Lante Addy dethrones Galley Cudjoe

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA -- Lante Addy, in only his ninth fight as a professional boxer, produced a sterling performance on Sunday morning to wrestle the national and West African bantamweight title from holder, Galley Cudjoe.

Fighting on the main card of the Men Only Championship Boxing Night at the Lebanon House in Accra, Addy left no one in doubt as to where the decision would go as he pummeled the champion from the second round to the end and earned a unanimous verdict from the judges. Confidence Hiagbe made it 114 -117, while Ataa Eddie Pappoe scored it 112-118 and EJD Osabutey recorded it115-116 to hand the title to Lante Addy amid wild celebration from his fans.

After chasing his opponent round the ring in the first round, Galley faded and allowed his opponent to dictate the pace with numerous combination punches, which were precise on target. Galley's undoing was his desire to mix up with Addy, who was obviously the better conditioned of the two boxers. Having gained the upper hand in the second round brawl, Addy decided that was the way to go it and never looked back, but tried frequently to fight from close quarters.

He delivered the harder punches and threw many more punches than the losing champion did. Addy displayed a superb ring generalship as he was able to cut out the retreating champion, forcing him into combat when it was obvious Cudjoe wanted a breather. Left with nothing more in his arsenal to throw at Addy who was rising in reckoning round after round, Galley resorted to clinching to reduce the ferocity of the duel.

Cudjoe however found a new lease of energy in the last two rounds as he went looking for a knockout, but though he stunned Addy with two rockets to the head in the 11th he failed to achieve the only thing that could have given him the title - a knockout.

In the final round Cudjoe decked Addy with a murderous right overhead punch but referee Bob Sackey failed to register a knockdown, ruling it a slip even though it was clear Addy fell on the impact of a punch.

In other fights of the night, Theophilus Tetteh of Panix Gym drew with Will Power Gym's Joseph Lamptey in a welterweight contest over eight rounds.

Mohammed Sampando of Wisdom Gym gained a split points decision over Isaac Selorm of Black Panther Gym in another welterweight fight over eight rounds, while Isaac Owusu of the Akotoku Academy won a majority decision over Gabriel Odoi of the Stadium Clubin a bantamweight fray over six rounds. In a thrilling opener to Fight Night Two of the Men Only Championship sponsored by Far East Mercantile and supported by Azar Paints and Metropolitan Television, Anyetei 93the Chameleon=94 Laryea stopped Eben Ayivor in the third of an eight round super bantamweight contest. Anyetei, the former African Boxing Union (ABU) Champion was a cut above his opponent and referee May Mensah Akakpo had no option than to stop the fight in favour of Anyetei for a third round technical knockout.