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PROMO

GOtv set for ‘boxing revival’[1]
by IFEANYI EDUZOR; National Mirror on Nov 7, 2014
Professional boxing in Nigeria is set to reclaim its leadership position following the decision of cable
television network, GOtv, to sponsor a championship in Lagos.
GOtv’s Managing Director, Martin Maputo, told National Mirror that the championship tagged “GOtv Boxing
Night” which has been sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) will hold on November
23 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos even as he noted that the company has set
logistics to sponsor professional boxing regularly.
According to Maputo, the six-bout encounter which will feature a national featherweight title was
supported by Custodian Life Insurance Limited for N2million insurance cover for the boxers while about
50 GOtv decoders will be distributed to lucky winners as plaques would also be presented to veteran
boxers for their contributions.
Meanwhile, promoter of the fight, Jenkins Alumona, has listed some of the fights to include a light
welterweight bout between Stanley “Edo Boy” Johnson and Saheed “Happy Boy” Olayiwola and a heavyweight
contest involving Adewale “Tiger” Abbey and Tope “Young” Ogunshakin while Chijioke “Painless” Ngige
will square up against “Capo”Olalekan in a light middleweight fight.
Other fights of the night will see Dele “Lagelu” Adeleke meet Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji in another
light middleweight challenge with David “Lucky Boy” Ekpeyoung facing Muhammed “ Fearless” Tijani in a
featherweight clash while the main bout of the night will be a national featherweight title bout between
Dare “Fighting Machine” Oyewole and Waidi “Skoro” Usman.

REPORT

GOtv Boxing Night: Skoro Wins National Featherweight Title
This Day 25 Nov 2014[2]
The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos brimmed with excitement on Sunday, as boxing fans in their 
thousands turned up at the GOtv Boxing Night, a professional boxing event to revive the sport in the country. The 
event, which featured six fights in five weight divisions, drew fans from across the social strata.
The biggest fight on the night was the National Featherweight title contest between Dare "Fighting Machine" Oyewole
(reigning champion) and Waidi "Skoro". Skoro emerged the new champion, after knocking out Dare 'Fighting Machine'
Oyewole in the fifth of the 12-round bout. Skoro, who controlled proceedings in the fifth round, produced a
devastating blur of right and left punches that dazed Oyewole at the end of the round. The impact of Skoro's punches
on Oyewole forced the latter's corner to call off the fight and Skoro was announced as the new National Featherweight
champion. An elated Skoro, 22, disclosed that his immediate ambition is to take a shot at the African Featherweight
title crown. "I thank all the fans. I am going to keep this title for a long time. Next, I am going for the African
title and Commonwealth title too," he said after he was declared winner. Skoro, winner in seven of his last eight
fights, is building a reputation as a knockout specialist. Six of those seven wins, including over Oyewole, have been
via knockout.
In the Light Middleweight category, Sunday "Capo" Olalekan saw off the challenge of Chijioke "Painless" Ngige, while
Stanley "Edo Boy" Johnson did same to Saheed " Happy Boy" Olayiwola in the Junior Welterweight class by a split
decision of 74-77, 77-72 and 79-71.
Rasheed "Afonja Warrior" Abolaji put up an eye-catching performance against 26-year-old Dele "Lagelu" Adeleke. He
defeated Adeleke by an unanimous decision of 79-71, 80-71 and 79-69. Abolaji also walked away with a trophy after he
was adjudged the night's most outstanding boxer.
In another Featherweight contest, David "Lucky Boy" lived his nickname when he defeated Muhammed "Fearless" Tijani.
The Heavyweight clash between Adewale "Tiger" Abbey and Tope "Young" Ogunshinusi turned out a no-contest, as the
latter was adjudged to have delivered below-the-belt on his opponent. The next edition of the event is slated for 25
January, 2015.
GOtv Boxing Night, promoted by Flykite Productions, is sponsored by GOtv, 1960 Bet, Custodian Life Assurance Plc,
Paragonis Multimedia Productions, SuperSport, MultiChoice, KSquare Security and Zetaweb.
Six boxing legends were honoured at the event for their contributions to the sport. They were Dele Jonathan, Joe
Lasisi, Jerry Okorodudu, Ray Amao, Hogan Jimoh, Obisia Nwakpa. Also honoured for their contributions were the Chief
of Army Staff, Lt-General Kenneth Minimah, who was represented by Col. A.R Bello; Dr. GK Kanu and Mr. Remi Aboderin,
President and Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control respectively. The event was not only about
boxing, as fans were treated to performance by Ghetto Soldier, Daddy Showkey, a former boxer.

