On this day 2 January 2008 (Exactly 12 years ago today) At the Carl Rendorf Park at Dansoman in Accra, Liberty Professionals handed Real Tamale United their heaviest defeat of the season by thrashing them 6-2 in their eighth week clash of the Onetouch Premier League.
As early as the half hour mark, Liberty was up by four goals, making the best out of the lack of co-operation exhibited by the visitors defence.
Striker Sam Ayew Yeboah began the goal harvest as early as the second minute, connecting home a through pass from Kofi Nti Boakye’s run from midfield.
The early goal unsettled the Tamale lads whose case was compounded by lack of coordination exhibited by the backline of Baba Hassan Kullog, Mohammed Baker, Alhassan Hamdu and Kwame Adjagba.
Ten minutes later, Mustapha Essuman made it two by tapping in Richard Kissi’s cross, which was deflected onto his path by Hamdu. As RTU lingered to settle, Liberty bombarded their goal area with several raids led by Yeboah and Nti Boakye.
In the 19th minute, Essuman nearly grabbed a brace and the third for his side but his thunderbolt ricocheted off the cross bar to the relief of the visitors.
Two minutes later, Kwame Antwi scored the third goal for Liberty by connecting a rebound after RTU goalie, Issah Najawu parried Essuman’s drive into play before Ayew made it four with low shot from Antwi’s lob.
RTU coach Abdul Razak was forced to make two changes, bringing out Hanan Giwah and Najawu for Faisal Sulemana and Mohammed Opash respectively, which paid off.
In the 41st minute, Mohammed Fatau pulled one back with a beautiful header from Kullog’s free-kick.
RTU resumed the second half strongly and managed to score the second goal through Shilla Alhassan from a goal mouth action in the 52nd.
However their dreams of further reducing the margin went dead after strikes from Nti Boakye and Emmanuel Allan in the 69th and 72nd minutes respectively.
On this day 2 January 1865 (Exactly 155 years ago today) Welterweight Con Orem and heavyweight Hugh O’Neill brawl for 185 rounds before darkness ended legendary bare knuckle boxing match in Virginia City, Montana;
longest documented bare knuckle fight.
185 Rounds In 185 Minutes’: The Bare Knuckle Fight That Made History
In some ways, the fight was not so different from those you’d see today. O’Neil, the Irishman, wore green shorts …
With the old Harp and stars and his name embroidered in full.
While Orem wore …
The stars and stripes with the eagle, and bearing the motto “may the best man win.”
At 20 minutes to 2 o’clock time was called; and quickly each man toed the scratch and began.
The 1st round was short and lively — Con got in his right on the ribs receiving a facsimile from Hugh. The men closed for the fall and after a severe struggle both fell; Con undermost.
Under the London Prize Fight rules, the round didn’t end until somebody was on the ground. And because no one seemed to mind if a fighter went down just to have a rest, a round might end in seconds … or, it could go on indefinitely.
The fight would be over when one man – or both — could no longer continue.
This fight really started getting going in the third round.
First knock down for Hugh. Loud cheers from O’Neil’s friends, and offers of three to one, in hundreds against Orem.
No End In Sight
By the end of the 17th round, both men were pretty bloody.
Was the end near? In a word: no.
In round 17, a sounding crash from Con’s right under the left arm-pit; Hugh made for his man, and as Con was slipping down, assisted the operation by a nasty rap on the back of Con’s head.
I might be reading into things, but this is where it started to seem as if Hugh O’Neil had quite enough of Con Orem intentionally falling down to end the round.
But, strategy is strategy, and you stick with what works, right?
So, the fight wasn’t over, yet. Not nearly.
In round 126. O’Neil’s left eye closing; nothing but misses registered; Orem slipped down.
By the 137th round, O’Neil was “failing.” By the 168th, Orem was “getting faint.” But neither man would concede.
‘Bets Off — Ring Money Divided’
Finally, after O’Neil dominated the 180th through the 185th rounds, but didn’t have enough left in the tank to put Orem down, the men who were attending to the fighters had had enough.
A sudden feeling seemed to animate the backers of both men … and the referee was called on by both parties to get the matter arranged. This was accordingly effected to the joyous satisfaction of every true blue present. Bets off — ring money divided.
The brass band likely struck up a lively tune, assuming the tuba player hadn’t gotten tired and headed home. Ring money divided. Wagers returned. Everyone was happy except for the two men who endured 185 rounds without a winner.
Con Orem seems to have come out of it OK. An ad in the following week’s Montana Post reminded residents of Virginia City that Orem, owner of the Champion Saloon, was offering “private lessons in boxing and sparring once a week.”
Hugh O’Neil wasn’t as fortunate. A notice in that same issue announced that his friends were planning a benefit in his honor.
They are determined to make up for him a sum sufficient to leave him on the sunny side of “square” instead of in debt.
On this day 2 January 2019 (Exactly a year ago today) United States international Christian Pulisic became the most expensive American soccer player when he moved from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea for £58; remained at Dortmund on loan until the end of the season
On this day 2 January 1957 (Exactly 63 years ago today) In the first of 4 meetings between the fighters, Gene Fullmer won the world middleweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Sugar Ray Robinson at New York’s Madison Square Garden
On this day 2 January 1973 (Exactly 47 years ago today) Japanese boxer Masao Ohba retained his WBA flyweight title with a 12th-round knockout of Chartchai Chionoi of Thailand in Tokyo; Ohba died three weeks later in a car accident
On this day 2 January 1972 (Exactly 48 years ago today) Virginia Wade of England won her first Grand Slam title after beating home favourite Evonne Goolagong 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian open final.
On this day 2 January 2000 (Exactly 20 years ago today) 19,600 fans watched the Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic, 111-103 in the first NBA game at the Heat’s new American Airlines Arena in Miami.
By George “Alan Green” Mahamah:
