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Tag: boxing

  • Joshua vs Wilder: Boxing promoters plot titanic heavyweight clash in 2023

    Joshua vs Wilder: Boxing promoters plot titanic heavyweight clash in 2023

    British boxer of Nigerian descent Anthony Joshua and American boxer Deontay Wilder could be squaring up against each other in the ring come 2023 as a potential bout between the two boxing greats is being discussed.

    Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that talks for a potential bout with Deontay Wilder are back on, adding that Wilder’s promoter, Shelly Finkel already hinted that they are studying the fight proposal.

    The bout was supposed to have happened in 2018 but talks broke down along the way.

    Joshua and Tyson Fury initially had a pre-contract agreement for a bout on December 3rd but it has now broken down over failure to sign contract papers.

    Fury has gotten another opponent in Derek Chisora for the December 3rd bout in Cardiff.

    Meanwhile, Joshua has now confirmed that the earliest he would return to the ring is next year and it could be a big fight with Deontay wider.

    Moreso, few number of alternative opponents have been brought up as the 33-year-old looks to get his career back on track.

    Wilder’s manager Finkel recently admitted ignoring Hearn’s offer concerning a fight against Joshua. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ instead forced a brutal first-round stoppage against Robert Helenius after returning from two defeats of his own against WBC champion Fury.

    Hearn has finally received a reply from Wilder’s camp as he plots a titanic heavyweight clash between the Bronze Bomber and his star fighter Joshua. The promoter is mapping out Joshua’s route to a potential world title fight after his damaging consecutive defeats to the unbeaten Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.

    “I actually sent Shelly Finkel an email back in August to talk about a deal and he actually replied to me yesterday (Tuesday),” Hearn told the DAZN boxing show on Wednesday.

    “I invited them out here to Abu Dhabi this week, they can’t come, but I see the Deontay Wilder fight probably being the second fight for Anthony Joshua in all honesty, but he’s up for fighting anyone.

    “If he waits, he may go straight into that fight, it all depends on when he returns, if he returns early in the year, he’ll fight someone else first and if not he’ll go straight into the Whyte or Wilder fight.”

    A possible battle against Wilder represents a genuine super fight for Joshua, who Hearn insists will not avoid an opponent on his road back to the top.

    Whyte, meanwhile, returns to the ring November 26 against Jermaine Franklin, after his world title defeat to Fury in April.

    Hearn is considering all of Joshua’s options with Wilder now a serious contender to fight the Brit in a tantalising heavyweight clash next year.

    “I think it all depends on when Joshua fights, if he waits until April or May, he may go straight into the Dillian Whyte fight, if he fights in February, he may have a warm-up fight first,” Hearn said. “He’s coming to Abu Dhabi this week; we are sitting down with him to plan the next step and we’re on the verge of mapping that out.”

  • Top 5 boxers Nigeria has ever produced

    Top 5 boxers Nigeria has ever produced

    Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world, featuring 17 weight categories and around 20,000 active professional boxers.

    It’s a respected sport among Nigerians, and we admit, however painfully, that many of us eagerly anticipated our dear Anthony Joshua to trump Usyk and get his much-needed revenge.

    So fervent was Nigerian interest in the Joshua vs. Usyk event that top bookmakers like Betking (easily accessible via a betking mobile app download) provided fantastic betting odds on the encounter.

    Well, just like Joshua, the “giant of Africa” has produced some great fighters across the various weight divisions that have made the country, and occasionally, other countries proud.

    In this article, you’ll know the five greatest boxers Nigeria has ever produced and what makes them stand out.

    Top Five Greatest Boxers From Nigeria

    From the fearless “Nigerian Nightmare” to the strong Hogan “Kid” Bassey to the swift and pacy Anthony Joshua, Nigeria has seen many boxing talents. Here are some of the greatest from the country.

    Anthony Joshua

    Although Joshua professionally represents Great Britain, “AJ” has Nigerian roots and has not been shy about his Nigerian heritage.

    The solid puncher is a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion as he had held the IBF, IBO, WBA (super), and WBO heavyweight championships twice each.

    Anthony Joshua is known for his speed, power, and explosiveness.

    He relies on his quick and thunderous punches to either knock out opponents or win unanimously. In 27 professional fights, Anthony Joshua had won a whopping 24 times, 22 by KO, and lost only thrice.

