Ghana's Freezy Macbones wins WBO Africa light-heavyweight title in Lagos

Pinned summary · as of 07:33

Seth Gyimah, the Ghanaian boxer nicknamed Freezy Macbones, took the WBO Africa light-heavyweight belt in Lagos on Thursday, 1 October, after outpointing Nigeria's Godday Appah on the judges' scorecards. The bout was part of a show staged by the Balmoral Group to mark Nigeria's Independence Day celebrations.

What we know

• Gyimah beat Appah by judges' decision in Lagos on Thursday, 1 October, to take the WBO Africa light-heavyweight title.
• The fight formed part of a card organised by the Balmoral Group in Lagos to mark Nigeria's Independence Day celebrations.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Adom Online described the win as ending Appah's reign as champion, while Ghana Sports News said Appah, the home favourite, failed in his bid to win the title; the reports differ on whether he held it going in.
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  YEN.com.gh and Ghana Sports News reported that all three judges scored the contest for Gyimah, and that it took place at The Balmoral in Lagos; other reports have not confirmed the scorecards or the venue.
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  YEN.com.gh cited BoxRec for a Gyimah record of 13 wins from 14 fights, with a single defeat.
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  Adom Online reported that another Nigerian boxer called out Gyimah after the fight and Gyimah accepted, with a bout pencilled in for December.
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  Gyimah told Adom Online that winning away, before an unfriendly crowd, thrilled him and that even he was taken aback by his display. He said the belt means more because he took up the sport in earnest only at 27, despite doubters.
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  Adom Online reported that Gyimah gave the win to fans in Kumasi, Accra and overseas and thanked them for their prayers. He also acknowledged Bernard Nartey, a naval officer who coaches the armed forces boxing side and had forecast the result.
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  Mr Nartey, part of Gyimah's team in Lagos, told Adom Online that seeing his fighter crowned champion of the continent made him proud.
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  On the same card at the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, Adom Online reported, Ghana's David Tagoe lost an eight-round featherweight contest to Nigeria's Yusuf Adisa Adeniji on a unanimous decision.

Why it matters for Ghana

A continental title for a Ghanaian fighter adds to the country's record in African boxing, and supporters in Kumasi, Accra and elsewhere will follow whether the proposed December bout is confirmed. Reports of the same Lagos card also describe a loss for another Ghanaian boxer, so the night was mixed for Ghana.