THE bond between father and son, they say, runs very deep. Eleven years after the untimely death of foremost grassroots boxing coach, Joseph Ajose, his son, Olusegun ‘The Gun’ Ajose, believes his presence would have inspired his career beyond this current state.
The United Kingdom-based boxer says he missed his late father more than before following two successive losses in nine months, which have put a serious dent on his world title dream.
ON September 7, 2012 the All Africa games gold medallist suffered a 10th round knockout in the hands of Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. The slow argentine’s constant sledgehammer attack proved to be too much for the Nigerian, who finally cracked to relinquish the WBC interim junior welterweight title.
The fast-moving Olusegun (30-1, 14 KOs) was eliminated in front of thousands of raucous fans at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas, U.S.
Nine months later, Ajose had another chance to redeem his image in July of 2013, but he failed again. He suffered another career defeat in the hands of American Hank Lundy, in the main event of ESPN ‘Friday Night Fights’ at Rockingham Park, New York.
The former British and Commonwealth champion was outpointed by the 29-year-old Philadelphian over 10 rounds in a dominant unanimous decision points. Despite the situation, Ajose came out aggressively in the fourth round, but was unable to sustain the pressure. More so, in the seventh round, Ajose lost control of his boxing prowess after experiencing a bleeding nose, and his right eye swollen shut. Lundy then took control with a flurry of punches, but the Nigerian kept staggering round the ring for survival. Although Ajose realised some success in rounds eight and nine, it was far too late as Lundy won every round on the scorecard.
Looking back at both events, which he described as the lowest points of his career, the ‘soldier boy’ recollected how his father nurtured him from a mere 6-year-old lad to conquering the world.
“It is 11 years now that I lost my father and l miss him so much. I really miss him. He may not have boxed to the international level as l have done, but he was a great coach. He was resilient and knew how to inspire a boxer. When he wanted anything, he would go all out for it and that was the same way he propelled his boys (boxers). Even when I moved on to a bigger stage and under bigger coaches like Joe Mensah, he would find his way to my corner, dishing out commands to help me. I miss him.”
Ajose, who got to the second round of the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games before he was exited in a controversial fashion, speaks further on his career, family, fashion sense and growing up in the Lagos suburb of Somolu.
Growing up and boxing
My father introduced professional boxing to me even though that is one sport that is very popular where l grew up in Somolu/Bariga. It is like growing up in Ajegunle; it is a jungle and you have to be able to take care of yourself. We have a lot of boxing greats in the country coming out of Somolu and Bariga; people like Obisia Nwankpa and we look up to them. So all over the place there are boxers and boxing coaches who would gladly take you in when you show interest in learning the pugilistic trade. But my father, being a coach himself, wanted me to box but I did not immediately take it serious because I was more interested in basketball. When l decided to give it a go, I realised that I could make something out of it because I enjoyed boxing and that was it for me.
Football for boxing
Football was also popular when I was growing up and because I was athletic I indulged in football and basketball as well. It was, however, my father and my conviction that I was a better boxer than football that made me to go with boxing. From primary school, I always go to gym to train after school and my parents supported me. By the time I got to secondary school, I had won notable bouts and my mother would come to the gym to watch me fight. I started winning important bouts and people in boxing authority in the state and federal levels started talking to me. At that point, I decided to focus on boxing alone.
Professional boxing
I did not plan to box for a living. The idea was that I would box for my country at the All Africa Games, get a gold medal and move on to the Commonwealth Games, get my medal and then go to the Olympic Games but all this plan was truncated at the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games where I lost controversially in the second round. I was fully prepared for the games. We had training camp in Europe and I had beaten many of my opponents one time or the other. Up till as I am talking to you I am not convinced that I was not robbed. I wanted to prove that I am made for the bigger stage so the only thing left to do is to go professional. My father kicked against it but I was ready to take the plunge and looking back I do not regret that action.
I have made my mark in professional boxing. I know how to entertain the crowd and make them ask for more because I combine the styles of my boxing heroes; Moses James and Sugar Ray Leonard. James won gold for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games and the World Championship. He was coached by my father, so he is like an older brother to me. It was from Sugar Ray that I learnt how to dance and entertain. He uses skill and brain. The two of them, no doubt, are my role models and they affected me a lot in my career.
Family
I have a great family and my son is also athletic. Though l would have love him to go into boxing, he has his own idea. He’s a talented footballer and I have seen him play many times. I think he would go places. Boxing is no longer popular like in our days and I have to understand that. These days, everybody wants to play football and I think he’s got some talent for football. I would have preferred he chose boxing which is more of an individual game unlike football that is a team game. If you are a good boxer you can go to the ring and show how good you are to the world, but in football it does not always work like that. But it is up to him because my father did not force me to take up boxing; it was my decision and he supported me. I will do same for him if he chooses to stick with football.
Career
After the fights in the U.S which I lost I was dejected because they were opportunities I was waiting for all my life. It was the biggest in the career after all the years and waiting in the U.K. against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina, I was really disappointed with myself because I allowed myself to be knocked out and after the fight I said ‘real champions always stay up’. Then l lost on point to American Hank Lundy in a unanimous decision. It is not over yet. I am in the right crowd and they respect me for what l have achieved. I am still strong and will keep training to return at the right time. I will not give up on my dream because true winners don’t quit.
Dreadlock
I like to change my looks and having a dreadlock is just a way to vary my looks. It also gives me that hard look because my fellow boxers believe I am tough and can give and take punches. That look is also synonymous with the nickname, ‘The Gun’, because I don’t stand back, I gun for my opponents and entertain my fans. I love it, but as I say, I will discard it when I am tired of it.
