Agbeko gives Ghana a world title

Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko, gave Ghana a world boxing tittle within two minutes and eight seconds at the Kaneshie Sports Complex early Saturday morning when his two flawless hooks sent Ugandan Mike "Iron Bomber" Kizza sprawling on the canvas in their vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight championship.

Kizza 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, has thus become 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.

But when the bell went for their scheduled 12 round bout, Agbeko proved too strong for the Ugandan when he sent him to the canvas twice in the first round.

The 21-year-old Ghanaian boxer, tested the pulse of his opponent with some right-left punches to his ribs forcing him to lose his guard which he was severely punished for.

He went down with a first right hook and had to revisit the floor moments after he was up, with a feeble left punch.

"I don't know what actually went wrong, but I think it could be the weight difference", the 25-year-old Kizza told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the fight.

He said moving down from Super bantamweight to the bantam affected his performance, "my legs became very weak that could not carry the body.

The boxer urged the WBF to arrange for re-fight in Kampala, Uganda to prove his wealth.

In the under cards, James "hot ice" Tony had a wakeup call when he struggled to beat his last minute substitute opponent Salou Balogo of Togo on unanimous decision.

It was Toney's first fight that has travelled the full distance since he became a middleweight professional early this year.

Judges Ataa Abey Adama scored it 80-74, Shadrack Acquaye made it 80-76 while Botwe had it 80-74 all in favour of Tony.

Rater haired Charles Adamu had a first win over Bob Abiro in their scheduled six round middleweight contest while Ago Ashong maintained his West Africa Welterweight crown with a ninth round technical knock out over Nigerian Julius Obiriu.

In an international super bantamweight contest, Abdul Malik Jabir had a first round TKO over Camerounian Elol Cyrile while Joshua Clottey defeated Mebara Dewsire with a TKO in the round of their international welterweight contest.

The show was put together by Life Time Promotions and Management Syndicate and sanctioned by the WBF and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).