided rounds.
Elsewhere, Jerry Lartey opened the night with a bang, but brother Jessie Lartey fell short in a close contest against UK-based Shilloh Defreitas.
There were tough nights for Ghana’s Richman Ashelley and Joseph Sackey, who both lost to more experienced international opponents, but the overall tone of the event was one of pride, promise and power.
