Holy Dorgbetor delivered a stirring performance to lift Ghana’s flag high at the inaugural WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – but his triumph was the only high point on an otherwise bruising night for the country’s boxing contingent.

Making his debut on the international stage, the 25-year-old from Mepe proved his mettle with a razor-thin split decision win over Ukraine’s unbeaten Oleksandr Solomennikov in the Round of 32 featherweight contest last Thursday – a fierce battle between two undefeated warriors.

Dorgbetor's hand was raised after the judges scored it 58-56, 58-56, and 59-55 in his favour – the latter scorecard coming from respected Ghanaian judge Ataa Eddie Pappoe.

“It was a very tough fight, but this is a big opportunity to fight the best boxers – it’s the only way to the top,” Dorgbetor told the Graphic Sports upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport last Friday, just hours after the bout.

“Passing this test makes me believe more in my dream to become a world champion. I have returned straight away to get back to the gym. I want to raise the flag of Ghana high and make my country proud.”

Now through to the Round of 16 in June, Dorgbetor will face South Africa’s Bekizizwe Maitse, who impressed with a unanimous decision win over Colombia’s Rodolfo Puentes. 

The Ghanaian star knows what lies ahead but he is ready to rise to the occasion.

Dorgbetor’s gutsy display was in sharp contrast to the fortunes of his compatriots, who all exited in the opening round of the global showpiece co-hosted by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Saudi Arabia’s “Riyadh Season” sporting initiative.

Young featherweight Enoch Tettey Tetteh, 23, was the first casualty. Making only his second professional appearance, he was outclassed by American Tyshawn Denson, 21, losing on all three judges’ scorecards – 60-54, 60-54, 59-55 – in a one-sided affair.

The woes continued on Day Two when national super lightweight champion Samuel ‘No Chance’ Quaye lived up to the irony of his ring name, suffering a unanimous defeat at the hands of Canada’s Spencer Wilcox. 

All three judges scored the fight 59-55, 59-55, 60-54 in favour of the unbeaten Canadian, as 23-year-old Quaye suffered only his second professional loss.

However the most dramatic – and controversial – moment came in the middleweight division, where Olympian Shakul Samed appeared to be cruising to victory after flooring Mexico’s Saulo Morales Saldivar in Round 2.

With Samed pressing and exchanging shots while slightly leaning on the ropes, German referee Juergen Langos dramatically stopped the bout, awarding Saldivar a TKO win. The Ghanaian’s corner was livid and protested vehemently, even to WBC President, Mauricio Suleiman at ringside, but to no avail.

The controversial stoppage marked Samed’s first professional loss and ended his hopes of progressing in a tournament that promises not only global recognition but also a lucrative $200,000 prize for the winner, along with a shot at the WBC silver title.

Meanwhile, a fifth Ghanaian fighter, super lightweight Gabriel Coffie (26), travelled to Saudi Arabia as a standby, but did not make it into the ring as all 32 scheduled fighters in his division showed up.