Boxing
ALAAFIN IMPARTS BOXING TECHNIQUE TO NIGERIA’S ‘SCORPION’ AHEAD OF WBF TITLE FIGHT
Towards ensuring a victory for Nigeria in the World Boxing Federation’s (WBF) Super Featherweight title fight, the respected Yoruba monarch, Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi has passed some useful boxing techniques to the Nigerian boxer, Ridwan Scorpion Oyekola.
Oyekola is facing an Argentine boxer, Lucas Matias Montesino on Sunday 27th December, at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort in Ibadan for the vacant belt.
Alaafin while hosting the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by Sir Olawale Okonniyi for the epic bout to his palace and receiving the belt expressed joy that the history is rewriting itself again in Oyo State after 57 years.
The monarch before giving the Ibadan born boxer a royal blessing recalled his winning mentality during his youth’s days as a young boxer in Ebute Metta area Lagos and shared some boxing techniques that could enhance victory with the scorpion.
“Boxing is spiritual, only those who are engaged in the ring can understand that.
“Footwork was my strength in my boxing days and it had helped me against most of my opponents.
“You will need to keep your feet apart as you move to maintain good balance, and move round the ring using short sliding steps on the balls of your feet while you always ensure to move the foot closest to the direction in which you want to move first”, Alaafin explained to Scorpion.
He also offered prayers to the boxer and urged the LOC to ensure the image of the nation is portrayed in a very shining light considering how the fight will attract global attention while promising to be at the ringside during the fight to cheer Scorpion to victory.
The president of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, (NBB of C) Dr Rafiu Ladipo in his address assured the monarch of an hitch-free and high standard bout come 27th December taking into cognizance the lofty sporting facilities provided by the management of Ilaji Resort that is hosting the event.
Other members of the LOC that visited Alaafin’s palace for royal blessing are: Olusola Ayodele, the CEO of Core Afrique Boxing Promotion and the promoter of the fight, Gbenga Opaleye, the Chairman of Oyo NBB of C and his vice, Ms Edna Ayegbeni, Ademolu Okuneye, the head of Media.
Others included Princess Ayodele Mujidat Balogun, Elder Olugbemiga Ugbadgbor, Seyi George, Adetujoye Damilola and Olanrewaju Agiri.
Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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