Ajose Eyes World Boxing Title Tonight Title Tonight

Nigeria’s Light Welterweight hope, Olusegun Ajose, will keep a date with history tonight as he stands toe to toe with Algeria-born Canadian boxer, Ali Chebah, in a World Boxing Council, WBC, Elimination Bout at Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, USA.

The bout, which has witnessed series of postponements, promises a lot of fireworks with each boxer vowing to outpunch the other during their pre fight interviews for the 12-round bout.

Shortly before he left the shores of the country for America, the Nigerian hitman promised that he was determined to win the title and present it as a birthday gift for Nigerians as the country celebrates her 51st independence anniversary tomorrow.

“My victory in the fight against Chebah will be for all Nigerians as we celebrate Nigeria’s 51st independence anniversary. There is no other birthday gift that I can give Nigerians at this point in time. So, my people should expect nothing but victory against the Canadian boxer,” said Ajose, who got a good support to prepare for this historic fight from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor headed by Prince Wale Oladunjoye and the Ministry of Sports.

Meanwhile, Ashley Theophane, British and IBO international welterweight champion has tipped Ajose to beat Chebah in their fight today.

Theophane, who has a record of 28 wins against 4 defeats, said he had been a sparring partner for the Nigerian boxer and he knows his strength and weakness.

“My very good friend, Ajose, steps up to take part in a world title eliminator on 30 September in California and a win will make him the WBC champion, Erik Morales’, mandatory challenger. He deserves this and I believe Ajose has the beating of Erik, should the WBC ever sanction them to meet,” said the Paddington, London boxer, who is nicknamed Treasure.

“I have been sparring with Ajose over the last ten years and I have learnt so much from him, and I have seen and experienced his talent at close quarters. We have easily completed over a thousand rounds sparring with one another.”

Ajose (29-0, 14 KOs), of Nigeria, has fought his last 16 bouts in England, where the 5-foot-9, 31-year-old southpaw lived until recently relocating to New York City. His most impressive win was an eighth-round knockout over former contender Colin Lynes on 3 April, 2010, which he followed up with a six-round decision over Arek Malek last Feb. 12 in his lone outing this year.

While he owns a better than 75 percent knockout ratio, the 5-foot-9, 25-year-old Chebah will be facing his toughest opponent to date in Ajose, a slick and speedy boxer with a world title shot on his mind.

“I fought a southpaw once, but I have an awkward style and I will adapt to anyone in front of me,” Chebah said. “I don’t care about southpaw, orthodox, pressure, defensive, mobile, anything.

“My style is pressure, pressure, pressure. You are going to see a Canadian man with Mexican style, slick and mentally tough.”

—Bimbo Ajayi