Bastie “The Beast” Samir has ended Bukom Banku’s unbeaten run, by Technically Knocking him Out in round seven of their cruiserweight bout on Saturday night at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
Banku entered the bout on the back of a 29-bout winning run could not stand the power of his younger opponent and twice visited the canvas during the bout.in round three and seven.
Banku had predicted a sixth-round stoppage but the round would only be remembered for the countless number of times Samir clinched and punched his face and body at will.
In the seventh round, Samir went in for the kill as Banku tired and dropped his weak guard even further.
A chain of unanswered punches saw the referee inexplicably jump to Banku’s aid, bizarrely refusing to halt the bout as expected but instead gave him a mandatory eight-second count after he was doused with water by a fan.
However, that respite was short-lived as soon after he returned Samir sent him crashing to the canvas for the second and final time following relentless combinations which left him with a bloodied right eye.
He landed on his backside and did not appear eager to rise to his feet but when he finally did, Banku staggered forwards like a drunk on his way home from the pub – forcing the referee to save him from further punishment in the second-minute of the seventh round.
Winner Samir splits GHC 200,000 cash prize with the loser Banku but will receive an added bonus of GHC 5,000 from the Accra Mayor Mohammed Adjei Sowah.
Samir also improved his fight record to 16 wins, 0 losses and one draw (16-0-1, 15 KO’s).