Nigeria: Boxing Comes Alive Again With GOtv Boxing Night
The Guardian (Lagos) 28 November 2014[3]
GOtv Boxing Night, an event designed to launch the rebirth of boxing in Nigeria, delivers on its promise. The long
queue at the entrance of the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere, in Lagos, last Sunday, could be
mistaken for a crowd at a musical show. It was a show, but one for which such a crowd is unusual. Not in many years
has such an event attracted the size of crowd on the snaking queue at the venue. The hall itself was fascinating and
colourful. It was the GOtv Boxing Night, a professional boxing tournament of six fights in five weight classes. The
roped square, adorned with the colours of the event's sponsors, neatly attired officials and lip-lickingly attractive
ushers and ring ladies provided a Las Vegas-like ambience.
The event opened with two exhibition fights by four kid boxers, who were greatly appreciated by the large crowd.
Real action kicked off with a Featherweight encounter between David "Lucky Boy" Ekpenyong and Muhammed "Fearless"
Tijani. Lucky Boy lived his name, walking away with victory.
The next was a Light Middleweight contest between Chijioke "Painless" Ngige and the dreadlocked Sunday "Capo" Olalekan.
Painless went home with the pain of defeat to Capo.
The Welterweight bout saw Stanley "Edo Boy" Johnson defeating Saheed "Happy Boy" Olayiwola, while the bout between
Rasheed "Afonja Warrior" Abolaji and Dele "Lagelu" Adeleke ended in the former's favour. Along with his victory,
Abolaji was awarded the trophy of the best boxer of the tournament.
Reigning National Heavyweight champion, Adewale "Tiger" Abbey took on Tope "Young" Ogunshinusi. The fight, however,
was declared a no-contest in the third round over complaints by Abbey that he was repeatedly hit below the belt by his
opponent.
The night's main bout was between Dare "Fighting Machine" Oyewole and Waidi "Skoro" Usman. It was a National
Featherweight title bout. The exciting encounter produced a fast and furious exchange of punches by the boxers. It,
however, ended in the fifth of the 12 scheduled rounds, when Oyewole's corner called off the fight after Skoro's
punches had left their boxer stupefied at the end of the round. An ecstatic Oyewole has a similar aspiration as the
event organisers' for the big stage, which is a continental or world fight. Oyewole revealed his ambition is to win
the African Featherweight title and later, the Commonwealth title. " I am going to keep this title for a long time.
Next, I am going for the African title and Commonwealth title too," he said.
While the fights lasted, excitement swept through the hall. New boxing fans confessed they could not have imagined
having so much fun. The pull to the show was what many could not understand.
Overcome with emotions, Ladi Egbedire, a sports journalist, enthused: "I can tell you, I have not seen such a huge
crowd watch boxing in Nigeria in many years."
The spectators, including business leaders, industry captains, top government officials, military personnel and the
ordinary folks co-mingled in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
From the first to the last bout, it fans mimicked the boxers' various moves. The interlude of humour and music by
ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka and ghetto soldier, Daddy Showkey, added more flavour to the event. Many are convinced
that boxing GOtv Boxing Night will get Nigerian boxing out of the woods. One of such is boxing legend, Obisia Nwakpa,
who believes that the commitment and industry of the organisers will ensure that boxing talents in Nigeria are
properly groomed to a stage that they will become world champions. The event's organisers are also hopeful that in
the near future, the country will host African and world title fights.
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C, is similarly convinced that GOtv Boxing Night represents a recovery
plan for the sport. Remi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the NBB of C, To the organisers, praised the organisers and
sponsors for coming to the aid of the sport and believes that their efforts will take boxing in the country to the
promised land. Aside the GOtv, the headline sponsors, the other sponsors were Custodian Life Assurance Plc, which
provided a N24million insurance package for the 12 boxers; 1960 Bet, MultiChoice, SuperSport, KSquare Security,
Zetaweb and Paragonis Multimedia Limited.