    Samuel Peters

    The “Nigerian Nightmare” didn’t have the best boxing career but had one just enough to guarantee him a spot as one of Nigeria’s most feared boxers.

    After losing unimpressively to Vladimir Klitschko during the early stages of his career, Samuel seemed to learn from his mistakes as he went on to win his next six fights, including the one VS Oleg Maskaev that gave him the WBC heavyweight title.

    In 2007, The Ring ranked him the second-best heavyweight boxer in the world and acknowledged him as one of the best ten from 2005-08.

    Samuel Peters fought 47 times professionally and won all but 9 of his fights, including 31 by knockout. His outrageous knockout record goes a long way in showing how much of a powerful puncher he was.

    Ike Ibeabuchi

    Ike Ibeabuchi is one of those boxers whose career was cut short by drama and lawsuits. Considering the 20-0 record he held before his imprisonment in 1999, he might’ve come out to become one of the greatest in the game.

    Out of the 20 fights he won, 15 were knockouts, not to mention that he defeated highly ranked David Tia in an epic battle in 1997 and Chris Bryd in 1999.

    He was released after serving 16 years in the Nevada state prison. Ibeabuchi hinted at returning to professional boxing after his release, but it wasn’t to be as he was rearrested again. Nonetheless, he’s still the only Nigerian undefeated boxer in the heavyweight boxing category.

    Richard Ihetu

    Richard Ihetu is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s greatest boxers of all time, and he was an undisputed champion in the middleweight and light heavyweight categories at the peak of his career. His achievements were why he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

    Richard also won numerous fighters of the year awards, notably from The Ring magazine and Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).

    He fought 89 times in his career, won 60, lost 19, and drew thrice. Richard breathed his last at Aba, Nigeria, at 42 years from complications related to liver cancer.

    Hogan Kid Bassey

    Hogan Bassey may be relatively unknown to the current generation, but that isn’t the case for those present in the 1950s.

    He was a household name in Nigeria, especially after he became the first Nigerian to win a world boxing championship.

    Hogan Kid Bassey hailed from Calabar, where he spent most of his amateur and early pro days competing in the featherweight category.

    Upon his arrival to England, he quickly made a name for himself by winning the empire featherweight championship and defeating Cherif Hamia in France to win the world crown in 1957.

    Hogan Bassey retired after participating in 74 fights, winning 59, losing 13, and drawing twice.

    Conclusion

    Over the years, Nigeria’s production of top boxers has contributed immensely to the sport’s development, and not many African countries can rival Nigeria in breeding boxing superstars.

    While Nigeria doesn’t seem to have an abundance of top-class professional boxers at the moment, the country has had numerous in the past that made history in the sport.

  • After downing Anthony Joshua, Usyk reveals who to fight next

    After downing Anthony Joshua, Usyk reveals who to fight next

    Oleksandr Usyk threw down a challenge to Britain’s Tyson Fury on Sunday to come out of retirement and fight him for the undisputed world heavyweight boxing title.

    The Ukrainian made clear he was only interested in fighting Fury after out-pointing Britain’s Anthony Joshua for the second time to retain the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    WBC champion Fury announced in April he had promised his wife he would retire but has also declared an interest in fighting Joshua.

    Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said this month that the “Gypsy King” was showing “itchy feet” and was keen to get back into the ring.

    “I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” the Ukrainian told the crowd through a ringside interpreter when asked about a potential clash.

    “I am convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. And if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.”

    Fury posted an expletive-laden reaction to the fight on Twitter.

    “It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights I have ever seen,” he said. “I would annihilate both of them on the same night … the Gypsy King is here to stay forever.”

    Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn paid tribute to Usyk, saying he would have scored the fight 115-113 to the 35-year-old Ukrainian.

    “He’s too good and there’s no shame in it,” he said.

    “They are both tremendous fighters,” added Hearn when asked how the champion would stack up against Fury. “I’m not sure anyone can beat Oleksandr Usyk.

    Tyson Fury’s a clever man. He had the chance to fight him and chose not to. Will he come out of retirement? Good luck to both of them.”

  • Usyk defeats Joshua again to retain heavyweight titles

    Usyk defeats Joshua again to retain heavyweight titles

    Oleksandr Usyk defeated Nigeria/British boxer Anthony Joshua on Saturday night in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to retain his title.

    Joshua gave a good account of himself but met a stiffer opposition in Oleksandr Usyk

    Both fighters held up the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag as the judges’ scores were read out at King Abdullah Sport City arena.

