BoxRec

“MAYHEM IN THE LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION”

The boxing world’s eyes will be focussed on the light welterweight division’s two world title fights this month.

First up is Paul Malignaggi’s clash with Lovemore N’dou for the IBF title on June 16 and a week later Ricky Hatton, Britain’s hero and top pound for pound fighter, takes on Jose Luis Castillo for the IBO equivalent.

But while these undoubtedly high class bouts are taking place Ajose Olusegun, the light welterweight division’s best kept secret, finally has the opportunity to fight for a title on June 15 at Crystal Palace’s National Sports Centre.

The British based Nigerian has waited 18 months for this opportunity and must be commended for his patience as other less talented fighters would have become infuriated with the politics and bad management he has suffered.

The former high class amateur has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel since joining promoter Frank Maloney and manager James Oyebola and the talented 27 year old knows his dreams are within touching distance.

“I feel I am making up for lost time and I know after my win on June 15 and my first title I will quickly move up the division,” the unbeaten Olusegun said.

“In my sights I have WBC champion Junior Witter. The public will demand the fight and I will be ready for him.

“I am the shark of the light welterweights and none of the others want to get into the water with me as they know what happens when they swim with sharks.

“I have heard Ricky Hatton wants to defend his title in Britain and Ricky, here is your chance to save yourself some travel expenses. You also call yourself the best pound for pound fighter in the world. I dispute that so phone my promoter Frank Maloney –
I’m sure he will be able to do a deal with you.”

Tickets are available by logging onto http://www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. The fight is also televised live on Sky TV. For any further press information please call 02086914165.

good to see Ajose making some noise. Hopefully he has a big performance next week. If they can get him good British rivals or tricky foreign foes, he can develop up to world class and gun for an ageing, slowing down Witter. Maybe even force a Hatton fight one day if he keeps being sensational.

Re Hatton - hoping he does well this month. Wouldn't mind seeing him against N'dou, if Lovemore beats on Malignaggi. Ricky's best served to remain at 140.

verballistic wrote:nice amateur credentials...nice wins over pryce and nuumbembe...but WHY the step down against gary reid?!?

if you plan to face witter, you need to stay sharp by facing someone WAY better than that!!

there IS a reason. no one will fight ajose. lenny daws - a good british level fighter - avoided him for instance.

it's a serious situation over here. NO ONE will fight the Africans Munyai, Olusegun, Jackson Asiku. Our UK fighters are mediocre, they keep losing fights yet get opportunities that the Africans don't get.

I'd ask Frank maloney if I were you. He promotes Munyai and Olusegun. Olusegun only got this main event because Martin Power pulled out of his bantam fight. Martin Power - twice TKO'd and outclassed by Munyai.

It's a situation that sucks. There are world class talents that are being squandered while mediocre Brits squander chance after chance.

It's business guys.
You are right, these Africans are talented, and better than the majority of UK boxers, but are they marketable ? Do they sell tickets ?
Promotors are not Charities. They are in it to make money.
I know that means it ain't fair, but nothing's changed in that regard as far back as I can remember.

They are marketable. There's more ways to sell a fighter than the hometown sports centre route. After Munyai beat the shit out of Power (again) he got a tremendous reception post fight.

Look at the world champs we have. We get sick of 'em! Sicknotes, pullouts, calling out of big names with no intentions of fighting them. It's the great con.

Autobarn wrote:After Munyai beat the shit out of Power (again) he got a tremendous reception post fight.

True but the crowd were there to see Power first and foremost. As talented as the Africans are they aren't really crowd pullers over here apart from Ali Nuumbembe who has that novelty element and a bit of a cult following.

steve689 wrote:

Autobarn wrote:After Munyai beat the shit out of Power (again) he got a tremendous reception post fight.

True but the crowd were there to see Power first and foremost. As talented as the Africans are they aren't really crowd pullers over here apart from Ali Nuumbembe who has that novelty element and a bit of a cult following.

Numbembe had a cult following, for what reason? Because he lived in a caravan wherever and put in a couple of good showings i.e. vs David Barnes. If Numbembe can get a cult following, surely those other guys can. No one's even made the effort.

Autobarn wrote:NO ONE will fight the Africans Munyai, Olusegun, Jackson Asiku.

So who exactly is ducking Munyai?

steve689 wrote:

Autobarn wrote:After Munyai beat the shit out of Power (again) he got a tremendous reception post fight.

True but the crowd were there to see Power first and foremost. As talented as the Africans are they aren't really crowd pullers over here apart from Ali Nuumbembe who has that novelty element and a bit of a cult following.

I tell you what, I couldnt have given a shit about power... that boy Munyai was electrifying and the only reason I went... should have thought to get the camera phone out and get my pic with him lol... the promoters are the ones who MAKE fighters marketable.... Munyai has done his half with having tremendous talent and potential, Maloney can make that kid a star. If a welshman can be a sporting hero, im sure a black man who will IMO be better P4P than Nigel Benn and Eubank, can be elevated into a headliner.

Unbelievable he was on the UNDERCARD of Powers next fight!!!! He may not sell tickets on his name, but give him time, and his style should sell plenty of tickets amongst the knowledgable. If it was at dagenham or brentwood again I would definetly be going

I don't see why with better promtion the Africa fighters couldn't be made into bigger draws. Look how many popular foreign born fighters there are in Australia and Germany.

