Ifeanyi Edembe, the Chief Executive Officer of One 2 Sports Promotions, has called for serious investment in the sport of boxing. The boxing promoter called on the Federal Government to create a platform for boxing to thrive in Nigeria. Edembe, who sponsored the just concluded boxing event tagged “Judgement Day” in Lagos, told journalists that talents abound with potentials to be world champions.
As the boxing promoter calls for investment in sport of boxing, he expressed excitement that the modest investment through his debut promotion would make bigger things happen. He enthused that in no time the promotion will organise an international world title bout.
“There are numerous talents across the nation, but not enough promoters and sponsors. We need to tap into the opportunity to discover young boxers that can be developed and nurtured.
“The government must come in to create that enabling platform for the sport to stage world class event and international championships.
“This is, however, the level I am interested in to invest my hard earned funds in and, take boxing to greater heights as a promoter in Nigeria,” Edemba said.
The Explainer learnt that no fewer than seven titled bouts were held at the maiden edition of One 2 Sports boxing event on Saturday night. The boxing fiesta held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos. In the main event Monyashau “Water” Muritador slugged it out with Godwin Ambrose in a 10 rounds National Cruiserweight title bout.
The fight went the way of Muritador as he out-punched Ambrose from the beginning of the fight down to the final round to score an unanimous decision victory at the end of the fight. The three ringside judges scored the fight 93-97, 98-92 and 90-100 in favour of Muritador, who clinched the national cruiserweight championship belt.
Another fight that delighted boxing fans that trooped out for the event was the bout between Azeez Lateef versus David Ekpenyong. It was a Six Rounds National Catchweight fight. As soon as the bell rang, Lateef wasted no time in pummelling his opponent. He sent him straight to the canvass in the second round. The referee soon moved in and stop the fight with Lateef recording technical knockout victory and leaving the opponent with a deep cut in his eye socket.
Another high intense match saw Abua Christian beat Jubril Olalekan following a unanimous decision by the judges after going six rounds in a national middleweight bout. The three judges scored the fight 60-54, 58-56 and 54-60 in favour of Christian.
Similarly, Oja Arabambi out-pointed Gbolahan Mojeed in a toe to toe six rounds national featherweight bout. The scorecard was 77-75, 73-77 and 77-75. In another bout, Kazeem “de Killer” Lawal defeated Ganiu “Energy” Kolawole in a unanimous decision in an epic national middleweight battle. The three ringside judges scored the fight 55-59, 54-60 and 53-56 all in favour of Lawal.
Hamed “Ese” Ganiu beat Hakeem Olayiwola in a unanimous decision in their Eight Rounds Light Welterweight bout. The judges scored the bout 70-80, 70-79 and 73-78 all in favour of Ganiu. Finally, Oluwasegun “Bouncing” Mustapha outclassed Isiaka Raimi in their six-rounds national welterweight fight to the delight of fans cheering for Mustapha. Mustapha recorded a unanimous decision, scoring 58-56, 58-56 and 55-59 victory over Raimi.
