Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey added more gloss to his budding reputation with a flawless and dominant performance at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon last Saturday night, after completely outclassing Asian champion Jayr Raquinel to become the new WBO Global super flyweight champion.
With the global spotlight firmly fixed on Ghana on a show presented by Legacy Rise Sports Promotions run by Sharaf Mahama, in collaboration with renowned British promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and broadcast live across the globe on the leading sports streaming platform, DAZN, and which also witnessed an electrifying entertainment from dancehall king Shatta Wale, Allotey seized the moment to further enhance his rapidly rising reputation that earned him the 2025 EMY Africa Sportsman of the Year award.
Fighting in front of President John Dramani Mahama, Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams and the legendary Azumah Nelson, Allotey reemphasised his world title credentials with a very patient yet deeply effective approach, breaking down the resolute defence of the Filipino round by round with well-timed jabs and body shots whilst staying far away from any danger.
In the end, all three judges, including one Filipino, were very emphatic with the verdict, 118-111, 119-109, 116-112 in favour of the 23-year-old Ghanaian who marches on in his avowed dream to become Ghana’s next world champion.
It was the 4th career title for young Allotey, a mere 17 months into his pro career, having previously become national and UBO Africa, as well as the WBO Africa bantamweight champion, on the back of which he is rated number 15 in the WBO world rankings.
In the chief support fight of the night, headlined by the all-British light heavyweight clash between Craig Richards and Dan Azeez, Jonathan “Worldwide” Tetteh also claimed a controversial victory over former national teammate Seth Gyimah, to clinch the WBA Africa light heavyweight championship after eight thrilling rounds at a packed-to-capacity University of Ghana Stadium.
Tetteh, also the reigning national light heavyweight champion, started on the front foot, landing some good shots in the opening two rounds as Gyimah, better known as Freezy Macbones, increasingly looked frustrated.
But the tide started tipping in Macbones’ favour after he engineered some good body shots in Round 3, which appeared to wobble the eccentric Tetteh.
The ferocious Macbones, however, continued to struggle to land clean shots as Tetteh continuously evaded his hefty-looking throws with his wonderful ducking skills, as the stadium kept buzzing, with fans on their toes with excitement for the eight rounds, as the momentum kept shifting from one end to the other.
The drama reached its peak in the eighth and final round after Tetteh was bundled to the canvas flat on his stomach, following a close exchange with Gyimah.
Referee Roger Barnor ruled that Macbones had bitten Tetteh and consequently deducted a point from the Ashanti-born fighter who came into the ring clad in royal regalia, celebrating his origins.
Later replays have, however, failed to showcase the “bite”, but it helped swing the verdict in favour of 25-year-old Tetteh, who annexed the national title in May after stopping the late Ernest ‘Bahubali’ Akushey in seven at the Bukom Boxing Arena. 77-75, 78-71, 77-75 read the verdict in favour of the still undefeated Tetteh, condemning Macbones, 36, to a first pro defeat.
In another electrifying and action-packed fight for the IBF Continental Africa featherweight championship, which saw both fighters floor their opponent, John Abaja Laryea claimed victory, courtesy of a Round 8 TKO victory after referee Nathaniel Obeng was forced to stop the contest at the end of the seventh.
Following advice from the ringside medic, Dr Eric Tetteh Ayertey, who suspected internal bleeding on Dorgbetor, in full compliance with strict medical and safety protocols established by the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC), the fight was stopped.
Laryea adds the IBF belt to his previous WBO Africa and national titles, while the previously unbeaten Dorgbetor suffers a second straight career loss following defeat in the WBC Grand Prix round of 16 in Saudi Arabia last June.
Meanwhile, national and UBO Africa welterweight champion Sampson Segbedzi came unstuck in a bid for the IBF International light middleweight title against Belgian-Guinean Ibrahima Diallo, who earned a resounding 98-91, 98-91, 98-91 verdict to hand the Ghanaian a first career defeat.
Army Officer Jerry Lartey consolidated his credentials with an immaculate display to see off British fighter Jesse Brandon, 78-74, 78-74, 77-75 to stay undefeated and raise high his first career title, the WBA International super lightweight strap.
Meanwhile, in the headline bout of the night, Craig Richards scored a brutal one-punch knockout of compatriot Dan Azeez in the 12th and final round of an otherwise close, highly competitive affair.
Richards consequently won the WBA International light heavyweight belt, bringing down the curtain on a splendid exhibition of impressive prize fighting in Accra.
Legacy Rise Sports Promotions delivered a world-class event again, following the success of their maiden global collaboration with Amir Khan Promotions back in June.
Rumours of Mahama Junior’s syndicate possibly staging the much-anticipated heavyweight blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua next year have, no doubt, heightened.
