19th September, 2012
After his failed attempt to get a shot at a world boxing title with his defeat by Lucas Matthysse of Argentina during the recent World Boxing Council, WBC, world title elimination bout in America, Nigerian Olusegun Ajose says it is time to take a rest from boxing and help his son practicing what he knows best: Football.
Ajose, who is still lamenting losing the elimination fight to Mattysse, said that he has to take a rest from boxing for now to focus on his family after which he can return to the game later.
According to the All Africa Game gold medal winner and Commonwealth Games champion, “I want to take few weeks break to spend time with my family. During the period of my rest, I think I should go out and practice football with my boy. My son likes football and if I can spend little time with him in training, it would be good for him. I hope to get back to training after this break and wait on my promoter and manager to tell me the next line of action for me. I’m most likely going to get a warm up fight in December, which I believe would pave way for a big fight next year by the grace of God,” he said.
Ajose won’t give up his quest for a world title as he said that he would look out for an opportunity in other world boxing bodies like World Boxing Association, WBA, International Boxing Federation, IBF, World Boxing Organisition, WBO and World Boxing Federation, WBF.
“It does not matter whether it is WBC, IBF, WBO of WBF, whichever organisation gives me the opportunity, I’ll go for it. At the level I am, I can achieve my dream in any of the boxing bodies apart from the WBC. The most important thing is that my fans really want me back in the ring,” he said.
Ajose thanked Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola for his support toward a successful career, adding that when he got no support from anywhere, the governor was instrumental to his victory against Ali Chebah in the WBC lightwelter weight eliminator bout last year.
“Governor Fashola has been very helpful to me. He was there for me against Ali Chebah. I prepared for that match because I got support from the Lagos State Government.”
—Taiwo Adelu