info@businessghana.com
Faisal Abubakari successfully defended his WBO Africa junior welterweight title emphaticically last Thursday night, ruthlessly dismantling Tanzania’s Abdul Zugo in four rounds.
However, the electric atmosphere at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra was marred by chaotic scenes, once again raising concerns about security and crowd control at Ghanaian fight venues.
The night was meant to be a celebration of boxing excellence, as thousands packed the arena to witness a thrilling fight show on Ghana’s 68th Independence Day anniversary.
The event, hosted by debutant syndicate Power Punch Promotions in collaboration with Legacy Rise Sports Promotions, delivered top-class action inside the ring but descended into disarray due to the reckless actions of a few disruptive fans.
Roared on by his army of supporters from Accra’s Sabon Zongo suburb, Abubakari dominated the previously undefeated Zugo in a toe-to-toe slugfest. The Tanzanian, despite showing early resilience, failed to answer the bell for the fourth round, sealing Abubakari’s third successful defence of the WBO Africa title..
The night also saw new national champions crowned, with Mawuli Folivi stopping Kinda Kouengoue in three rounds to win the national light heavyweight title, while Daniel Otoo edged Cann Kotey Neequaye in a gruelling 10-round battle to claim the national super bantamweight crown.
The highly anticipated main event between undefeated rivals Henry Malm and Derrick Quaye was living up to the hype—until the seventh round when chaos erupted.
A foreign object, reportedly a water bottle thrown from the crowd, struck referee Shadrack Acquaye, forcing him to abandon the fight.
Witnesses claimed the melee started when Quaye’s supporters hurled bottles—some allegedly filled with urine—at Malm’s corner, triggering an all-out brawl as objects rained down from the stands.
Referee Acquaye, reportedly injured in the fracas, fled the ring, while judges and officials also vacated their posts in protest. Malm and Quaye remained in the ring, eager to continue, but with no referee or officials present, the fight was effectively abandoned.
The disruption not only cut short the main event but also led to the cancellation of a highly anticipated undercard bout between former WBO Africa and Global champion Wasiru "Gyata Bi" Mohammed and Nigeria’s Sodiq Oyakojo.
Mohammed’s Manager, John Manfo, expressed his frustration at the financial losses incurred.
"I spent money bringing the boxer in—covering his hotel, feeding, transport—and now they’re even demanding their purse. It’s frustrating," Mr Manfo lamented.
"This is exactly why investors shy away from boxing. You put in resources only for unruly fans to ruin everything," he said.
Despite a strong police presence at the venue, security proved inadequate at the critical moment. Instead, it was a contingent of about 20 military officers—who had attended the event to support fellow serviceman-turned-boxer Bismark Saah — who stormed the ring to restore order.
However, they failed to apprehend the instigator of the chaos.
The ugly scenes at the Bukom Boxing Arena have once again raised major concerns about crowd control at boxing events in Ghana.
This marks the third high-profile event in a row to be disrupted by fan violence, following similar incidents at two major fight nights organised by Ayitey Powers Promotions in 2024.
There are also growing suspicions that the venue was dangerously overcrowded.
The packed arena saw some fans invading the media stand, leading to damage to journalists' equipment and other property.
This has led to questions over whether organisers oversold tickets beyond the venue’s capacity and if the Trust Sports Emporium—the facility’s management—exercises proper oversight when renting out the arena.
Interestingly, co-promoter Sharaf Mahama and his entourage left the venue just three rounds into the headline fight, perhaps sensing tensions rising among the overzealous supporters.
