Boxing's night of shame at Bukom Boxing Arena

What was supposed to be a thrilling night of boxing at the Bukom Boxing Arena last saturday descended into utter chaos and disgrace, leaving Ghanaian boxing in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Three national titles were on the line, but the event spiralled into pandemonium as the muchanticipated headline clash between Jacob Dickson and Haruna Mohammed fell apart over a contract dispute.

Fans, enraged by the cancellation, hurled bottles and other objects at officials and dignitaries, forcing an abrupt and chaotic end to proceedings.

The ill-fated event, organised by Ayitey Powers Promotions, marked the second major failure for the promoter. 

Powers, a former boxer turned promoter, had hoped to redeem himself after his debut event in June also ended in disarray when a dispute over gloves halted a clash between military officer Elvis Ahorgah and Ernest Akushey, with the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) later declaring the bout a no-contest.

Determined to bounce back, Powers convinced Ahorgah and Akushey to settle their differences in a rematch while adding a highlyanticipated cruiserweight showdown between former national champions Jacob "Beast" Dickson and Mohammed "Thunder" Haruna to the card. 

But instead of redemption, the night spiralled into disarray before the second headline fight could even leave the dressing room.

Dispute

The root of the chaos lay in the fight's championship status. Although Dickson and Haruna had reportedly signed contracts to compete for the national title, the promoter failed to pay the $500 sanction fee required by the GBA.

Consequently, the governing body downgraded the fight to a 10-round contest rather than the scheduled 12-round championship bout.

When both fighters entered the ring and formalities were completed, Dickson’s trainer, Lawrence Carl Lokko, refused to let his fighter proceed unless it was officially a national title fight.

Haruna’s camp, led by veteran trainer Ofori Asare, agreed to fight under the revised conditions, but Lokko remained adamant, delaying the bout and triggering unrest among spectators.

Fans who had paid for tickets—and some who had placed significant bets—grew increasingly restless. Their frustration boiled over, with bottles and sachets of water raining down from the stands.

Among those forced to flee the melee were former world champion Joshua "The Hitter" Clottey and parliamentary candidates Kotey Ashie (NDC) and Manaf Sowah (NPP), who were seated at the ringside.

GBA responds

The GBA President, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, expressed regret over the chaotic scenes, firmly blaming the trainers for the disruption.

“We had a great turnout and exciting fights on the card. Unfortunately, this happened,” he told the Graphic Sports. “The GBA had sanctioned the fight as a 10- round contest, and both camps were aware hours before the event began. Any grievances should have been brought to the GBA earlier, not in the middle of the programme.”

“We apologise to the public and promise to investigate the matter thoroughly. Ayitey Powers worked hard to organise this event, and, unfortunately, it ended this way,” he added.

Coaches’ Reactions Coach Ofori Asare, Haruna’s trainer, lamented the missed opportunity to thrill fans. "We wanted to fight, whether it was for the national title or not. This sport is for the fans, and they deserve better," he said.

Meanwhile, Coach Lokko’s refusal to compromise drew criticism. According to GBA rules, a fight must be called off if a coach fails to comply within five minutes, leading to the cancellation of the bout and the subsequent chaos.

Night to forget

The debacle raises serious questions about organisation and governance within Ghanaian boxing, particularly around event promotion and dispute resolution.

For Powers, it was another damaging blow to his nascent promotional career while the GBA faces mounting pressure to restore order and credibility to the sport.