Commey petitions GBA to nullify welterweight fight result

Defeated boxer, Isaac Commey and his team have petitioned the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) to nullify the decision to disqualify Commey and declare Sampson Segbedzi winner during their national welterweight fight last week Sunday.

The 34-year-old Commey started the fight well and appeared to be on top in the opening two rounds but Segbedzi, 26, turned the tables by dominating the third round before scoring a knockdown in the 4th to establish control. 

In the fifth round, a flagging Commey, who already had twice been accused of low blows by his opponent, did the unthinkable by headbutting Segbedzi which was clearly seen by almost everybody present at the Bukom Boxing Arena in the early hours of last Monday.

Referee David Nettey, who was on the spot, wasted no time in issuing a one-point deduction against Commey before attending to Segbedzi who had crushed to the canvas in pain and bleeding from the resultant injury.

Ringside physician, Dr Edward Asante, rushed in to attend to the hurt boxer who appeared unable to continue after which it was announced that Commey had been disqualified and Segbedzi decorated with the Ghana national, UBO Africa and PST Tanzania welterweight titles.

Commey even apologised to Segbedzi right in the ring afterward.

However, Evans Bernie Johnson, manager of Commey, is blaming the President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Abraham Kotei Neequaye for singularly taking the decision to disqualify Commey, insisting that it should have been at the discretion of the referee.

In a petition to the GBA copied to the United Boxing Coaches Association of Ghana, the promoter (Box Office Sports Promotions), and the international boxing record keeper Boxrec, Mr Johnson demanded that the verdict of disqualification be canceled and a rematch ordered by referencing Victor Ortiz versus Floyd Mayweather's world title fight in 2011.

"It's unfortunate Commey headbutted Segbedzi, which is not part of boxing but that’s why there are rules and regulations governing every sport. The referee, in his learned wisdom, applied the rules by rightly deducting Commey a point. 

“It’s not right for the GBA president to take the law into his hands and give commands to the referee on what he should do. It is unprofessional, shameful and puts boxing into disrepute," he argued.

"In the fight between Victor Ortiz and Floyd Mayweather, the same headbutt did happen, what did the referee do? He warned and deducted a point from Ortiz. The regulatory body did not disqualify him and declare Mayweather a winner for the headbutt. This decision is biased, condemnable and unacceptable. I call on the GBA to nullify that decision of declaring Segbedzi a winner and organise a rematch," he added.