     

    When he was declared the winner, Usyk hid his face behind the flag. The 35-year-old Usyk kept his WBA, WBO and IBF belts six months after serving in the Ukrainian army as part of the country’s defence against Russia’s invasion.

    The WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO world titles remain in Usyk’s hands – and he takes the Ring Magazine strap too.

    Joshua would go down the pecking order and would have to revive his career by fighting in the lower cadre of the heavyweight category.

    Meanwhile, Usyk who is 35 years of ah is still unbeaten  at the cruiserweight and now heavyweight categories

     

    Adreesin=after beating Anthony Joshua:

    “I want to thank everyone who prayed for me. I want to thank God for the help he gave me today because he did give me a lot today. My lord is Jesus Christ. I can thank you Saudi. Thank you so much.

    “I devote this victory to my family, my country, my team, to all the military defending this country. Thank you so much.

    “This is already history. Many generations are going to watch this fight especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard but I stood it and came back.”

    On whether he will fight Tyson Fury to unify the titles: “I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. If I’m not fighting Fury I’m not fighting at all.

    “Only God knows whether I will fight him or not but all these gentlemen here around me, my team, they are going to help me.

    “Thanks Lord for everything.”

  • I don’t want to retire, says Anthony Joshua

    I don’t want to retire, says Anthony Joshua

    Nigerian/British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua has refuted speculation he will quit boxing if he loses to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night in their rematch.

    Joshua, who will be hoping to reclaim the WBA, WBO, and IBF belts he lost to the unified heavyweight champion last September in London, insists that he will carry on fighting even if he fails to retrieve his world heavyweight titles from the Ukrainian.

    ‘I respect people’s opinion,’ said the 32-year-old. ‘But I don’t want to retire.

    I’ve got one of the biggest fights of my life coming up and if you were thinking about retiring, it would put massive doubt in your mind.

    ‘People will always ask the question but I still want to continue. I love it.

    ‘If I was losing to some has-been, then yes. But it’s crazy to talk about retiring because I lost to one of the best fighters in the world. What sort of nonsense is that?’

    Usyk defeated Joshua in the first bout with a clear unanimous decision win, and Joshua is more than aware of the challenges that the rematch will pose.

    Speaking at Wednesday’s press conference ahead of the fight, the 32-year-old said: ‘It’s tough, but I’m relishing the challenge. Let’s get the job done, instinct, stay focused and god willing, I’ll be victorious.

    ‘I have goals that I want to achieve on the night, and I need to be disciplined to follow through. It’s competition with myself. The belts mean something, but that’s at the end of the target.

    ‘I’ll focus on the process first and foremost. I want to compete. I have a competitive spirit.’

  • Ex-African heavyweight champion, Ekwelum down with cancer

    Ex-African heavyweight champion, Ekwelum down with cancer

    Ngozika Ekwelum, a former African Boxing Union (ABU) Heavyweight Champion is down with health challenges suspected to be prostate cancer.

    Ekwuelum told NAN that he had been in and out of hospital, including the three months he spent at the cancer department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu since the ailment developed two years ago.

    He lamented that he had spent all his life savings on treating the sickness and needed more because he was still down.

    The veteran pugilist said he had a coaching contract agreement with the defunct Ministry of Sports in Anambra which was terminated without benefit by the Anambra Sports Development Commission.

    He said,  in spite of undergoing a series of surgeries, he was still bedridden with swollen legs, urinating blood, bladder and body pains.

    According to him, “I have pains all over my private part area. The cancer has been there for about two years now, it has not been easy staying alive but thank God.

    He said he was coaching young boxers for the Anambra Government on contract but the former management of the Sports Commission stopped him on the grounds of old age.

    “The contract started when somebody donated boxing equipment of about N3.5 million to the state and they needed a coach, that was when I was employed to do the job, my age does not have anything to do with my knowledge of boxing,” he said.

    Ekwelum called on the Anambra Government and the general public to come to his aid financially because managing cancer was not easy.

    “Even my landlord has thrown me out of our three-bedroom flat due to inability to pay rent,” he said.

    Ekwelum made waves in boxing in the late 60s and 80s, recorded ab­out 31 victorious fights, including the historic victory over Joe Kalala of Ghana at the National Stadium, Lagos in 1980 which earned him ABU Heavyweight Champion.

