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Ghana’s boxing sensation Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey delivered a performance of pure destruction last Friday night, dismantling Nigerian police officer Lukman Akinolugbade in a savage fifth-round knockout at the Wisdom Boxing Promotions Fight Night at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 22-year-old Ghanaian dropped Akinolugbade five times en route to a vicious stoppage, barely breaking a sweat as he dismantled his opponent with relentless precision.
It was a statement victory from a young fighter who, just a year into his professional career, is already calling for African and world titles.
Buoyed by his latest triumph on the ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears Fight Night', the national super flyweight champion immediately set his sights on continental and global honours.
"Now I want to challenge for an African title. That’s the target. I’m ready to be an African champion, then we can start thinking about the world. I believe I have everything needed to be a world champion," an elated Allotey said after his victory with the confidence of a fighter who knows he is destined for greatness.
The 2023 African Games bronze medallist’s performance justified his team’s decision to move up in weight class, as he comfortably dominated at 122 lbs, despite making only 117 lbs at the pre-fight weigh-in. In contrast, Akinolugbade weighed in at the full bantamweight limit but found himself outclassed by the Ghanaian’s speed, power and precision.
The Nigerian fighter started well, frustrating Allotey with a high guard and forcing the Ghanaian to exchange in close quarters in the opening round.
However, the early resistance proved short-lived as Allotey exploded into action in the second, breaking through Akinolugbade’s defences with sharp jabs, ferocious hooks, and thunderous body shots.
Akinolugbade was floored twice in round two, the first coming from a vicious right hand midway through the round.
Though he bravely beat referee Nat Obeng’s count, Allotey wasted no time in piling on the pressure, sending the Nigerian to the canvas once again before the bell granted a temporary reprieve.
The third round saw Akinolugbade regroup slightly, but in the fourth, Allotey turned up the heat once more. He dropped his opponent two more times, each punch further sapping the Nigerian’s energy and resistance.
The onslaught continued into the fifth, where a devastating body shot just seconds into the round proved the final nail in the coffin—Akinolugbade failing to rise before the referee completed his count.
"I followed my coach’s instructions to the letter. We had a game plan, and it worked to perfection," Allotey, whose record now stands at nine wins, no losses, with eight knockouts, said.
"I felt great. I studied him from rounds one to four, and in the fifth, I went for the finish. We realised he was tiring, so we took full advantage, and we got the win," he added.
If Allotey was clinical, his stablemate Haruna ‘Thunder’ Mohammed was downright ruthless in the co-main event, obliterating Felix Mankatah in just two rounds.
The reigning Ghana cruiserweight champion knocked Mankatah down five times before referee Alfred Ashong waved off the fight at 2:33 minutes of the second round.
It was a night of thrilling action, enhanced by a stunning fight stage setup, meticulously arranged by matchmaker Sarah Lotus Asare and Wisdom Boxing Promotions, with the event blending rich Ghanaian culture with pulsating in-ring battles, keeping the sizeable crowd enthralled from start to finish.
Other undercard bouts delivered plenty of fireworks, with rising light-heavyweight George Akoto making a statement by obliterating John Dugu in just 90 seconds.
John 'The Monster' Zile proved too powerful for Haruna Oku, sealing victory in round three of their super-bantamweight clash, while Shakul Samed overpowered Benin’s Fataou Garadima Yacoubou, forcing a third-round Technical Knockout (TKO) victory in their middleweight encounter.
Cruiserweight Clinton Nana Adjei showcased his punching power by stopping David Okai in round two, while former national champion Patrick Ayi Aryee and Charles Amarteifio fought to a tense split draw in their eight-round super-featherweight fight.