'Skoro' Becomes Nigeria's Featherweight Champion
Bamidele Olowosagba; Naij.Com 11/27/14 [4]
The indoor sports hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos came alive on Sunday night after Waidi ‘Skoro’
Usman emerged the new champion of the featherweight division in Nigeria at the first edition of the GOtv Boxing 
Night held at the venue. Usman, popularly called ‘Skoro’ by his Ajegunle fans, was declared winner  of the main
bout of the night after his opponent, Dare ‘Fighting Machine’ Oyewole threw in the towel in the 5t round of a
bout billed to last 12-round. ‘Skoro’ was clearly on top of the fight in the fifth round when he combined right
and left hooks which nearly floored Oyewole, who looked dazed at the end of the bell signalling the end of the 
round. However, Oyewole’s corner called off the fight and Usman was announced as the champion of the national
featherweight division. The 22-year-old while speaking after emerging the national featherweight champion stated
that his next target is to contest for the African title in the featherweight class. “I feel okay. I thank all
the fans. I am going to keep this title for a long time. Next I am going for the African title and Commonwealth
title too,” Usman said. It was gathered that Usman has won seven out of his eight last fights. He has won six of
the fights through knockouts including the victory over Oyewole.
In the light middleweight class, Sunday Olalekan defeated Chijioke Ngige while Stanley Johnson beat Saheed
Olayiwola in the junior welterweight by split decision of 74-77, 77-72 and 79-71.
In another bout, Rasheed ‘Afonja Warrior’ Abolaji was a class act as he defeated 26-year-old Dele Adeleke by
unanimous decision of 79-71, 80-71 and 79-69.
The heavyweight bout of the evening between Adewale ‘The Tiger’ Abbey and Tope Ogunshinusi was declared as a
no-contest after the former could not continue the fight claiming Ogunshinusi hit him below the belt.
Speaking at the event, the CEO of Flykite Productions, the promoters of the fights, Jenkins Alumona, described
his organisation’s involvement in boxing as an intervention necessary to halt the decline of the sport in Nigeria.
He said the country has a rich boxing tradition, which offers a solid foundation on which GOtv Boxing Night seeks
to build. “We have produced great boxing champions like Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger. Obisia Nwakpa also went very
close. Recently, we had Samuel Peters, a World Heavyweight champion. “Our performance at the last Commonwealth
Games was also very encouraging. I believe we can build on this foundation to provide a platform for professional
boxing,” he said.

GOtv Boxing: Skoro beats Oyewole, wins featherweight title
by Kazeem Busari; Punch.Com November 25, 2014[5]
Waidi Usman, fondly called Skoro, on Sunday emerged as the new Nigeria featherweight champion after beating defending
champion, Dare Oyewole, by a fifth round technical knockout at the GOtv Boxing Night held at the National Stadium in
Lagos. It was the main contest and the only title bout of the night as five other fights were also on the card.
The Sunday fight was the third time both pugilists would meet as earlier contests had favoured the former champion.
And they wasted no time in getting down to business right from the first round. Oyewole appeared to be in the lead,
landing more accurate punches until the fourth round when Skoro took charge. The new champion made the best of the
fifth round as he avoided punches and responded with more accurate and lethal blows. At some point, Oyewole was so
exhausted he could only stand and receive everything Skoro threw at him. When the bell rung for the sixth round,
the former champion simply refused to come out of his corner.
The judges declared the heavyweight bout between national champion Adewale ‘Tiger’ Abey and Tope Ogunshakin as a 
no-contest. Both fighters put up a lethargic show throughout the first round and continued with the charade in the
second round until Abey Tiger refused to go on, claiming he had been punched below the belt. Ogunshakin said he did
not expect the fight to be disqualified, claiming he was clearly in the lead and ready to fight the champion.
In the light welterweight bout, the judges voted 2 to 1 in favour of Stanley Johnson who had a tough time dominating
Saheed Olayiwola.
Sunday Olalekan defeated Chijioke Ngige by unanimous decision in the light middleweight contest, while David Ekpeyong
defeated Muhammed Tijanni by split decision in another featherweight contest.
Rasheed Abolaji was voted the Boxer of the Night after defeating Dele Adeleke by unanimous decision in their light
middleweight fight.