And if pre-existing support is really that important London has big Gahanaian, Nigerian and South African populations in particular, surely with good marketing many of these fighters could draw support from their respective ex-pat communities while they made a name for themeselves.

Does anyone think giving them English lessons would help their popularity?

~ MIKEE ~ wrote:

steve689 wrote:

Autobarn wrote:After Munyai beat the shit out of Power (again) he got a tremendous reception post fight.

True but the crowd were there to see Power first and foremost. As talented as the Africans are they aren't really crowd pullers over here apart from Ali Nuumbembe who has that novelty element and a bit of a cult following.

I tell you what, I couldnt have given a shit about power... that boy Munyai was electrifying and the only reason I went... should have thought to get the camera phone out and get my pic with him lol... the promoters are the ones who MAKE fighters marketable.... Munyai has done his half with having tremendous talent and potential, Maloney can make that kid a star. If a welshman can be a sporting hero, im sure a black man who will IMO be better P4P than Nigel Benn and Eubank, can be elevated into a headliner.

Unbelievable he was on the UNDERCARD of Powers next fight!!!! He may not sell tickets on his name, but give him time, and his style should sell plenty of tickets amongst the knowledgable. If it was at dagenham or brentwood again I would definetly be going

absolutely. we still don't even know who Munyai's next foe is. it's a joke. imagine how well munyai would do in america. some promoter on the up, who has his a-lister/olympic medallist/world title holder already, looking for a strong supporting cast to groom for future belts. munyai would fit right in. gary shaw, lou dibella or even warriors boxing would be able to do something with him because they see ability and potential.

sky should do something about this. perhaps we don't breed good fighters anymore, so look elsewhere. like the ozzies and the canadians do. i get excited about the next munyai fight, the next olusegun fight, the next asiku...who gives a damn about martin power and colin lynes? look at michael hunter's ultimately poor title challenge - "I did really well" - not quite, you gave up, dazzled and dizzy, after Molitor landed his first clean shots.

Autobarn wrote:

~ MIKEE ~ wrote:

steve689 wrote: True but the crowd were there to see Power first and foremost. As talented as the Africans are they aren't really crowd pullers over here apart from Ali Nuumbembe who has that novelty element and a bit of a cult following.

I tell you what, I couldnt have given a shit about power... that boy Munyai was electrifying and the only reason I went... should have thought to get the camera phone out and get my pic with him lol... the promoters are the ones who MAKE fighters marketable.... Munyai has done his half with having tremendous talent and potential, Maloney can make that kid a star. If a welshman can be a sporting hero, im sure a black man who will IMO be better P4P than Nigel Benn and Eubank, can be elevated into a headliner.

Unbelievable he was on the UNDERCARD of Powers next fight!!!! He may not sell tickets on his name, but give him time, and his style should sell plenty of tickets amongst the knowledgable. If it was at dagenham or brentwood again I would definetly be going

absolutely. we still don't even know who Munyai's next foe is. it's a joke. imagine how well munyai would do in america. some promoter on the up, who has his a-lister/olympic medallist/world title holder already, looking for a strong supporting cast to groom for future belts. munyai would fit right in. gary shaw, lou dibella or even warriors boxing would be able to do something with him because they see ability and potential.

sky should do something about this. perhaps we don't breed good fighters anymore, so look elsewhere. like the ozzies and the canadians do. i get excited about the next munyai fight, the next olusegun fight, the next asiku...who gives a damn about martin power and colin lynes? look at michael hunter's ultimately poor title challenge - "I did really well" - not quite, you gave up, dazzled and dizzy, after Molitor landed his first clean shots.

I like your posts usually and agree with a lot you say, but I think that was a bit under the belt about Hunter - The lad has always given 100% and all his fights have been exciting - He also has a massive following up there which he thoroughly deserves - He lost against a tough opponent but to be honest he didnt look his usual self from the first bell - I didnt think he did well and like others was shocked to see how badly the fight went for him - He had a bad night and its been a major setback for him - His confidence in his abilities seems to have suffered - You should be able to come back from a loss and put it behind you but Michael seems to be struggling with that - Fighters like Hunter and Lynes are good to watch and they are a valuable contribution to British boxing and I therefore do think many do give a damn about them - I agree the African fighters are tough and exciting and I for one cant wait to see Olusegun next week but we do have some good home grown talent as well and the fans love to support the local lad - Well done to Lynes for getting the Lonsdale belt but didnt he have a bad night against Daws - Hunter and Lynes are damn good fighters, maybe not world class but certainly British and European standard - They do sell tickets, do have a good following, and do give great VFM.

Speaking of Munyai, I had a flick through a copy of The Ring in W.H. Smith the other day. I haven't read The Ring for ages, because it's so far out of date, and the writing isn't good enough, for me, to justify reading about 3 month old fights. Still, it was the one with the 'state of the game' piece in, so I figured I'd have a look. I saw they had Munyai down as 'Most Overrated' in the Bantamweights.

Now, I personally disagree with that, because I think he could be the goods. But I was wondering: Who at The Ring has seen enough of him? Brian Doogan perhaps? Surely there can't be too many people who write for the self-proclaimed 'Bible of Boxing' who've seen him and rate him either way?