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Sports News of Sunday, 9 September 2001

Source: GNA

Fans mob Agbeko as he displays title

Scores of Ghanaian boxing fans especially those in the James Town area on Sunday, mobbed the new World Boxing Federation (WBF) Bantamweight champion, Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko as he displayed his title through some principal streets in Accra.

When the GNA sports team got to the Akoto Lantey junction, the entire street was choked with ecstatic crowd clad in an all white gown and created a hectic time for motorist.

"Tro-tro" drivers had to divert their routs as the fans mostly young men, came out of their houses to join in the celebration.

They danced under the tune of brass band and Kpanlogo music.The boxer himself wore a yellow T-shirt with a white scalp in an open pick up and led by a siren police track.

Agbeko, 21, needed just two minutes and eight seconds at the Kaneshie Sports Complex early Saturday morning to send Ugandan Mike "Iron Bomber" Kizza sprawling on the canvas in their vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight championship.

Kizza, 25, who doubles as the Super bantam and bantamweight champion in East and Central Africa, failed to answer the bell after sole referee judge, J. B. Vias of Togo had given the 10 mandated counts.

Agbeko, is the only Ghanaian boxer with a world title after the fallout of big guns like Azuma Nelson, Ike Quartey and Nana Yaw Konadu.It was the fifth world title bout staged in Ghana after Floyd Klutei Robertson in 1964, D. K Poison in 1975 and 1976 and Azumah Nelson in 1993.

Agbeko who predicted a fifth round knock out improved his record to 12-12 and 10 KOs while Kizza dropped to 17-15-2 and eight by way of knock out.

The victory though sweet, was received with shock, apparently because Kizza, three weeks ago had knocked out Agbeko's original opponent Lewis Mwambo of Zambia in the East and Central Africa Championship in Bologna, Italy, sending signals, that the bout was going to be a high-profiled one.

The fight was under the Life Time and Management Syndicate and sanctioned by the WBF and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).