  • Daddy Showkey blast boxing promoters who brought Floyd Mayweather to Nigeria

    Daddy Showkey blast boxing promoters who brought Floyd Mayweather to Nigeria

    Veteran Nigerian artiste Daddy Showkey, has blasted boxing promoters that brought Floyd Mayweather into the country.

    Daddy showkey accused boxing promoters of shunning their own people who have been trying to revive the sport in the country but imported a foreign boxer into the country

    Showkey made this revelation on his verified instagram account

     

    “Those promoting boxing in our country are stupid. There are people that have been supporting boxing, promoting boxing; doing everything to bring boxing back to life in our country.

    “You will bring international boxers and celebrate them but you will not take people that have been celebrating boxing to come there. At least, to carry the campaign. You take them to government officials that do not support boxing; those that do not support our sports in our country. Those that have killed our sports generally. No be mumu una be? You are stupid people.”

    In another video, the singer stated the reason for his reaction. The Galala dancer stated that his passion for boxing made him utter the words he did. He noted that boxing has been neglected in Nigeria.

    “My reason for making the video I made is this; I have a passion for boxing. Everybody that knows me knows about my passion and love for boxing. We come from a country whereby we celebrate other people’s success but we do not celebrate our own.” He said.

    Daddy Showkey is a veteran Nigerian galala singer. His genre of music is called ghetto dance or simply ghetto. He was popular in Ajegunle in the late 1990s. He was born as John Odafe Asiemo but is known as Daddy Showkey all over the Ghetto. He hails from Olomoro Kingdom in Isoko South LGA of Delta Stat

     

  • IGP promotes WBF Champion to corporal

    IGP promotes WBF Champion to corporal

    The Inspector General Of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali, has promoted to the rank of Corporal, Mary Aina, (a.k.a. Iron Abbey) winner of the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) International Bantamweight title belt.

     

    Aina, who is a member of the Nigeria Police Force serving as a Constable under Lagos Command, was received in Abuja on Monday by the IGP.

     

    The promotion was as a reward for her latest achievement as a World Champion.

     

    She also received monetary reward for distinguishing herself greatly in the boxing sphere.

     

    It would be recall that Aina defeated United Kingdom’s Laura Pain in London on February 18 to clinch the World Title in her weight category.

  • Nigerian Police Constable wins WBF World Super Bantamweight title belt

    Nigerian Police Constable wins WBF World Super Bantamweight title belt

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has congratulated a Police Constable, Mary Yetunde Aina (aka Iron Abbey), on her victory as champion at the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) International Super Bantamweight title belt.

    Abbey defeated United Kingdom’s Laura Pain, on her soil, at City Coast Centre in Portslade, East Sussex, London on Friday.February 18, 2022.

    In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP called on sports enthusiasts within the Force to be unrelenting in developing their skills and dauntless in charting new frontiers in the world of sports.

    While applauding the unprecedented feats recorded in the Nigeria Police Sports circle, the IGP charged officers of the Nigeria Police Force to develop and diversify their talents towards the advancement of modern policing strategies that are capable of strengthening the internal security of the country as required.

    “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, on behalf of the entire Police Force, has congratulated the famous,” the statement asserted.

    Abbey, who serves in the Lagos State Police Command, has distinguished herself greatly in the boxing sphere by winning several awards and recommendations as a Boxing Referee at the amateur level.

    She is equally a renowned boxing judge and professional boxer with a clean sheet and several amateur wins to her name.

  • How broken teeth made me quit boxing- Larry Gaaga

    How broken teeth made me quit boxing- Larry Gaaga

    Popular artiste and music producer, Larry Ndianefo a.k.a Larry Gaaga has recounted how broken teeth made him quit boxing.

    The ‘Egedege’ crooner noted that he has had two silver teeth since 2005.

    I have had this since 2005/2006. I used to do boxing and karate and one small boy finished my denture but that was by the way. I used to do boxing but my mum never liked it, she always complained so after the incident, I just quit then I traveled to Dubai to fix my teeth and that’s why I have two silver teeth”, he told The Nation.

    Gaaga also confessed that 2face Idibai made him go into music.

    “This music thing started for me officially because a whole lot of artists used to meet me and request I listen to their album to choose the right songs and it was those qualities that made 2face give me the idea to do my own thing since I know how to think of exact beats that will fit a song as well as the right music act on the song and with that, I tried Gaga Shuffle with 2face and that was it. We released the song after seven months”.