After a series of set-backs by the nation’s contingent, featherweight boxer Joseph Commey ‘landed’ Ghana’s first medal at the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham yesterday.
Commey put up a sparkling show to defeat New Zealand’s Alex Mukuka 5-0 to qualify for the semi-final stage of the campaign at the National Exhibition Centre on Wednesday.
That magnificent performance afforded Ghana bronze – as well as put the boxer in great position for silver or gold.
It was a dominant performance from Commey, especially in the first round – as he made things tick in the third round to guarantee a second victory – having defeated Allan Oiake of Papua New Guinea via a Technical Knockout (TKO) in the preliminary round.
The victory automatically earned the Black Panthers’ Gym product a bronze medal and the first for Ghana in all disciplines, but could make history should he replicate another good show in his next fight to clinch silver or gold in the semis.
According to sport’s format, boxers who reach the last-four are automatically assured of medal.
Ghana’s set-back in the sport, has seen the likes of women’s middleweight boxer Onerlla Sathoud losing her round of 16 bout against English Kerry Davis, while light heavyweight boxer Samed Shakul was also disqualified after failing a drug test.
Traditionally, boxing has won the country more medals than any other discipline, but no boxer has grabbed gold for Ghana in the history of the Games.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Jesse Lartey has apologised to Ghanaians for failing to annex a medal at the Games.
The light middleweight boxer had promised to win gold and make the nation proud, but fell off.
The Ghanaian became the first boxer to qualify for the next round of the Games after drawing bye – even before the competition commenced.
Lartey won bronze for Ghana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
