Yusuf Adeniji Crowned WBA Africa Champion – World Boxing Association

Nigeria’s Yusuf Adeniji (17-1, 10 KOs) captured the WBA Africa featherweight title (126 lbs) on October 1 in Nigeria, earning the crown by technical decision after Akimos Anaang Apiah (7-3, 6 KOs) was disqualified for an intentional low blow in the fifth round.

From the opening bell, Adeniji displayed greater tactical discipline, working behind a steady jab and moving smartly to avoid Apiah’s frontal assaults. The Ghanaian pressed the action, looking for exchanges, but it was Adeniji who landed the cleaner, sharper shots, especially at mid-range.

The tension escalated in the fourth round when the referee issued Apiah a warning for low blows. In the fifth, following a missed combination, Apiah drove a downward hook squarely into the prohibited zone, leaving Adeniji doubled over in obvious pain. After consulting the ringside physician and reviewing the sequence, the referee called a halt to the contest, ruling a disqualification and confirming the result via the scorecards at the time: 50-46, 50-45, 50-45, all in favor of Adeniji.

With the victory, Yusuf Adeniji becomes the continental champion under the World Boxing Association banner, notching his 17th professional win and cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s most promising prospects. Though the ending was controversial, Adeniji’s dominance in the earlier rounds and his composure in the ring validated the triumph.