The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOtv Boxing

  • Tiny vows to ‘rubbish’ Happy Boy at GOtv Boxing showdown

    Tiny vows to ‘rubbish’ Happy Boy at GOtv Boxing showdown

    National super bantamweight champion Durotimi “Tiny” Agboola has challenged  Sadiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke ahead of their title clash at GOtv Boxing Night 34, scheduled for 26 December at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The event, featuring live music and comedy, includes two title bouts, an international contest, and three additional fights.

    Speaking from his Ibadan base, Tiny dismissed Happy Boy as a boxer not yet ready for national-level pressure. “He needs to up-skill. He is still new in this game. He calls himself Happy Boy, but he will go home sad and depressed. I am happy when I make people sad in the ring, and Happy Boy will be my next victim,” he said.

    Read Also: Ibeabuchi set for December bout, targets Foreman’s record in Lagos

    In the other title fight, Sadam “Baby Boxer” Oladipupo will take on Imole “System” Oloyede for the national lightweight crown.

    On the undercard, Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola will square up against Sodiq “Smart Lion” Suleiman in an eight-round light welterweight bout. Abimbola, a former Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy winner, dismissed the undefeated Suleiman with characteristic bluntness. “Smart Lion, my foot. This is a pussy cat calling himself a lion. He will learn the difference when the bell rings,” he said.

    Smart Lion, however, said being underrated only fuels him. Other contests lined up include the national lightweight clash between Segun “Odi” Gbobaniyi and Tobiloba “Smiling Assassin” Ijomoni; the super bantamweight meeting between Ezekiel “Touch” Seun and Toheeb “Full Tank” Hassan; and the international showdown featuring Nigeria’s Rasheed “ID Buster” Idowu against Ghana’s Nii Offei Dodoo. GOtv Boxing Night 34 will air live on SS Africa 1 (GOtv Ch. 63, DStv Ch. 207)

    GOtv Boxing Night 34 is sponsored by GOtv, with support from MultiChoice, Zetaweb, the Lagos State Sports Commission and TheCable.

  • GOtv Boxing Night 33: Shogbesan, Gbobaniyi set for explosive showdown

    GOtv Boxing Night 33: Shogbesan, Gbobaniyi set for explosive showdown

    The stage is set for another thrilling night of boxing as GOtv Boxing Night 33 takes centre stage on April 26 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    The night’s headline bout will see Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan square off against Segun Gbobaniyi in a highly anticipated lightweight clash.

    GOtv Boxing Night 33 takes place on April 26 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.

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    Shogbesan, with 20 wins in 24 professional fights, is regarded as a top dog in his division, while his opponent brings a strong record of eight wins from 10 fights, making this contest a battle between experience and resilience. With both fighters known for their knockout power, fans can expect an action-packed encounter.

    The fight card also features exciting match-ups, including William “Kaki” Amosu against Emmanuel “Ability Famous” Abimbola in a light welterweight contest, while national super featherweight champion Lateef “Latest” Azeez faces Sodiq Oyakojo. Other bouts include Tosin “Soldier Boy” Osaigbovo against Ghana’s Emmanuel Otoo and Durotimi Agboola taking on Sodiq Adeleke in the super bantamweight division.

    Organisers, Flykite Productions, have promised an unforgettable night of boxing, with elite fighters looking to stake their claim for national and continental titles.

  • 16-year-old Badoo claims GOtv Boxing’s  N1m 

    16-year-old Badoo claims GOtv Boxing’s  N1m 

    Raheem  ‘Badoo’ Animashaun, a 16-year-old boxing sensation, produced a thrilling performance to emerge as the best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 31, held on Wednesday, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

    ‘Badoo’  recorded a fourth-round technical knockout win over the more experienced Samuel “Apata Roro” Moses in their national light welterweight challenge bout to win the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and the cash prize of N1 million attached to it.

    The teenager was all feints, weaves, fast and furious punching, as he dominated his more fancied opponent from the first round of the encounter as he knocked down his opponent twice before ending the fight in the fourth round.

    Read Also: Organisers guarantee maximum security for GOtv Boxing Night

    The announcement of his name as the winner of the best boxer award was met with rapturous applause.

