Despite suffering a crushing fifth-round knockout at the hands of British opponent Abdul Khan, Ghanaian boxer Joseph Sackey believes his faith never failed him; only the officiating did.
The young pugilist, who stepped into the ring on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Battle of the Beasts boxing event in Bukom, entered the bout armed with more than just gloves and footwork.
On the back of his boxing trunks was a sticker of Prophet Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah, the leader of the Believers Worship Centre, also known as the Philadelphia Church.
To Sackey, this wasn’t for show. It was a declaration of belief, and spiritual protection.
“I knew even with the next two rounds Adom Nyame would do something. I used all of Adom Kyei’s spiritual things. I had Grace Oil, Miracle Oil, and even drank Sobolo before leaving the house. I don’t only use the sticker,” Sackey said in the aftermath of his defeat.
The image of the popular prophet, revered by many of his followers as a man of miracles, symbolised Sackey’s trust that divine intervention could tilt the fight in his favour.
He entered the ring with confidence not just in his fists, but in his faith.
But the night didn’t end the way he hoped.
According to Sackey, it wasn’t a lack of power or preparation that cost him the fight, but a controversial moment involving the referee.
“The referee tripped me. He locked my leg while separating us. That’s what made me fall. Even though Adom Nyame did his part, the referee didn’t allow it to come through,” he insisted.
Watch the interview below:
FKA/EB
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