Israel Okonji

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 17 Jan 2005, 12:35

Hi there,

I would like to know what boxrec.com's sources are for Nigerian Israel Okonji's (http://207.44.250.6/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=288093) professional record?

You have him listed as 18-1, yet Fight Fax has no documentation of such a fighter...

I am trying to get confirmation here on what his real record is, so I hope someone can answer my question ASAP.

Regards,

Mike Altamura

brett · Post by **brett** » 17 Jan 2005, 14:50

All the bouts were entered by editor Henrik Risum. Unfortunately he does not provide his email address. I have sent him a private message advising him that this particular record was being questioned. Hopefully he'll respond.

Regards,

Freiheit · Post by **Freiheit** » 17 Jan 2005, 17:33

brett wrote:All the bouts were entered by editor Henrik Risum. Unfortunately he does not provide his email address. I have sent him a private message advising him that this particular record was being questioned. Hopefully he'll respond.

Regards,

His email is on the "who" list.

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 17 Jan 2005, 20:03

Thaks Brett :-)

I have Henrik's contact so I'll shoot him an email too... I'm just looking for verification here...

Mike

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 18 Jan 2005, 10:31

Hey guys,

The Nigerian boxing board has been contacted about this, and we are expecting an official reply later today... this is all thanks to the folks at Fight Fax. I will let you know (and forward all the particulars) so that we can settle whether this record is legit, or pure fabrication.

I'm hopeful it's the fomer.

Mike

Petu v.d. Pajm · Post by **Petu v.d. Pajm** » 19 Jan 2005, 07:14

Yes, it is highly suspicious record for several reasons :

1) None of the opponents has a recorded fight against someone else than Okonji.

2) None of the shows has a recorded fight outside Okonji's.

3) He would have been a pro at age of 14.

Ok, possibly it is legit but IMO it requires stronger verification to be accepted.

There is other equally questionable records in database too... One I have wondered about is the record of Henrik Risum's own light heavy/cruiser Lolenga Mock. While he has proven his ability in fights against David Haye, Kai Kurzawa, Gio Alvarez etc., what proof ANYBODY has about his claimed eight early-career fights in civil war-torn Zaire (or DR Congo as it is now known again)?

Personally I don't think fights where even the occurrence of the claimed show is hanging in the air should NOT go to database.

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 19 Jan 2005, 08:40

Exactly!

That's the reason I started making enquiries about it... surely somewhere there would've been another fight on one of these dates it is claimed he has fought on...

And okay, maybe no documentation of say 10 fighters on his record not having fought again, but all 17 of his opponents?

It doesn't add up.

I agree that records like this until fully verified should NOT be part of the database. Making the assumption it is false, what if an overseas promoter brought the guy in to fight a top 20 or so fighter based on his record here? It's a potentially dangerous situation, and nothing short of fraud.

I will forward all documents I receive from the relevant boxing boards when I receive them.

Regards,

Mike Altamura

Post by **John** » 19 Jan 2005, 08:51

Akeem Akinbode
http://207.44.250.6/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=289830
looks very dodgy as well

Freiheit · Post by **Freiheit** » 19 Jan 2005, 08:58

In both the Veit and Alvarez fights Mock was introduced with the record we have, anybody know the record that was introduced for the Haye and Kursawa fights. I think Universum could be using the records boxrec haves, but Team Palle doesnt. (Used several brazian and african fighters thatnwe either dont have any record on or only a few of their fights).

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 19 Jan 2005, 09:10

JohnShep,

You maybe be right, as it is the same manager behind him too...

I will forward the name to Fight Fax and see what they say.

Mike

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 19 Jan 2005, 09:18

Freiheit wrote:In both the Veit and Alvarez fights Mock was introduced with the record we have, anybody know the record that was introduced for the Haye and Kursawa fights. I think Universum could be using the records boxrec haves, but Team Palle doesnt. (Used several brazian and african fighters thatnwe either dont have any record on or only a few of their fights).

Universum seems to use to records from Boxrec. Yesterday the ring announcer introduced Chirkov as 16-0 and Komlosi as 2-11-1. Eurosport itself uses Fightfax

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 19 Jan 2005, 09:37

Part of an e-mail that Israel Okonji or someone claiming to be sent me

I am using this medium to inform you of the problems confronting me of which i need your assistance in my career.I am a young professional boxer from Delta state from Ibusa Nigeria. I have been in this game for the past ten years now and i have achieve a lot from my career which enables me to fight within and other west african country.During this past years i have no sponsor and Manager but i thank God that i was able to fight in so many places Delta state,Enugu,Bayelsa,Ibadan,Bauchi,warri and Lagos state respectively.Besides i have fought outside the country in Ghana and Mali as an international .20 fight s,19won,13 knockouts,6 win & 1 lost as a professional.
Sir, presently, i am a 23years old Light Heavy weight Boxer

Post by **John** » 19 Jan 2005, 09:42

There is really not much (hardly any) pro boxing in Nigeria. Most of the records coming out of there are false or at best amateur fights.

I've deleted the fights and contated Henrik. He thinks that it is possible he was misled by a previously reliable source.

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 19 Jan 2005, 10:16

Yeah, I have corresponded with Henrik a couple times and he seems like a genuine guy...

We have uncovered no doubt a scandal here, which is good... we all want the same thing, which is to clean up this sport...

Just for the sake of it, I will still post all official responses and findings etc. from the respective commissions when I am officially given permission to do so.

Looks like it's two down, who knows how many to go.

Mike

mikealtamura · Post by **mikealtamura** » 19 Jan 2005, 10:50

Okay, here's the official info...

* Got a response from the boxing board in Ghana, the two fights Okonji's team claimed he fought over there never happened.

Now the following from Anibal Miramontes at Fight Fax (pertaining to record of Israel Okonji):

"According with the Nigerian Boxing Board, they have no records on the dates that this guy "fought".

"I check the results that the Nigerian Board send me and I don't have a show on this dates.

"Furthermore, as my last resource, I check 3 newspapers from Nigeria and they don't have any reports on this guy."

This is nothing short of fraud. I know the team had plans of bringing Okonji to the Unied States. Thankfully the truth has been found out before that occurred. Could you imagine if this guy with no pro fights was allowed into the ring with a banger like even Richard Hall? That's why we need to take it so seriously. It's dangerous.

Thanks to everyone for helping get his mess cleaned up... this is just the first of what should be many more "exposings" to come...

Mike Altamura - [email protected]