The WBO Africa super welterweight title fight between Kenya's Rayton Okwiri and Ghana's Joshua Allotey set for Boxing Day in Accra, Ghana has been put off indefinitely after the Ghanian allegedly injured his shoulder during a training session.
Okwiri was set to fight Joshua Allotey for the WBO Africa super welterweight title fight in Accra on Sunday, December 26.
The Kenyan was disappointed after hearing the news and told TeamKenya that the Ghanian boxer is afraid of him.
“Yes the fight has been cancelled.the boxer got an injury on his shoulder, but I believe it's not true because you can't gen an injury three days to the fight day, to be honest he is scared of me,” Okwiri stated.
Allotey's Manager and PRO of Cabic Promotions Gideon Oyiadzo Jingles, confirmed that his client would not be going ahead with the fight.
Oyiadzo stated that Allotey picked up a shoulder injury during training and thus would be in a position to go on with the anticipated fight.
"We are all shocked to wake up to such sad news. Patrick Allotey had a shoulder injury during training and cannot fight. He is currently being treated by our doctors; they will have to declare him fit before we can advise on the way forward. Really sorry about this. Our kind regards to Rayton and the team; we really looked forward to a good fight and a win for Allotey," Jingles stated.
Okwir expressed his disappointment as he had prepared very well for the fight only for it to be cancelled.
“The fight has been cancelled but the promoter should pay me according to the law.
“I hope i will be compensated because I have invested a lot in training for more than one month and also cutting down my weight from 84 to 69k...then three days to the fight they call off the fight,” Okwiri noted.
The Kenyan boxer highlighted that he would be waiting for another opportunity to come and use it, but assured that he would be in the ring in the fight week of February.
Okwiri secured his place in the welterweight event in Rio by winning a gold medal in the 2016 African Boxing Olympics Qualification Tournament defeating Ghana's Mohameed Azumah in the semis to linch his place as part of the Kenyan team in Rio before going on to beat Egyptian Walid Sedik in the final.