UBO title fight: Boxing stakeholders, enthusiasts condemn Ghana Boxing Board for bringing sports to disrepute

Photo : The President of Ghana Boxing Board Abraham Kotei Neequaye aiding the Ghanaian boxer when he was knocked out of the ring

Boxing stakeholders and enthusiasts across the country were equivocal in condemning the conduct of Ghana Boxing Board, their referees and umpires for unprofessional conduct at the just concluded UBO Light heavyweight title fight between Ghanaian, Bastie Samir and Nigerian ‘ID Buster’ Rasheed.

Prior to the fight, Bastie Samir, had a staggering Boxrec record of 20 wins, one draw and one loss with 18 knockouts with the Nigerian making his first international debut which made him look no match to the Ghanaian champion

However, the fight held on Saturday, April 13 at Kawukudi Park Nima, in Accra, Ghana to the surprise of the Ghanaians saw “ID Burster” Rasheed doing the unimaginable by brutally knocking out the more experienced Bastie Samir in the second round after which he was immediately rushed to the hospital to be revived but to the astonishment of fans; instead of declaring him winner of the fight, the Ghanaian officials under the watchful eyes of Ghana Boxing Association President, Abraham Kotei Neequaye declared the fight a technical draw eliciting reactions even from Ghanaian fans who were surprised at the verdict.

It took the intervention of the Secretary General of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Remi Aboderin who called the attention of the President of Universal Boxing Organization with enough video evidence before the UBO via their official media handle overturned the results initially announced by Ghanaian officials and declared ID Burster winner.

Since the ugly incident happened, it has been eliciting a lot of reactions from boxing pundits who condemned Ghana officials for their conduct with some urging the continental body to sanction them for trying to bring the sports to ridicule.

Boxing stakeholders, coaches, boxers and fans who spoke to newstap.com.ng on the issue decried the attitude of Ghana Boxing officials noting that such act will never help the sports to grow in Africa.

“What the Ghanaians did was not only unprofessional but condemnable. They forgot that the fight was been televised and tried to use illegal means to save their boxer who was not only thoroughly beaten but had to be rushed to the hospital to be revived.

“The worst scenario was that it even happened under the watchful eyes of Ghana Boxing President and for such a man to encourage such an illegal and unprofessional act is a serious indictment on his part and we urge Universal Boxing Board to sanction them so that others trying to do same will be discouraged.

They argued that if the ugly incident had been allowed, it would have rubbished professional boxing not only in the West Coast of Africa but the entire continent.

The stakeholders praised Secretary General of Nigerian Boxing Board of Control ( NBB of C) who also doubles as President of West African Boxing Union ( WBU), Remi Aboderin for the action he took to ensure that the decision was reversed and the rightfully winner declared champion of the vacant UBO Light heavyweight champion.

Meanwhile, Aboderin has explained that he took up the matter because of the negative effect such would have had on the sports generally noting that it was wrong for the Ghanaian officials to have acted the way they did by trying to deny Rasheed the title which he won through second round knockout.

” I must confess to you that I was not only surprised but shocked with what the Ghanaian officials did. In my many years in professional boxing administration, I’ve never witnessed such a charade but am happy that UBO did the needful by overturning the verdict and restored sanity to the game.

” The good news is that very soon, UBO will be sending the belt to Nigeria after which President of Nigerian Boxing Board of Control ( NBB of C) Dr Rafiu Ladipo will now present it to ID Burster'”, he concluded.