GOtv Boxing Night :Skoro Wins W/African Featherweight Title

Waidi "Skoro" Usman, reigning National Featherweight boxing champion, has added the West African title to his list of achievements. The feat was achieved at the second edition of the GOtV Boxing Night, held at the National Stadium, Lagos, on Sunday night.

The event was broadcast live on MultiChoice. Usman, who became national champion in his class at the maiden edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, stopped his opponent, Ghana's Alfred "Ahwor" Quaye in the second of their scheduled 12-round contest-the headline bout at the event. Usman made nonsense of Quaye's pre-match boast that he was out to prove Ghana's superiority of Nigeria in sports.

 Usman, combining the speed of hand and thought that got the crowd chanting frenziedly, thumped his opponent with fury that ensured a Technical Knockout. In another firecracker contest, Tope "Young" Ogunshinasi failed in his bid to wrest the National Heavyweight title from Adewale "Tiger"Abbey, reigning National Heavyweight champion.

Ogunshinasi, however, ran the champion close, as evidenced by scores from the three judges. The night began with professional debutant, Ottoh "Joe Boy" Joseph, kicking off his career with a win by defeating Kehinde "Ijoba" Badmus over six rounds in a Lightweight challenge.

 This was followed by the six-round Light Middleweight challenge bout between Sunday "Capo" Olalekan and Tonbraye "Tornado" Christmas, an army corporal who was ceaselessly cheered on by a large contingent of soldiers in attendance.

 It was an explosive fight, as the two boxers left fans at the edge of their seats. But there was nothing to choose between them as the fight was declared a draw by the judges. In the Light Welterweight elimination bout between Waliu "Oganla" Arogundade and Olaide "Fijaborn" Fijabi, a debutant, the latter made a winning debut by defeating his opponent on points.

Fijabi, whose skills and reputation made him the crowd favourite, also went home with the trophy awarded to the best boxer on the night. The 10-round National Light Middleweight elimination bout involving Jamiu "Rotor" Animashaun and Wahab "Hammer" Adebisi started on a tasty note, but did not last, as it was declared a no contest by the judges in the fourth round.

 It was a night of fun for the fans, as in addition to top class boxing, they also got gifts that included 50 GOtv decoders, T-Shirts, facecaps, diaries and bags.