    Badoo is the son of Jamiu  ‘Rotor’ Animashaun, a former professional boxer who fought in the first two editions of GOtv Boxing Night. Also, on the night, Segun ‘War’ Adeyemi, defeated Adeyemi  ‘Spirit’ Adekanla, via a majority decision, to win the West African Boxing Union (WABU) light welterweight title. Adewale ‘Playboy’ Oladeji sealed a unanimous decision win over Afikun ‘Ijebu’ Gbenga in their super welterweight encounter.

    The national flyweight challenge bout between Sikiru  ‘Isho’ Ogunyaju and the current national flyweight champion, Sifon Ogunbumi ‘Best’ Iwatt, ended in a draw.

    The national light welterweight challenge fight between Hammed ‘Eshe’ Ganiyu and Yusuf ‘Hungry Lion’ was declared a no contest, after  ‘Eshe’ sustained an injury in the second round from a head-butt by his opponent.

    Emmanuel  ‘Ability’ Abimbola earned a split decision win over Azeez  ‘Latest’ Ayobami in a national lightweight challenge fight, while national super featherweight challenge duel between Sikiru  ‘Omo Iya Eleja’  Shogbesan, and Bartholomew ‘Aboy’ Abuchi, ended in favour of  ‘Omo Iya Eleja’ , who won via a technical knockout.

  • GOtv Boxing Night 30: Olowu gets new Ghanaian opponent for WABU title fight

    GOtv Boxing Night 30: Olowu gets new Ghanaian opponent for WABU title fight

    National welterweight title holder, Taiwo “Gentle Boy” Olowu, will now face-off with Alidu Sulemana of Ghana, for the West African Boxing Union (WABU) super welterweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 30. 

    Flykite Productions, the organisers of the premier boxing event, said in a statement yesterday  that Olowu Ghanaian boxer Michael Ansah who was initially pencilled to fight Olowu pulled out for personal reasons. 

    “Olowu will face another Ghanaian, Alidu Sulemana, for the West African Boxing Union (WABU) super welterweight title at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, on December 26. Ansa pulled out for personal reasons, and his compatriot has taken up the challenge,” the statement said. 

    Sulemana has a record of 10 wins and eight knockouts from his 10 professional fights, while Olowu has a record of 15 wins and one defeat from his 16 professional fights.

    Read Also: Teni, 9ice, Nasboi to perform at GOtv Boxing Night

    Also scheduled for the night is a national super flyweight title bout between Sifon “Best” Iwatt and Saheed Azeez. In the other fights of the night, Arabambi Ojo and Ibrahim “Golden Boy” Opeyemi will square up in a national bantamweight challenge bout; Ayanfe Adeoye will face Ahmed Ganiyu in a national light welterweight category bout; Abdulafeez “Big Name” Osoba will square up against Christopher Ucheji, in the national super welterweight category, while national cruiserweight champion, Bolatito “Black Tito” Oluwole,  will face Blessing Abisoye, in a female national challenge fight. 

    Sponsored by GOtv and supported by Supa Komando, Classic FM, Beat FM, Nigeria Info FM, PulseNg and LegitNg, GOtv Boxing Night 30 will broadcast live on  SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv ch 209) and SuperSport Select 2 (GOtv ch 64 Channel).

  • GOtv Boxing Night 29: Returning Olowu vows to floor Ganiyu

    GOtv Boxing Night 29: Returning Olowu vows to floor Ganiyu

    Welterweight boxer, Taiwo ‘Gentle Boy’ Olowu , has vowed a victorious return to GOtv Boxing Night by flooring Ganiyu ‘Energy’ Kolawole.

    The duo will trade punches in a welterweight national challenge, at the premier boxing event scheduled for the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of  Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on September 24.

    Olowu will be making his return to GOtv Boxing Night since his victory over Isaac “I-Star” Chukwudi in 2021. Speaking ahead of the bout, ‘Gentle Boy’ said they both have a score to settle and he is ready to punch down ‘Energy’ this time.

    “We fought each other earlier this year at Police College, which I won by majority decision. I am in top shape and this time, I will floor him. I will decide this  knockout way and save the judges the stress,” he said. Olowu won 15 and lost two of his 17 professional fights, with a record of nine knockouts.

    Read Also: GOtv Boxing Night 29: Pretty Assassin, Black Tito trade words over title bout 

    The night will also feature five additional bouts in different weight categories, including a national female cruiserweight title bout between Celina “Pretty Assassin” Agwu and Bolatito “Black Tito” Oluwole.

    Sodiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke would take on Ibrahim “Golden Boy” Opeyemi, SifonBest” Iwatt would battle Yusuf “Omowest” Mohammed in  the super flyweight category, while  Azeez “Latest” Ayobami and Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola would face off in a national lightweight challenge bout.

  • GOTV BOXING: Ekpresso will fall in Round 3, boasts Dodo

    Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku, the idol of Ibadan boxing fans, has declared his readiness to make his fans proud when he confronts the Republic of Benin’s Ekpresso Djamihou in an international light middleweight challenge bout on 21 April. The encounter is one of the eight bouts scheduled for GOtv Boxing Night 18, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium, Ibadan.

    Dodo, who won his last three fights via knockouts, vowed he would continue along the same line.

    “My fans know that I’m the knockout king. I will make them proud by knocking out Djamihou. I don’t see him going beyond three rounds. I’m fully prepared for this bout and he will see hell,” said Dodo.

    He added that his immediate ambition is to win the national title and believes that very soon, the ambition will be realised.

    Read also: How GOtv Boxing Night made us stars – Joe Boy, Real One

    Four other Ibadan-based boxers are slated to fight at the event. They include the highly rated Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola, who will take on Taofeek “Taozon” Bisuga in the national super featherweight title bout.

    The headline bout on the night is the African Boxing Union lightweight title clash between Nigeria’s Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph and Ghana’s Success “Brave Warrior” Tetteh, who has vowed to be the first boxer to defeat his Nigerian opponent. The event will also see Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, West African Boxing Union welterweight champion, back in the ring.

  • GOtv Boxing Night 17: Wahab wins WBF title as Oladosu emerges Best Boxer

    Nigeria’s Segun “The Machine” Wahab emerged as the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental super featherweight champion on Friday after defeating his Tanzanian opponent, Issa “Peche Boy” Nampepeche, at GOtv Boxing Night 17.

    Wahab got a unanimous decision victory from the judges after dominating the 12-round fight, which held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. He now has a chance to take a shot at the WBF world title at the weight division.

    Also, Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, won the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer on the night and claimed the cash prize of N3 million after he knocked out Mubarak “Morgan” Hamzat in a national lightweight contest.

    Oladosu, the reigning West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion, matched his pre-bout boasts as his rapid, all-action style saw him knock out his opponent in the first round.

    Another entertaining contest saw US-based Nigerian, Oluwafemi “The Eagle” Oyeleye, defeat his Ghanaian opponent, Victus Kemavor, in a middleweight challenge.

    Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi enhanced his reputation as he defeated Yusuf “Murphy” Mufutau in a national light welterweight challenge. Mufutau threw in the towel eighth round, the bout’s last round.

    In another action-packed contest, reigning African Boxing Union champion (ABU), Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, secured a unanimous decision victory over Hammed “Ese” Hammed Ganiyu in a national lightweight challenge. Joseph maintained his cool as he was forced to go the distance of eight rounds fight by his hard-hitting opponent.

    Other bouts saw Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola knockout Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai in a national super-featherweight challenge, Femi Akintayo crushed Ebubechukwu “Coded Man” in the fourth round of their national middleweight challenge, while 18-year old Opeyemi “Sense” Adeyemi, defeated Saheed “Gbeminiyi Ahmed in a national bantamweight contest.

    There were also spectacular musical performances on the night from some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars: Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni Da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey, as well as a lively display from upcoming act, OJ Flames.

  • GOtv Boxing Night 17: Scorpion vows to retire Nurudeen

    RIDWAN “Scorpion” Oyekola, best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 15, has declared that he will send Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai, former national lightweight champion, into retirement. The two boxers are billed to clash in a national lightweight challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 17 holding on 28 December at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The eight-fight show, tagged “Boxing Jams Music, will feature live music performances by Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni Da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey.

    Scorpion, a product of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, said his opponent is past his prime and is due for retirement, a duty he has imposed on himself to carry out.

    “He is a former national champion. His time is gone, but he does not want to admit it. I have taken it upon myself to send him into a fitting retirement by defeating. He will lose interest in boxing by the time I finish with him. He will see hell,” he said.

