Dubai: Dubai-based panel-stretcher turned professional kickboxer Al Hassan Okine lost by a unanimous points decision to Steve Grandeza in the battle for the vacant International World Kickboxing Federation (IWKBF) welterweight world title, under K1 rules, on Friday night at Chi The Lodge, Oud Metha.
This means the Accra-born 36-year-old Al Quoz industrial estate labourer turned-good, may have to wait a while longer for his fairytale career ending, if at all.
"The Red Knight" Grandeza, 33, from Davao, Philippines — an eleven times national full contact karate champion with four wins from four in Muay Thai, all by knock out — twice reduced Okine to an eight count in the first two of seven two minute rounds to win on points 10-8, 10-8, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9. Okine was grounded or lost balance a total eight times to Grandeza's one fall.
Looking troubled from the outset Okine had Grandeza down in the first, before the Filipino recoiled to win the round with a left kick to the kidney, then a right hook to the head after a cunning flurry — twice flooring the Ghanaian.
In the second round a left hook put Okine back on the mat for what was already the second eighth count.
Tired panic
Round three saw some semblance of a fightback, despite Okine twice losing his balance after launching flying kicks at the head of his opponent. While in round four a flurry left him dazed.
By rounds five and six, the Ghanaian's tired panic was starting to show with a balance shot on the swings. In the seventh he again stumbled after throwing himself into his kicks.
Okine, whose record now stands at seven fights, four wins and three losses said of the fight: "I'm disappointed, my boxing let me down. I need to keep my hands up. He's a southpaw, which is a big disadvantage — I just didn't know how to go around him." Grandeza added: "With humility I feel I won every round — but in the earlier rounds for sure he felt the power enough for the succeeding rounds not to matter."