After a very successful 2016 in which he won all his four fights and raked in over three million Naira in prize money and endorsements, Nigeria’s lightweight champion Otto “Joeboy” Joseph (7-0, 3 KOs) is aiming to become the first African lightweight champion from Nigeria in 24 years.
The Commonwealth 2014 boxer and 2012 National Sports Festival gold medalist is hoping to challenge Rwandese Patrick Kinigamazi, the African Boxing Union lightweight champion later in the year for the title which has eluded Nigeria since Christopher Ossai was stripped of the title in 1993.
Otto, who seeks fresh challenges knocked out Prince Nurudeen at the 10th edition of GOtv Boxing Night last month in the fourth round of a 8-round bout to grab retain the Nigerian title and says he is done defending the title which he has successfully defended twice.
“I have successfully defended my title twice and I think it is high time I seek a fresh challenge. I believe I have all it takes for a shot at the African title.”
“Fighting for titles is the ultimate goal for every boxer and this is why I will want to win the ABU title as it would be just another step towards achieving my career goals” he said.
Christopher Ossai, who represented Nigeria at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles beat Ghanaian Sam Akromah in 1992 in Lagos to win the Lightweight title but was stripped of the title a year later with David Tetteh from Ghana taking the vacant title. Kinigamazi beat Clark Telamanou last November in Switzerland to win the title.