The Nigerian boxing community witnessed a groundbreaking moment as the inaugural Fight Gist 2024 Media Awards held in Lagos, honouring the country’s most outstanding amateur and professional boxers, trainers, and stakeholders.
The event marked the first boxing media award ceremony in Nigeria and Africa, setting a new standard for celebrating excellence in the sport.
Taiwo “Esepo” Agbaje emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, claiming Male Fighter of the Year, Fans’ Favourite, and earning recognition for his thrilling bout with Rilwan “Real Show Boy” Lawal, which was named Fight of the Year.
In the women’s category, Elizabeth Oshoba clinched the title of Female Fighter of the Year, while Isaac “D Star” Chukwudi was honoured with the Comeback of the Year award.
Other winners included Animasahun “Baddo” Raheem as Rising Prospect, Agboola “Tiny” Durotimi for Upset of the Year, and Idowu “ID Buster” Rasheed for Knockout of the Year. In the amateur category, Adams Olaore was honoured as Outstanding Fighter of the Year, while Coach Abimbola Kola won Trainer of the Year.
The influence of digital engagement was also recognised, with Appah “Zodsolo” Godday and Ojo Joy Nene receiving awards for Male and Female Social Media Influencers of the Year, respectively.
Commending the efforts of Fight Gist Media, the President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, praised the initiative as a long-overdue step toward recognising excellence in the sport, stating that the awards reflect global standards and will inspire boxers, trainers, and administrators to continue striving for greatness.
He said, “Fantastic innovation that fight gist media has put together records of all the fights and has been able to appropriate awards to the deserving boxers, coaches, trainers, supporters, administrators and the rest It’s a good one happening here, this is what is happening all over the world and if like this is taking the cue to emulate those people abroad to do it here for Nigeria I believe this is the beginning of many more things to happen in Nigeria.”
He further addressed the concerns of Nigerians on Nigerian boxer, Isaac Success who died during a boxing match in Ghana.
“The Ghana Boxing Authority is holding the body and on our part we have demanded for the repatriation of his body as well as his purse so also the compensation for their negligence in earning the bow that claimed Segun’s life, we are not taking it easy, we are already involved with Nigerian ambassador in Ghana and we are talking, the last we heard from them was that they will release the body this week, but we have told them, they are not only just releasing the body, they must release his purse for the fight, they must release the compensation for their negligence and that is what we are waiting for,” he said.
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Founder and CEO of Fight Gist Media, Akinlade Sunday, described the inaugural Fight Gist Media Awards as a historic milestone for Nigerian boxing, stating it is a long-overdue celebration of talent, unity, and progress, with a firm commitment to making it an annual tradition that will continue to uplift the sport for years to come.
“Today is a historic and joyful moment for the Nigerian boxing industry. For the first time, we are honouring fighters, trainers, and key contributors across various categories in a way that truly reflects their dedication and achievements. This award ceremony was born out of the desire to give Nigerian boxers the recognition they deserve—not just locally, but on a global stage. Beyond the accolades, it’s about fostering unity, creating visibility, and inspiring both amateurs and professionals to push their limits.
We’ve seen an incredible turnout from fighters across different states and strong support from boxing officials and stakeholders. That tells us we’re on the right path. Our vision is to make this an annual tradition—bigger and better each year. Planning for the next edition begins immediately because we are committed to sustaining this platform. By the grace of God, Fight Gist Media Awards will continue for years to come, helping to build a stronger future for Nigerian boxing,” he said.