Kotey, Annor in controversial draw

Accra (Greater Accra) - A controversial drawn decision given in the bout between former WBO Bantamweight Champion, Alfred 'Cobra' Kotey and Gideon Annor, has made Cobra to deplore boxing in Ghana and sworn never to fight in the country again.

Judge E.J.B. Osabutey scored the fight 97-97, Atta Abbey, 97-95 for Kotey while J.B. Owusu-Ansah scored 97-97, to leave the main match up of the six-bout dubbed 'Ogboo Night' without a winner.

The former World Boxing Organisation champion, after a three-year lay off surprised everybody including his own followers who prior to the 10 round, were sceptical of his chances against his much younger opponent but the former champion, easily the better of the two, combined experience, speed and power to dominate the fight, giving Annor several anxious moments.

At the end of the bout, the bizarre decision scored by the three judges was greeted with jeers and boos from fans who thronged the Kaneshie Complex.

Embittered Kotey said after the verdict had been announced that: "The Ghana Boxing Authority and promoters, Ambition Boxing Promotions, are behind Annor, and I was not surprised at all that the fight was declared a draw".

When asked about his next plan of action, he said he was going to have a sober reflection but added that it was likely that he will continue his long chequered carrier in the U.S.

The decision notwithstanding, the two boxers sold out one of the cleanest fights seen locally, leaving referee Shadrack Acquaye with very little work to do.

Annor, who initially was back-pedalling, managed to stand toe to toe with Kotey in till the fourth round. Kotey who seemed to enjoy that pattern of boxing let out his sting and by the sixth round had Annor's right eye half-closed with punches.

Desperate Annor managed to deliver some hefty punches but they were not enough to floor veteran Kotey as he used his rich experience very much to the frustration of Annor. Kotey's record stands at 30-3-1 with 14 of his 27 wins by way of knockout while Annor's record stands at 9-1-2.

In another closely fought contest Anyetei Laryea beat Abdul Malik Jabir to annex the vacant national bantamweight crown.

Judge Osabutey scored it 119-113, Fred Ghartey, 119-111 and Confident Hiagbe scored it 119-111 all in favour of Laryea.

In the African bantamweight Championship bout between up-and -coming Joseph Agbeko and bluffing Nigerian Ola Balogun, Agbeko won by a technical knockout 52 seconds in the second round of their scheduled 12 round fight. The Nigerian, until the fight had won 18 of his 19 fights with only a draw against no less a person than Ghana's Nana Yaw Konadu in an exhibition bout in 1998.

But the tall and lanky, 27-year-old Nigerian national champion admitted after the fight that he had not prepared very well for the fight and added that the one week notice given him contributed to his poor showing.