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Ben Odametey retains featherweight
title
Accra, Jan 7, GNA - National featherweight champion, Ben
Odametey won a controversial points decision against Malik
Jabir at the Lebanon House in Accra on Saturday night to
retain his title.
There were boos and jeers from the fans, when Ring
announcer, Prince Annan pronounced the verdict.
After 12 gruelling rounds, judge E.J.D. Osabutey produced a
scorecard, which read 115-117 in favour of Jabir, while
judges J.B Owusu Ansah and Fred Ghartey scored the fight
116-114 and 116-113 respectively for Odamatey, enabling the
champion to retain his title by a split decision.
The fight was an action packed show, which produced only one
knockdown, when Jabir kissed the canvas in the second round.
Both boxers had their faces battered and bloodied, with
Jabir's left eye almost closed at the end of proceedings.
Jabir stunned the champion in round one, as he sat in the
driving seat and hit Odametey with left and
right combinations, even though he was on the back
foot throughout.
Odametey increased the tempo of the fight in the second and
succeeded in flooring Jabir mid way through
the round with a powerful right hook which landed
flat on the chin of his opponent.
The challenger rose quickly and threw many effective punches
after surviving an onslaught from the champion, who thought
he could end the fight then.
Thereafter, every round was fierce as the two boxers, who
came from gyms with renowned local trainers, hammered and
whacked each other at will.
But though Jabir remained on the retreat for most times, he
threw more punches and appeared to be in absolute control of
the fight from the fifth round.
The challenger raised his gloves during each interval and
drew cheers from the crowd, which had suddenly gone behind
him due to his gameness.
In the final round, Odametey staggered Jabir with a sturdy
right cross and followed it up with intense pressure, with
the hope of winning by a knockout.
But the challenger held on resolutely and connected some
hard punches of his own until referee Roger Barnor went
between them to halt proceedings at the final bell.
Malik Jabir, who lost his mother three days to the Fight,
complained about the decision and demanded a rematch.
In the under cards, Godfrey Sowah of Akotoku Academy stopped
Peter Mensah of Sagacious Club in 30 seconds of the first
round in a lightweight contest scheduled for eight rounds,
while Patrick Okine of Attoh Quarshie Gym drew with Idrissu
Ahmed after eight rounds of action in the super
featherweight division.
Emmanuel Tagoe of Dade Gym gained a unanimous points verdict
over Ishmael Aryitey over eight rounds in a featherweight
fray.
The fights were the bills for Fight Night Five of the Men
Only Boxing Championship, sponsored by far East Mercantile,
distributors of Men Only range of deodorant products and
Azar Paints, with support from Metropolitan Television and
the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
GNA
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