WBO Africa bantamweight showdown: Gorsh, Allotey put perfect records on the line
Reigning WBO Africa bantamweight champion Daniel Selassie Gorsh has sternly warned impending opponent Theophilus Kpakpo Allotey to expect to be knocked out cold when they clash in the co-main event of this Friday's epic fight show dubbed "Battle of the Beasts" at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra.
Presented by Sharaf Mahama's Legacy Rise Sports Promotions, in collaboration with British former Olympic medallist, world champion and WBC Ambassador Amir Khan's Promotions, Nigerian-American Andrew 'The Beast' Tabiti takes on Ghana's Jacob 'The Beast' Dickson for the inaugural WBC Africa Cruiserweight (Super cruiserweight) Championship.
The groundbreaking event also serves as part of the World Boxing Council (WBC)'s "Year of Africa" initiative, which aims at recognising and celebrating Africa's greatest boxing milestones, including honouring Ghanaian legend Azumah Nelson at the fight night expected to be attended by President John Mahama, father of Sharaf Mahama.
Gorsh has had a rapid rise since turning pro on Independence Day, March 6, 2021. Within two years, he defeated Michael Tagoe by a comprehensive score of 120-108 on all scorecards in his first 12-round fight to annex the national bantamweight title in April 2023.
Barely a year later, on March 5, 2024, Gorsh again destroyed local rival Moses Adjei Selvi to become the UBO African champion.
This was followed by another one-sided dominance over 12 rounds against Ghislain Vodounhessi of Benin last September to become the WBO Africa champion, a title he must now defend against another of the country's rising stars, Theophilus Allotey alias Lopez.
An amateur standout with massive international exposure, having won medals in continental championships and fought with opponents from different continents in different parts of the world, Allotey has racked up ten straight wins since turning pro last July, winning the national and UBO Africa super flyweight titles along the way. Gorsh acknowledges Allotey's impressive amateur resume but remains adamant.
"Sure, it's the biggest fight of my career. I know he is very good, but there is no pressure. I believe in my hard work, I believe in my coach and I promise my fans that he cannot last all rounds. I will stop him," a very confident Gorsh told Graphic Sports at the Bronx Boxing Club in Bukom.
"In everything, I give thanks to my coach and management. They are the reason I'm here now. They know what I can do. I promise to go into this fight with everything. I know he is very good; I will not underrate him. The king is always a king, and when I enter the ring, I will let my people know," he said.
Steadfastly behind the boxer is his coach, the world title trainer, Lawrence Carl Lokko, whose two other boxers, Jacob Dickson and Abu Kamoko (son of the famous retired boxer Bukom Banku), will also fight on Friday's mega card.
"At the end of the day, it is the boxer against the boxer, the gym against the gym, the coach against the coach and for Wisdom Gym, even (head coach) Asare knows that we are always on top. We always beat them and we are going to do it again," Coach Lokko said, abashedly.
