Theo Allotey stops Aryeetey to win national title

Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey was crowned the new national Super Flyweight Champion of Ghana, following a resounding seventh-round technical knock out (TKo) victory over isaac Aryeetey last Saturday night at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.

Young Allotey, alias Theo Lopez, who won bronze with the national boxing team, Black Bombers, during the 2023 African Games, only took had his first professional fight on July 20 when he overcame fellow debutant Izak Adu-Mantey in four rounds.

Barely four months later, he has become the first boxer to win the national championship after dominating Aryeetey. 

Fighting on the undercard of the Ayitey Powers Promotions' show dubbed 'Battle of the Beasts,'22-year-old Allotey seized control of the fight right from the opening bell, often heaping a plethora of hooks, jabs, uppercuts interspersed with terrific body shots which destabilised the opponent till the end.

A veteran of 17 career fights since his professional bout in April 2021, Aryeetey's durability was par excellence even in the face of the incessant attacks from the man who is three years his junior.

He launched intense attacks of his own, in-between rounds and constantly testing the heartbeat of the huge army of fans of Allotey who had besieged the packed Bukom Boxing Arena.

However, Allotey retained his composure and showed no sign of fatigue, even as this was the first time he had gone beyond five rounds in his six professional fights.

He continued to pummel Aryeetey who was feeling the effect of the beatdown, and staged a dramatic exit from the ring halfway through the seventh round when he accidentally slipped to the canvas, complaining bitterly of an apparent illegal move by Allotey.

Neither the match referee and thousands of fans present could get a clear picture of Aryeetey's protests as a result of which referee Richard Amevi declared Allotey the winner, and the new champion was crowned by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) President, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, and former world champion, Joshua Clottey.

"We didn't come here to look for a knockout, we came to win the title. Maybe he was feeling too much heat, I saw it as I kept hitting him with body shots and power punches. I was just finding a way to take him out so I was really working hard. I came here to win so any means it comes," Allotey told Graphic Sports at the ringside after the fight.

"I feel a bit happy, I am grateful to Ghana Lifestyle, Ashanti Nutrition, Unapologetic Clothing and my fans for the massive support, this is just the beginning.

I still have a long way to go so I have to keep up the work, train harder and disciplined. The target is the African title next before going for the world title,' the young champ added.