Allotey stops Erastus in 7 to win WBA Africa title
Ghana's Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey underscored his growing credentials with a dominant seventh-round stoppage victory over Namibia’s Jonas Erastus to become the new World Boxing Association (WBA) Africa super flyweight champion on a thrilling night of action at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Friday.
Fighting in the main event of the Legacy Rise Sports show dubbed “The Rise Continues” in Accra, Allotey maintained his perfect rise with a commanding performance, effectively neutralising Erastus’ awkward tactics, which were designed to frustrate the high-flying Ghanaian.
With Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, MPs including John Dumelo and Edem Agbana, former world champions Joshua Clottey and Azumah Nelson as well as football legend Asamoah Gyan among others in attendance, Allotey was focused and unfazed, not even by a cut above his eye from a clash of heads with the on-rushing Erastus in the third round, which needed medical attention from ringside physics.
The Ghanaian showed remarkable resilience in the face of the slight setback, totally controlled the fight, ruthlessly punishing Erastus who struggled to land any of his overhead punches throughout the fight.
For Allotey, it was an audition and test of character he passed with flawless ease, with Erastus struggling to keep up and resorting to incessant clinching and negative tactics which was punished with a point’s deduction by referee Roger Barnor in the 6th.
In the 7th, Allotey turned the heat up and launched a barrage of multiple punch combinations, which caught Erastus flatfooted, with no answers.
He appeared to be in little trouble halfway through the round however when referee Barnor interacted with him closely following another combination of multiple attacks by the Ghanaian. The experienced referee surprisingly waved off the contest as a visibly fatigued Erastus collapsed into the arms of the ring official, handing Allotey a TKO victory.
The 23 year old added the WBA Africa Gold Super Flyweight belt to his collection, making it title number five since turning pro in July 2024.
Having already debuted in the Ring Magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound ratings, the Ghanaian now edges closer to a title shot in all of WBC, WBO, IBF and now WBA.
It was another success for Ghana in the co-main event as national champion, Ahmed Abdula claimed a commanding unanimous decision, 99-91, 99-91, 99-91 against tough talking Nigerian, Obaro Eradajaye to win the WBA Africa cruiserweight championship.
Meanwhile, WBA Africa super lightweight champion, Jerry Lartey suffered a ghastly cut above his right eye but still proved too strong for compatriot Sherif Quaye to earn a resounding unanimous victory to retain the continental crown and remain unbeaten.
Also successful in her WBA Africa title defence was UK based Ghanaian, Sedem Ama, as well as IBF Continental Africa champion, John Abaja Laryea alias the Expensive who stopped Lazarus Namalambo of Tanzania in 5 rounds to retain his unbeaten record.
In other fights, Belgium’s Ibrahima nicked a close unanimous victory, 59-54, 57-56, 58-57 over Ghana’s Godson Amuzu while Dutchman Jursly Vargas blasted out Ghanaian Police Officer Isaac Dowuona in round one, dropping him three times.
Two local match-ups saw Nathaniel Suppey edge Prince Kamaldeen Mohammed via a split decision whilst Nathaniel Nii Saka Bulley saw off Legacy Rise stable fighter, Kevin Abraham by unanimous points.
