24th December, 2010
As the clock ticks to the end of year 2010, boxing lovers in Nigeria had nothing much to celebrate about the sport but two Nigerian professional boxers made the country proud in foreign countries.
Ranked 13 by the International Boxing Federation, IBF, Nigeria’s Wale “Lucky Boy†Omotoso (18-0, 16 KOs) stopped Juan Alberto Godoy (25-12-1, 10 KOs) in the fourth round of their Welterweight scheduled twelve round bout at the Knox Netball Center in Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia last month, while his compatriot Lateef “Power†Kayode (15-0, 14 KO) defeated his opponent, 34-year old Ed Perry (18-5, 11 KO) of Lafayette, Indiana in round six of their Cruiserweight bout early this month to give boxing lovers in Nigeria something to be happy about.
While the profile of both professional boxers soared during the last quarter under review, same could not be said of another Nigerian, Akeem Akinbode who was beaten black and blue in the United States of America, USA.
Omotosho and Kayode cut their amateur boxing teeth in Nigeria, representing the country in many international competitions. But the boxers turned professional when they their amateur careers nosedived.
Before turning professional, both boxers had told Boxing In Focus that they were tired of the bad treatment meted out to amateur boxers in the country, hence their decision to leave the amateur rank for the professional category.
However, National Super Middleweight champion, Mojeed Okedara’s quest to hit it big in professional bixing during the quarter under review met a brick wall as he couldn’t get a fight in the USA. “My promoters said they can’t get me a fight because my fight records are not on fightfans.com but his details are on boxingrec.com I’still believe that someday I would have the opportunity to fight here,†he disclosed in a telephone interview.
During the quarter under review, the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame and the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association held an international amateur boxing competition, which had in attendance boxers from Repton Boys Club, England.
Still on the international scene, reigning WBC Heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko floored his opponent, Shawn Briggs, who earlier vowed to retire him but he failed.
Two Nigerians, Prince Wale Oladunjoye and Eng. Afolabi Salami, were appointed members of the World Boxing Council, WBC, this was the only cheering news on the home front.
There were complaints when five Nigerian boxers, who represented the country at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, couldn’t get to the medals zone. The former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Bio, carpeted the former President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF Rotimi George-Taylor, for not doing enough in preparing the five boxers for the Games.
The former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly was unhappy that George-Taylor, who was expected to be sulking over the boxers’ poor performance, was looking for how to get himself a place on the WBC.
Former National champion, Felix Akpan also complained about the dearth of boxing shows in the country, saying it is not good for the development of the sport in the country.
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