Gotv Boxing Night: Restoring the pride of professional boxers

Gotv Boxing Night: Restoring the pride of professional boxers

By Akeem Busari

Rewind to the days of late Dick Ihetu Dickson, Hogan Bassey, Ray Amao, Billy Savage, Dele Jonathan, Mama Clay, Hunter Clay, Hogan Jimoh, Davidson Andeh, Obisia Nwakpa and other illustrious boxers that ruled the local waves in the 1970s to the 1980s, and you won't hesitate to say, those were the glorious days of Nigerian boxing.

Many who knew the history of Nigerian sports, would readily tell you, that boxing, more than football and other sports, brought more glory and honours to Nigeria, until the new waves of support for football in Nigeria, courtesy of the country's exploits between 1976 and 1980.

I remember vividly, how as a youngster, my late father would take me to Alakoro and Rowe Park to watch boxing events. And of course, he never stopped to remind me of his exploits and feats as a middleweight boxer who represented the Nigerian Army in several local and international tournaments.

Expectedly, I caught the virus and enjoyed a bitter-sweet mix as a football player and amateur boxer. Interestingly, too, bouts between legendary Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and latterly, Thomas 'Hitman Hearns, Roberto Duran, Marvin 'Marvelous' Hagler and Sugar Ray Robinson, got me sweetly addicted to the game.

Lack of corporate and government supports for boxing in Nigeria due to their new found love for football, virtually killed the decibels of the vibes and the enthusiasms of the lovers of the game in Nigeria.

And then came Flykite Promotions and yes, GoTV. Defying all odds, apathy and negative vibes, as it concerns reawakening professional boxing, today, they have rewritten the history of the game in Nigeria. Presently, everything concerning professional boxing in Nigeria has been sweet and positive.

31 editions and ongoing, Flykite Promotions and GoTV remain committed to producing a generation of great boxers that would once again replicate and of course, improve on the exploits of the boxers of yore, who at a time, made Nigeria, one of the best boxing nations in the world.

The GOtv Boxing Night kicked off in November 2014 and have since produced talents like Olaide Fijabi, Otto Joeboy, Rilwan Oladosu, Rilwan ‘Baby Face’ Babatunde, Taiwo ‘Gentle Boy’ Olowu, Sikiru ‘Omo Iya Eleja’ Sogbesan, who have become the foundation to professional boxing both locally and internationally.

Many of these boxers have gone ahead to become responsible citizens, with veritable and sustainable income, that has equally changed their lives from street urchins to athletes, with a path to professionalism.

Apart from the fame that comes with participating in the GOtv Boxing Night events, the best boxer of the night is usually rewarded with a Best Boxer title which is accompanied by a cheque of One Million Naira and a Mojisola Ogunsanya trophy. This writer can confidently tell that most of the boxers who have participated in different editions of the GoTV Boxing Night, have described it as a 'life-changing' event.

Many are into private and public transportation businesses, real estate, trading, while others are pursuing professional careers outside the country, due to the opportunities and exposures they enjoyed from the Flykite Promotions. GoTV Boxing Night has become the conveyor belt for producing world boxing champions. What with its Next Generation boxing events aimed at giving younger boxers the platform to showcase their innate talents and onto professionalism. Pa Kayode Anjorin, a boxing enthusiast, was full of praises for the organisers and sponsors of the GoTV Boxing Night. According to the octogenarian, he has missed professional boxing and the excitement that came with the the sport. The 84 years old former school teacher, noted that with GoTV Boxing Night, Nigeria can produce more African and global boxing champions, through their exposures to professional boxing.