Governor Isiaka Ajibola Ajimobi of Oyo State and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, are among dignitaries expected to grace the GOtv Boxing Night 15, scheduled to take place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan on Sunday.
Ajimobi is expected to be the special guest, while the Alaafin, a famous boxing enthusiast, is expected to be father of the day at the event which is expecte to also personalities in Nigerian boxing and sports in general.
Speaking on the event, Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director of Flykite Promotions, organisers of the event, noted that Ibadan has a rich association with boxing.
The city hosted the first world boxing title fight in Africa when Nigeria’s Dick Tiger defeated Gene Fullmer to win the world middleweight boxing title at the Liberty Stadium in 1962.
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“Ibadan is one of Nigeria’s sporting cities. We have been there before with GOtv Boxing Night and we are happy to return to the iconic Liberty Stadium [now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium]. We are happy to receive the governor with Alaafin, who is a former boxer and remains a big supporter of the sport,” said Alumona.
GOtv Boxing Night 15 will feature seven fights, including the African Boxing Union (ABU), lightweight title bout between champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph of Nigeria and Ghana’s Nathaniel Nukpe.
The fight line-up also includes an international light middleweight challenge between Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku of Nigeria and Franc Houanvoegbe of Benin Republic, a national challenge bout between ABU welterweight champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi and Kazeem “Iberu” Ariyo; as well as a national cruiserweight clash between Michael “Lion Heart” Godwin and Idowu “ID Cabasa” Okusote.