Nigeria’s young professional boxing sensation, Raheem Animashaun popularly known as Baddo Sunday night emerged the new West African Boxing Union Light Welterweight champion.
Fighting in front of hundreds of boxing enthusiasts in a fight promoted by De- Lads Boxing Promotion held at the Gymnasium Hall of the National Institute For Sports (NIS), Lagos he recorded a sixth round technical knockout against Richman Ashellley of Ghana after the later refused to continue in the seventh round.
Speaking shortly after the fight, Baddo declared that although he could not keep to his promise of knocking out his opponent in the fifth round but the strategy he adopted by weakening him from round one paid off as he was pummeled to submission.
“My initial plan was to end the fight before the fifth round but my opponent whom I would describe as an experienced fighter avoided my knockout blows which prompted me to revert to weakening his ribs and other parts of his body which paid off with his not answering the bell for the seventh round.
Baddo who said that the title is a stepping stone to winning more laurels commended the President of De- Lads Boxing Promotion, Alhaji Waheed Wasiu Alabi for investing in the game noting that he has given talented youths hope through his involvement in boxing promotion.
“This title is just a stepping stone to my winning more titles in future because I believe I have the qualities of Rocky Marciano, Azumah Nelson,Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Ray Leonard, Iron Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua to become the undisputed champion of the world”, he stressed.
Promoter of the fight, Alhaji Waheed Wasiu Alabi expressed happiness that the 9th edition of the promotions ended successfully with an international title fight even as he promised that the 10th edition will be more glamorous.
He explained that with what his promotional outfit is doing in both amateur and professional boxing, the country will soon have more fighters having a crack at the various continental and world titles.
In the other fights of the action filled night, Akeem Olayiwola recorded a unanimous points decision victory over Williams Amosu in their National Light Welterweight Challenge contest while Segun Tunde Adeyemi defeated Semiu Olapade by seventh round technical knockout in another National Light
Welterweight fight just as Ezekiel Seun had a 2-1 split decision victory over Agboola Durotimi in their National Super Bantamweight challenge contest.
The National Super Featherweight fight between Ojo Arabambi and Akanji Moruf, saw the later winning by unanimous decision with the National Light Welterweight fight between Emmanuel Abimbola and Isaac Chukwudi ending in a draw.
Another draw was also recorded in the National Light Welterweight challenge contest between Adeshina Oluwatosin and Sulaimon Hammed with Taiwo Olowu having the fastest fight of the night when he knocked out Yakubu Faruq in the first round of their National Light Welterweight challenge contest.
Highlights of the night was the presentation of a cheque of N500,000 to Mistura Idowu who won the Bet9ja Foundation trophy for the best amateur boxer and an amazing gifts from the official broadcaster, Startimes.
All the fights were sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) and sponsored by Bet9ja Foundation and Startimes.
