Three boxing titles will be up for grabs when De-Lads Boxing Promotion stages the 14th edition of its Battle of the Ages series, tagged ‘No Reconciliation’, at the NIS Gymnasium in Lagos on September 26.
The bill features seven professional bouts and one celebrity fight, all sanctioned by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.
The headline attraction is a rematch between Ridwan “Sojar Boy” Oyekola and Tosin “Scorpion” Osaigbovo for the WBA Africa Gold lightweight title over 10 rounds, while other title fights on the night include a WBA Africa lightweight clash between Idowu Rasheed and Ghana’s Benjamin Tetteh, and a national middleweight title bout pitting Damilare Arowolo against an unbeaten Azeem Bakare.
The undercard also features Ahmed Lawal against Sodiq Oyakojo for the national lightweight challenge, Saheed Abdullahi against Abdul-Afeez Oshoba for the national welterweight challenge, Rilwan Babatunde against Michael Ani for the national super-welterweight challenge, and Uzoukwu Cadet against Omejeh Chimaobi in a heavyweight contest. The celebrity fight will see Kelvin Power take on a bodybuilder known as Viper.
Speaking at the fight’s press conference, President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Dr Rafiu Oladipo, said professional boxing had grown into one of the country’s top two sports over the last five years, having previously struggled for relevance.
“In the last five years, boxing has thrived and has become one of the top two sports in Nigeria. That is professional boxing,” he said.
Oladipo commended the De-Lads promotion for investing in young fighters and helping to keep them off the streets, urging the boxers on the card to take their profession seriously.
He added that he was looking forward to Nigeria producing Commonwealth and world champions. He also credited the board’s support for promoters for the steady rise in boxing events across the country.
“We did our bit, and now we see boxing events every week, and on occasions, two events took place in one day. That’s because the NBBofC have created a space of support for the promoters, and this has helped to secure the future of Nigeria, as the youths who box are the future of Nigeria,” he said, describing De-Lads as one of the promotions the board was committed to sustaining.
Promoter and CEO of De-Lads Boxing Promotion, Alhaji Waheed, said the event had continued to grow with each edition.
“As you can see, from every edition we are progressing and we are keeping the growth going. Although at every event, we try to correct the mistakes of the previous one,” he said, noting that additional agencies and bouncers had been engaged to address security breaches recorded at an earlier edition. He disclosed that the event would be streamed on at least three platforms, with more expected to be added before fight night.
Secretary-General of the NBBofC, Remi Aboderin, promised fight fans an entertaining night at the venue.
“The fans can look forward to an amazing time at the NIS Gymnasium. We also have arrangements made for the livestream. If you are not able to buy tickets, you can stream as well. It will be an electric night to remember with entertaining bouts,” he said.
Ahead of the bouts, several fighters traded words at the press conference. Lawal, popularly called ‘Small Tyson’, vowed the fight would not go the distance, insisting he would let his fists do the talking, while Oyakojo, known as ‘Golden Boy’, dismissed the threat and promised to show why he carries that nickname.
Abdullahi said he had the speed and strength to trouble the more experienced Oshoba, who countered that experience remained the best teacher. Babatunde, nicknamed ‘Babyface’, said he was a man of few words who preferred to let the ring do his talking, while his opponent, Ani, said he had travelled from Onitsha purely for business, not spectacle. Arowolo promised to go toe-to-toe with his unbeaten rival, Bakare, who in turn said he had no reason to fear the challenge.
The celebrity bout has also generated buzz, with Power alleging that Viper owed him N1.5m and had reneged on a promise to repay the debt depending on the fight’s outcome, claiming his rival had already skipped the pre-fight conference. In the Jollof derby, Rasheed took a swipe at his Ghanaian opponent, Tetteh, describing himself as a knockout fighter and warning him to be wary, while pointing to an earlier win over another Ghanaian boxer as proof of his credentials.
The event is sponsored by the Bet9ja Foundation, Fearless, LSSC, and other partners.
