Theophilus Kpakpo “Theo Lopez” Allotey and Argentina’s Facundo David Garcia have both made weight ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes WBA Super Flyweight world-title final eliminator at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
At Friday’s official weigh-in, Allotey tipped the scales at 114.9 lbs, while Garcia came in at 114.4 lbs, setting the stage for a potentially career-defining 12-round contest.
The bout headlines the inaugural Osagyefo Fight Night, promoted by the new promotional syndicate Obra Sports in honour of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, two days before Founders’ Day, an official holiday in Ghana celebrating the birthday of Nkrumah.
Allotey, 24, enters the contest as the WBA Africa Gold champion and ranked No.15 by the WBA, while Garcia is ranked No.10. A victory for the Ghanaian could earn him a shot at the WBA super-flyweight world title currently held by Costa Rica’s David Jimenez.
The Legacy Rise Sports fighter has won five titles in less than two years as a professional and has repeatedly spoken of his ambition to become Ghana’s next world champion.
“I am surprised (for quick rise and world title eliminator) but its also my hard work, everything that I do I put in a lot of work with clear target. I always wanted to be a world champion, its my life, its my ambition so I am going all out,” Allotey said ahead of the fight.
Garcia, meanwhile, carries a professional record of 6 wins, two losses and two draws with three knockouts and is entering his second straight fight outside Argentina. He secured a split-decision victory over Chile’s Andres Campos in his last outing in Santiago, having taken all previous nine fights in his home country.
The undercard also produced several interesting weight disparities.
The co-main event between Bukom rivals Michael Decardi Nelson and Jerry Klutei Robertson saw Nelson weigh 121.8 lbs, with Robertson at 122 lbs for their bantamweight clash.
Also on weight was Samuel “Ring Warrior” Takyi at 135.6 lbs for the international lightweight clash against Botswana’s Steven Bagwasi, who came in way lighter at 131.3 lbs.
In another international contest, Ghana’s Gideon Nortey weighed 142.5 lbs, narrowly heavier than Nigeria’s Yusuf Ayinde Ogunbunmi, who registered 142.2 lbs for their a super lightweight cliffhanger scheduled for 10 rounds.
The heavyweight contests produced the biggest gaps on the scale. Joseph “Junior Bazooka” Antwi weighed 242.2 lbs against George Amuzu, who registered 213 lbs, while Nelson Awumey came in at 227.7 lbs, against Jonas Quarshie who came in at 190.7 lbs.
Completing the weigh-ins, undefeated David Amenuveve weighed 159 lbs against Eric Mensah, who tipped the scales at 158lbs.
With the fighters now on weight, attention turns to Saturday night, when Allotey seeks to turn his rapid rise into a world-title opportunity on home soil.
