Ghana Boxer Protests Controversial Stoppage at WBC Grand Prix

Ghanaian middleweight Shakul Samed vehemently protested a referee’s decision to halt his fight against Mexico’s Saul Morales with just 45 seconds remaining in their six-round bout at the WBC Grand Prix in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

Samed, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, was leading on all three judges’ scorecards but appeared fatigued in the final round when the stoppage occurred.

“Because I am Black, the officials want to cheat me,” Samed asserted post-fight, while his coach, Elvis Robertson, condemned the ruling as a “clear robbery.” Team Samed filed an official protest with the WBC, though the boxer remains on standby for his weight category pending review.

The controversy overshadowed mixed results for Ghana’s delegation. Super lightweight Samuel “No Chance” Quaye fell to Canada’s Wilcox Spencer via unanimous decision (54-60, 55-59, 55-59), while Enoch Tettey Tetteh lost his match shortly after compatriot Holy “The Jaw Breaker” Dorgbetor secured a split-decision victory (58-56, 56-58, 59-56) over Ukraine’s Oleksandr Solomennikov. Dorgbetor, now unbeaten in 12 fights, advanced to the June 2025 round of 16, where he will face South Africa’s Bekizizwe Maitse, who defeated Colombia’s Rodolfo Puentes unanimously.

Gabriel Cofie, another Ghanaian contender, did not compete but was placed on standby for June’s tournament phase.

Dorgbetor’s win initially buoyed Ghana’s prospects, but subsequent losses and Samed’s disputed stoppage underscored the challenges faced by the team. The incident has reignited debates over refereeing consistency in high-stakes tournaments, particularly in bouts involving African fighters. Samed’s allegation of racial bias, though unverified, reflects broader concerns about equity in boxing officiating, a topic increasingly scrutinized by global sports bodies.

The WBC has yet to issue a formal response to the protest. Meanwhile, Dorgbetor’s progression offers Ghana a continued foothold in the competition, balancing the team’s setbacks with resilient performances in a sport where margins between triumph and turmoil remain razor-thin.