Major and Latest Boxing news in Ghana
Ekpo handed raw deal in Germany, says AIBA instructor
Boxing coach and AIBA instructor, Ofori Asare, believes Ghana-trained Nigerian fighter, Isaac Ekpo, was handed a raw deal in his loss to German super-middleweight champion, Tyron Zeuge, in their encounter at the MBS Arena in Potsdam, Germany last Saturday.
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Ekpo, 34, failed to annex the WBA world title when German Zeuge, 24, got a technical decision against him after suffering a deep cut above the eye in the third round of their brawl.
The German subsequently ran away with 49-46, 48-47 and 49-47 decision against the boxer from Ghana-based Landmark Promotions label, owned by legendary boxing promoter, Anthony Kermah.
But Coach Asare told the Graphic Sports in an interview yesterday in Accra that the Nigerian was robbed and should have been awarded the world title.
“ It could happen that the cut suffered by the German was from a hook by Ekpo and not clash of heads as it seemed to suggest. Ekpo fought bravely and deserved the title”, he stated.
Nonetheless, the former trainer of Ekpo told this paper the boxer must not let his head down but fight on and annex the title this year.
He noted that Ekpo deserved a rematch and added that the boxer must, however, take up one or two fights to face up to the champion again.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in Ghana and some boxing fans are also appalled about the technical decision given to the German.
Some Nigerian boxing fans the Graphic Sports spoke with wanted a rematch for Ekpo, known as “the Grenade”, and added that they would petition the WBA to ensure their boxer got a shot at the world title again.
The Ghanaian boxing fans the Graphic Sports spoke with also caled for a rematch for the boxer.
They believed Ekpo deserved the title and should have been credited with the fight.
The managers of Ekpo, Landmark Promotions, have disclosed to the Graphic Sports that they expected a positive outcome from the cry of the public and some German media outlets who predicted that the Nigerian should have won.