    GOtv Boxing Night 17, the biggest ever edition of the show, will stage the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental super featherweight title fight between Nigeria’s Seun “The Machine” Wahab and Tanzania’s Issa “Peche Boy” Nampepeche. The show will also see US-based Nigerian, Oluwafemi “The Eagle” Oyeleye take on Meshack “Smart Boy” Mwankemwa of Tanzania in an international light middleweight challenge clash.

    Similarly scheduled to be in action is a clutch of big names on the domestic scene, led by Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, who will take on Yusuf Mufutau in a national light welterweight challenge. In the same category is reigning African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, who fights Hammed “Ese” Hammed Ganiyu; national lightweight champion, Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu who takes on Mubarak Hamzat.

    The show will equally see some of the brightest young talents take to the ring. Ebubechukwu “Coded Man” Eze, a graduate of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 1, will take on Femi “Small Tyson” Akintayo in a middleweight clash, while the bantamweight division will see Opeyemi “Sense” Adeyemi, best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 4, up against Jamiu Dada.

    The best boxer at the event, which will be aired live on SuperSport to viewers in 47 African countries, will go home with a cash prize of N1.5 million attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

  • GOtv Boxing NextGen 4 has revived our hopes, says best boxer

    Adeyemi Opeyemi Elijah, the best boxer at the GOtv Boxing NextGen 4 in Abeokuta, has praised the sponsors for giving young boxers the opportunity to achieve their dreams and earn a living. Elijah, 18, was announced the best boxer by the panel of judges at the closing ceremony last Saturday.

    The youngster also said he harbours the dream of becoming Nigeria’s preeminent boxer and attributed his progress to GOtv Boxing NextGen Search. He recalled that he found out about GOtv Boxing Next Gen Search in 2017 and participated in the third edition, which held in Ibadan.

    Though selected by the judges, Elijah was advised to delay his decision to turn professional on account of age. He, however, returned for GOtv NextGen Search 4 and, as he had previously done, made the cut and was adjudged the most promising among the 20 selected from a thick crowd of 150 boxers.

    “I found out about GOtv NextGen Search in 2017 and took part in the edition held that year.  I was among those selected at GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 3, but I was asked to come back this year,” he said.

    Elijah explained that he made up his mind to put in more effort to ensure that he would be selected and was happy when he was named the best boxer. The young boxer is hopeful that his success at GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 4 will have a positive impact on his life and career, adding that the involvement of GOtv in boxing has given hope to young boxers like himself to make something of their lives.

    “My progress since last year is because of GOtv’s involvement in boxing. They are encouraging Nigerian boxers and have given people like me the opportunity to earn a living,” he said.

    Akintayo Aminu, who was named first runner-up to him, also thanked the sponsors and expressed confidence that their involvement in boxing bodes well for young boxers.

    “I know that GOtv is a good organization and I believe they have good plans for us. I think it’s very good that GOtv is doing this to improve boxing in Nigeria,” said Aminu.

    The second runner-up was Shogbanmu Waheed, who along with the two others, were presented with GOtv decoders.

    GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 4 produced 20 new boxers, all of whom will have their professional licences and pre-licensing medical examinations paid for by the sponsors in addition to being in line to fight at coming editions of GOtv Boxing Night.

  • Young boxers storm Abeokuta for GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 4 today

    Over a hundred young boxers seeking to join the professional cadre have arrived Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, for the fourth edition of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search starting today.  The boxing talent hunt programme, which holds at the Dunkin Pepper Gym inside the MKO International Stadium Sports Complex, will end on Saturday.

    The programme will see boxers aged between 18 and 25 take part in sparring sessions to be supervised by the country’s top boxing coaches, who will assess their readiness for the professional cadre and pick the best. This is the second time the programme is holding outside Lagos. The last edition held in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, while the first two held in Lagos.

    Each of the last three editions drew over a hundred boxers out of which an average of 25 made the cut. As customary, each of the boxers adjudged to be the best will have his professional boxing licence paid for by the sponsors and benefit from a fully paid for medical examination. Selected boxers also have the chance to feature at coming editions of GOtv Boxing Night.

    Since making its debut in 2015, GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, conceived to discover and nurture boxing talents, has produced stars, some of whom have progressed quickly to national and sub-regional prominence. Among these are Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, current West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion and two-time winner of the best boxer award at GOtv Boxing Night; Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola, best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night 15; Prince “Lion” Nwoye, Matthew Obinna and Osamudiamen “Chiso” Goodluck.