BOUT IN PROGRESS. (NATURAL SOUND)




Initials PK/VS/PN/OS


SPORT: BOXING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: GHANA'S NATIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION, JOE AKANI, YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) DEFEATED NIGERIA'S LEADING CONTENDER "KILLER" BASSEY UKEM IN SIX ROUND TO WIN THE MAIN SUPPORTING BOUT OF A NIGERIA VERSUS GHANA BOXING TOURNAMENT AT THE KING GEORGE V STADIUM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA.

AKANI MADE FULL USE OF HIS LONGER REACH TO CONTROL THE FIGHT. HIS STINGING RIGHT JABS KEPT UKEM AT A DISTANCE.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE NIGERIAN DID GET CLOSE ENOUGH FOR IN-FIGHTING, HE SHOWED PLENTY OF STRENGTH.

UKEM HAD THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET SEVERAL TIMES AS HE WENT IN FOR THE "KILL", BUT AKANI'S SUPERIOR RINGCRAFT KEPT HIM OUT OF TROUBLE.

THE END CAME IN THE SIXTH ROUND WHEN AKAN CAUGHT UKEM WITH A RIGHT CROSS. THE NIGERIAN WENT TO THE CANVAS BUT WAS UP IN TIME TO CONTINUE.

SHORTLY AFTER, AKANI AGAIN CONNECTED, THIS TIME WITH A LEFT HOOK, WHICH AGAIN SENT UKEM TO THE FLOOR. HE REGAINED HIS FEET ONCE MORE, BUT WAS DAZED AND DEFENCELESS AND THE REFEREE CALLED A HALT.