Published: September 26, 2008
Albert & Duran Battle to Draw
Ballagou wins IBF Continental title in Big Apple
Two-time Nigerian Olympian Eromosele "Bad Boy" Albert and Ghana-native Ossie Duran (23-6-1, 9 KOs) fought to a 12-round draw in their IBF Continental Africa light middleweight title bout last night (Tuesday, September 23), headlining an abbreviated "KnockOut Poverty" pro boxing card, presented by Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan.
In the co-feature, former world title challenger "King" Jaffa Ballagou (46-6, 40 KOs), from Togo, won the vacant IBF Continental Africa cruiserweight championship by stopping Manu Ntoh (17-15-1, 10 KOs) in the 11th round.
"KnockOut Poverty" was a landmark event to help fight poverty in Africa. Grammy Award winning, UN Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N'Dour and friends were among the many stars appearing for the historic evening of entertainment, music and boxing. N'Dour and other African musical legends performed between fights with proceeds from the event going to the All For Africa charitable organization.
Albert (21-2-1, 10 KOs) and Duran (23-6-2, 9 KOs), former Commonwealth light middleweight and welterweight champion, fought toe-to-toe for 12 rounds, in which, the judges scored 117-111 for Albert, 116-112 for Duran, and 114-114. The IBF Continental Africa light middleweight title remains vacant.
"We are warriors," Duran commented after the fight. "You don't usually see that type of fight. But that was a robbery. I won the fight. He wasn't scoring; I was all night with my jab."
Before storming out of the ring Albert rhetorically asked, "How was that fight a draw?"
Ballagou (46-6, 40 KOs) got off the mat in the mat in the opening round to knockdown Ntoh (17-15-1, 10 KOs), from Cameroon, twice in the fourth and 11th rounds before referee Eddie Claudio halted the match at 2:47 of the 11th.
"I felt rusty at first - two years off will do that - but I knew that I'd get him," Ballagou said after the fight. "I'm looking to fight the best light heavyweights in the world - Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Glen Johnson. I need them right now. I'm ready for them and I've waited so long."
The scheduled 12-round IBF Intercontinental Africa light heavyweight title bout between former world title challenger Kingsley Ikeke (24-3, 13 KOs) and Sudan-native Abdullah Ramadan (15-8, 9 KOs) was cancelled because Ramadan was unable to gain entry (visa problems) into the United States from Canada. A four-round bout between pro-debuting light welterweight Issouf Kinda, of Bukini Faso, and Jose Guzman (3-3-1) was cancelled by the ring doctor because Guzman was running a high fever.
Among the dignitaries attending the show were former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson and IBF bantamweight title-holder Joseph Agbeko.
All For Africa
All For Africa ("A4A") is a non-profit organization that serves as a platform for individuals, corporations and other organizations to actively get involved in, design and coordinate economically sustainable projects in Africa. All for Africa believes that the quickest route to realizing Africa's true potential is through the effective collaboration between the "for profit" and the non-profit stakeholders in Africa's future.
RESULTS FROM NEW YORK CITY
(Hammerstein Ballroom)
September 23, 2008 - "KnockOut Poverty"
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Jaffa Ballogou (46-6, 40 KOs), Togo WTKO11 (2:47) Manu Ntoh (17-15-1, 10 KOs), Cameroon
(Ballogou won vacant IBF Intercontinental Africa Cruiserweight Championship)
LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Eromosele Albert (21-2-1, 10 KOs), Nigeria 12D (117-111, 112-116, 114-114) Ossie Duran (23-6-2, 9 KOs), Ghana
( IBF Intercontinental Africa Light Middleweight Championship remained vacant)
Promoter: Ring Promotions
Matchmaker: Bob Duffy
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