Ghanaian boxer Michael “Black Spider” Abban has broken into the WBO junior bantamweight world top 15, marking another major milestone in the rapid rise of the 23-year-old.
Abban is ranked number 15 in the latest WBO global standings released on Wednesday, with fellow Ghanaian Theophilus Nii Kpakpo Allotey alias Theo Lopez - the WBO Global champion - also making significant progress by climbing a step up to number 12 in the same division. The WBO junior bantamweight world title is held by experienced Japanese three-time world champion Kenshiro Teraji.
The development further strengthens Abban’s growing credentials on the international scene. He is also ranked No. 39 by the WBC and is the reigning WBA Africa super flyweight champion, while also holding the Commonwealth Silver title.
His latest rise follows a unanimous decision victory in Accra last month over South Africa's Yanga “Showtime” Sigqibo who held the WBO interncontinental title between 2018 to 2021, defending it three times.
The statement victory in Pokuase on August 9 improved Abban’s record to 15 wins, one defeat, with 10 knockouts. It also earned the rising Ghanaian star mandatory challenger status for the Commonwealth super flyweight title held by Britain’s Matt McHale. McHale defends the title in a unification with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) super flyweight title in Scotland this Friday, September 4.
Abban’s emergence has been carefully built over the past year. He captured the WBA Pan African and Commonwealth Silver titles on New Year’s Day after Tanzanian opponent Muhsin Kizota failed to answer the bell for the third round. He had previously won the Commonwealth Youth title last October.
His progression also earned him a long-term management and promotional agreement with Landmark Promotions, headed by Anthony Kermah, formalising a partnership that had already produced substantial progress. Kermah has backed Abban’s ambition to become a world champion and has identified potential opportunities at the highest level.
The young Ghanaian had earlier signalled his world ambitions after stopping Benin’s Damien Zannou in April, and targeting the WBC International crown held by Charlie Edwards.
With his WBO ranking now secured, Abban’s path towards a world-title opportunity is gathering serious momentum.
