UBO Flashback: When Kwadjo Upset Ali In Fiji

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August 11, 2020 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Going in, “The Jet” Ali (29-8-6, 24 KOs), had won Fiji national titles at Lightweight, Super Lightweight, Super Welterweight, Middleweight and Super Middleweight, as well as various other regional titles in several weight-classes.

Kwadjo (18-3, 15 KOs) was taking part in his first championship fight, but was considered a live underdog as he had looked impressive in his six previous fights abroad, in New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji, winning all of them in style.

Riding a three-fight winning-streak, and with a boisterous crown behind him, Ali entered the ring full of confidence. He had by far faced the better opposition, and appeared to be counting on his significant punching-power and experience to bring him victory.

But Kwadjo, 24 years old at the time, had not read the same script, and put on a wonderful performance. He was more accurate and more active than the home-man, and deservedly went on to win by unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 118-114 and 115-113.

The new UBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Champion, “The Pride of Osu”, went on to add the IBF Australasian title in his very next fight, traveling to Australia to shock 19-1 Jamie Pittman by seventh round knockout four months later.

That period was probably the peak of Kwadjo´s career, as he started losing tough fights against mostly world-class opponents. But he did have some success, stopping Ali in two rounds of a 2011 rematch, and a comebacking former UBO World Champion Kali Jacobus in 2018.

Now 35, Kwadjo has moved permanently to Fiji and is presumably still active and looking for new opportunities.

Zulfikar Joy Ali boxed six more times, winning two and losing four, before he died prematurely in January of 2015, only 36 years old. He reportedly died in hospital after attempting to commit suicide following a family dispute.