Cudjoe wins decision over the Machine

Accra, Sept 5, GNA - Masterly display of ring craftsmanship by Godwin Cudjoe of the Panix Boxing Club won him a unanimous points decision over hard-hitting Ashittey Machine of the Akotoku Boxing Club in their six rounds Welterweight contest in the on going Mortein Professional Boxing league on Saturday.

Such was Cudjoe's dominance that, at the end the gruelling exchanges, which was the tale of the tape in a five bouts bill of night seven, only one result was expected and it came as no surprise when judges Shadrach Acquaye scored the fight 59-55, Fred Ghartey 60-55 and Eddie Pappoe 58-55 all in the winner's favour.

The fight, which was initially dubbed a "David and Goliath" affair, considering the experience gap between the two fighters, saw the under dog adopting a well rehearsed strategy, using his longer reach advantage to a much greater effect through out the fight.

Cudjoe's output proved all the experts wrong, as he dominated the early exchanges, adopting a cautious approach, using his longer reach and speed to rain in the punches, whilst at the same time keeping the big punches of Machine at bay.

Unable to get to his opponent where he wanted him in the opening round, Machine opened up early in the second round with some good hooks and upper cuts and managed to floor Cudjoe but referee Godfred Cobblah adjudged it as a slip, hence no mandatory count.

The Panix fighter soon regained his first round composure and pummelled Machine with his jabs.

Unable to find his bearing, Machine in the third round became frustrated and resorted to unorthodox means to land his big blows, resulting in the referee deducting a point after ignoring an earlier warning.

As Cudjoe gained in confidence, he opened up in the fourth round, resulting in both boxers squaring up in the middle of the ring, exchanging some big punches that drew the cheers from the fans. After mixing up in the fourth, Cudjoe left his opponent to do the chasing again when he changed his fight plan again in the fifth round, preferring to dance around and pick up the points with his long jabs and occasional combinations, which left Machine further frustrated. The sixth and final round started with Cudjoe landing some good jabs to the head and body of Machine, who by then was only looking for the killer punch to finish off the fight.

But Cudjoe with victory on sight, abandoned his well-rehearsed strategy of floating around and picking up the points and started dancing to the cheers from the fans and Machine took full advantage of this lapse to land some big punches in the closing seconds of the last round, which unfortunately was not enough to alter the damage that has already been done.

Controversy reared it ugly head in a Super Welterweight contest, when corner men of Ahmed Akrong of Wisdom Boxing Club, who thought their fighter had done enough to win the fight, expressed their displeasure when their fighter lost in a split decision to Aryee Aryeetey. The result, which also did go down well with most of the fans, resulted in most of them pouring scorns on match officials, accusing them of favouritism.

Ismael Tetteh also of the Panix Boxing Club had a technical knockout over Tawiah Ocquadza of Will Power Club, when the corner men threw in the towel two minutes 34 seconds in the fourth round of their scheduled eight round bout to save their ward from further punishment in a special Welterweight contest.

The night, which was dominated by fights in the welterweight division, Charles Tetteh of Black Panthers Boxing Club knockout Samuel Konney of Will Power Boxing Club in the third round of their six round contest.

In the only featherweight contest on the bill, Yakubu Amidu, kid brother of Abdulai Amidu stopped veteran Kofi Boateng of Tema Boxing Club in the first round of their six rounds contest.