by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 4, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, International, Other Sports, USA
John Abaja Laryea, known as the “Expensive Boxer,” made an impressive debut in the United States by dominating Nicaragua’s Alexander Mejia in a fierce featherweight matchup last Friday. The reigning WBO Africa featherweight champion set the tone immediately, knocking Mejia down in the opening seconds of the first round. Laryea maintained an unrelenting pace through all eight rounds, securing a sweeping victory with identical scores of 80-69 on all three judges’ cards.
Laryea fought on the undercard of the Jamaine Ortiz vs. Christian Ruben Mino main event at Royale Caribe in Orlando, Florida. Throughout the bout, he pursued Mejia relentlessly, showcasing his skill and power, while a vocal Ghanaian crowd—led by former football star Laryea Kingston—cheered him on.
Expressing his gratitude, Laryea said, “I’m very pleased with my performance and especially grateful for the support I received from Ghanaians here. The crowd gave me confidence and made me feel at home.” Reflecting on his U.S. debut, he added, “I didn’t mind that I didn’t get the knockout. I’m just happy to have gone all the rounds, showing my strength and stamina.”
Sammy Anim Addo, Laryea’s manager, confirmed that the young fighter would be returning to Ghana to continue training, with plans to prepare for his next fight in 2025. “He’ll start with a training tour in the U.S. before his next bout,” Anim Addo said.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 4, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, Other Sports
Sarah Lotus Asare, Ghana’s pioneering female boxing matchmaker and an administrator at the Wisdom Boxing Club, has expressed confidence in the potential of Theophilus “Theo Lopez” Allotey to become a global boxing star. As his manager, Sarah believes Allotey has the talent and discipline to achieve world champion status, provided his training and career plans unfold successfully.
Allotey, also known as Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey, was once a part of Ghana’s national boxing team, the Black Bombers. Although he faced a tough qualification journey that kept him from competing in the 2024 Olympics, his determination remained strong. Despite an untimely drop from Ghana’s Commonwealth Games team in 2022, he persevered, later winning bronze at the African Qualifiers. Under the guidance of Coach Dr. Ofori Asare, Allotey completed a one-month training stint abroad, further refining his skills.
Following his training tour and a victorious match against Razak Nettey in Accra, Allotey has shown significant improvement, drawing praise from fans and coaches alike. At 22, Allotey represented Ghana in the 2023 Africa Games in Accra and took part in the IBA Special Event in Addis Ababa, where he faced Zambian boxer Patrick Chinyemba. Though he didn’t win, Allotey embraced the experience as part of his growth in the sport.
Since turning professional in July, Allotey has maintained an impressive record, winning all five of his bouts in the bantamweight division. He remains humble yet confident, stating he’s ready to face top contenders in Ghana and beyond.
Coach Ofori Asare, an experienced trainer, believes Allotey has the potential to reach the world championship level. “He’s a strong prospect, and his performance speaks for itself. This phase is about testing his limits so he can one day bring home a world title,” Coach Asare said.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 4, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Other Sports
Driss El Alouani of Morocco, known as the “Undertaker,” delivered a stunning solo victory in Stage 8 of the Tour du Faso, leaving behind a competitive field, including Russian rider Anton Popov and Belgian Lance De Cabooter. El Alouani, the youngest white jersey holder of the tour, demonstrated remarkable endurance across the 116.8 km route from Ouagadougou to Yako.
The race saw 59 riders start, but many encountered mechanical issues that hindered their ability to keep up with the lead peloton, mainly composed of riders from Benin, Russia, and host nation Burkina Faso. In the U23 category, Morocco’s Adil El Arbaoui lost his Green Jersey to Russia’s Anton Popov, who clocked an average speed of 44.08 km/h with a time of 2 hours, 38 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Russia’s Mamyr Stash claimed the intermediate sprint jersey, while the combativity jersey went to Harouna Ilboudo. Mochine El Kouraji of Morocco continues to hold the leader’s yellow jersey and aims to defend it until the end of the tour. Team Ghana’s Emmanuel Sesi from the Volta region is also making steady progress in the challenging competition.
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 4, 2024 | Boxing, Ghana, Other Sports
Joseph Awinongya Jr., known as “King Jojo,” made history as the first Ghanaian American to win gold in the U19 World Boxing Championships in the 75kg category. The event, held from October 28 to November 1, 2024, saw Awinongya Jr. deliver an impressive performance. He began with a first-round stoppage over New Zealand’s Connor Anderson and went on to secure a unanimous decision victory against Algeria’s Mustapha Abdou in the semifinals.
In the final match against India’s Rahul Kundu, Awinongya Jr. maintained his dominance. He took the first round with a 10-9 score on all judges’ cards, and though Kundu rallied in the second, Awinongya Jr. closed out the third round with another 10-9 score on all cards, earning a 4-1 decision and securing the gold medal.
With this historic win, Awinongya Jr. has been selected to represent Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
by Kelly Eric Ehor | Nov 4, 2024 | Africa, Boxing, Ghana, Other Sports
Ayitey Powers Promotions has announced the gate fees for its upcoming event, “Battle of the Beasts,” which will feature two national title fights on Saturday, November 23, at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
Michael Nii Ayitey Okine, popularly known as “Powers,” the former boxer who competed in the UK and Australia, revealed the ticket prices: VVIP at 5,000 GHC, Ringside at 1,500 GHC, and Popular Stand at 50 GHC. As the current President and Spokesman for Ghanaian boxers, Powers emphasized that VVIP guests will enjoy exclusive servings of drinks and kebabs. He also stressed the importance of respecting boxers, ensuring that all fighters on his bill will be well-compensated.
The main event will feature a clash between former Ghana National Cruiserweight Champion Jacob Dickson, nicknamed “The Beast,” from Bronx Gym, and reigning champion Haruna Mohammed, known as “Thunder,” from Wisdom Gym. Both Accra-based fighters have engaged in fierce exchanges leading up to this event, promising a thrilling battle to determine the true champion in the cruiserweight division.
With a record of 13-1-0, Dickson hails from Jamestown, while Mohammed has fought five bouts, with just one loss. The stakes are equally high for the second title fight—a rematch for the national super middleweight title. This bout pits Enest Akushey, aka “Baubali,” against Elvis Ahorgah, known as “Soldier Boxer.” Their previous fight ended in controversy due to a cut glove, leading the Ghana Boxing Authority to reschedule the bout for November 23. Baubali has stated that he will retire from boxing if he loses this time.
The night promises even more excitement with additional bouts and musical and dance performances. Ben Ankrah and Stephen Cofie, known for their bold claims, are expected to bring extra excitement, potentially stealing the spotlight from the main events.
