Anyetei Laryea subdues Ali Baba to retain crown

Accra, Aug 16 - GNA - Anyetei Laryea made a successful defence of his National and West African bantamweight title on Saturday morning at the Kaneshie Sports Complex with a unanimous points decision over challenger Alex Ali Baba (pictured).

Godfrey Cobblah scored the fight 117 - 113, Confidence Hiagbe made it 119 - 111 and Fred Ghartey posted a 118 - 112 decision all in favour the champion.

Fighting on the main card of the Pilipilipi Night put together by Ambition and Nii Armah Promotions, Anyetei swung into action at the first bell and pierced the guard of Baba with straight left jabs, which he complemented with quick right hooks and combinations.

Baba pressed forward under the barrage and connected some heavy punches, which shook the champion. Anyetei redoubled his efforts and took control again as the bell sounded for the end of the round. The second was a different picture as Baba took charge and hammered Anyetei with solid right shots to the body and mid section. Anyetei jabbed effectively on the reverse to reduce the potency of Baba's assault.

The third round was a very fierce one as the two boxers pulled superlative skills from their armoury with Baba bombing on the chase and Anyetei jabbing on the retreat.

Anyetei had some difficulties containing the infighting stance of his opponent in the fifth but from the sixth he seemed to have found an antidote to Baba's surge as he took absolute control of proceedings and pummelled Baba at will.

By the end of the round, Baba's face became puffy and a cut appeared on his left eyebrow.

The distortion on the face of the challenger appeared to have revved the champion who took his tactics a cut higher, bobbing, weaving and ducking out of range while delivering his punches with technological precision.

The double-handed assault of the champion confused the challenger a great deal and slowed him down considerably, reducing his game plan to seeking a knock out delivery, which he could not find. In the ninth and tenth rounds, Anyetei clowned and taunted his opponent, making himself greatly vulnerable, as he dropped his guard while Baba tore at him freely. Surprisingly, he took Baba's punches without being stunned.

The 'chameleon' as Anyetei is popularly referred to because of his numerous boxing styles got back to business and punished his opponent with some accurate shootings, opening the second cut on the right eyebrow of Baba.

Ringside doctor Carl Sonne inspected the cuts on Baba's face at the end of the 11th and passed him fit to continue, thus escaping a technical knock out.

Baba went toe to toe with Anyetei in the final round but it was the champion who earned the respect of the spectators with his textbook styles, drawing applause form the large crowd.

Anyetei said after the verdict that he was sure his victory over the former WBC International flyweight champion would give him the recognition that he has been looking for and put him on the big stage. In the second title fight of the night, Osumanu Adama became the new National and West African super welterweight champion when he spanked and dethroned Ayittey Powers via a unanimous decision. It was a one-way traffic and there was no doubt at all about the verdict as the younger Adama dictated the pace from start to finish. Isaac Quartey won on all judges' cards in a super lightweight fight against Zakaria Salifu over 10 rounds in the under card while Moro Tijani exhibited a superlative boxing account to win a unanimous points decision over Joseph Sarkodie in a 10 round super lightweight contest. Abdulai Amidu stopped Raymond Acquaye when the later failed to answer the bell for the fourth round and Joshua 'Bukom Tsatsu' Okine won a TKO over Togolese Dossey Kugjagbo who was disqualified for persistent low blows.