Ghana’s Michael Pappoe (24-6, 20 KOs) could not improve his record as he missed the opportunity to book his name on the IBF World Rankings and the vacant International Boxing Federation International Featherweight Title when he succumbed to the might of Italy’s undefeated Mauro Forte (13-0-1, 4 KOs) via a round 7 TKO at the Palestra Forza E Coraggio in Milan, Italy.
Michael, prior to the fight, was very optimistic of his chances, and held his nerve in the early exchanges of the bout against an Italian fighter ten years younger than the Ghanaian. As the rounds wore on, the very vibrant Michael Pappoe was a stamina suspect, as he finally gave in in the seventh round via a technical knockout.
The Jamestown native is a very experienced boxer and has a rich CV which included a World Boxing Organisation Africa Featherweight Title, which he lost by a shade on February 20th, 2016 to former WBO world champion, Isaac Dogboe, at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Accra-Ghana.
Michael Pappoe is also a former West African Boxing Union Super Featherweight Titlist, and a lot was expected of him in this bout, but what is undeniable is the fact that even though he is physically challenged, the Ghanaian gave a better account of himself, and could have gone notch higher given the right conditions.