The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: The 31-year-old Ghanaian boxer, Faisal Abubakar, aka Poncho Power, has successfully defended his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa Super Lightweight title belt against Nigeria’s Samuel Opaogun.

He did so with a technical knockout in round five of a bout witnessed by an electrifying crowd at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Saturday, August 31 in Accra.

Referee May Mensah Akakpo stopped the bout in the fifth round after Samuel was caught with a punch that sent him to the canvas.

Despite a quick rise from the canvas, the Nigerian boxer struggled and wobbled when the referee asked him to take a move forward, forcing the referee to end the match.

He also suffered a cut on the eyelid during the bout.

The win on Saturday takes the Sabon Zango-based boxer’s record to 17 wins and 0 losses, with 14 of the wins coming by way of knockout.

Meanwhile, his opponent Samuel Opaogun, alias Hormordhardy Block Buster, from Lagos, Nigeria, now has three losses, one draw, and 12 wins in 16 fights.

In a post-March interview, Faisal expressed his gratitude to Allah, his fans, and trainers at Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation Gym for their support.

He was hopeful of getting ranked higher on the world stage to enable him to fulfil his dream of becoming a world champion.

The Nigerian boxer Samuel called for a rematch, adding, “I believe we can redo this match again. You should give me the opportunity to fight again.”

“I don’t believe I lost the fight, but it was the referee who stopped the fight, so no problem. My second home is Ghana. I am a Nigerian but am a Ghanaian too,” he said.

In March this year, Faisal defeated Ugandan Latibu Muwonge to win the WBO Africa Super Lightweight title at the Lord’s Wembley Plus at Shukura in Accra.