Boxing Lovers Laud GOtv Boxing Night.

Boxing lovers, who were at the second edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, held Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Lagos, have continued to hail the initiative put together by PayTV outfit, GOtv.

Some of the boxing enthusiasts said they have never seen a professional competition that is top notch for a very long time and called the organisers to up the ante in subsequent editions.

 

Sheu Ibrahim, one out of winners of 50 GOtv decoders said, when he heard that 50 lucky winners will go home with decoders he thought it was a hoax until his raffle ticket number was called after one of the raffle draws.

 

Ibrahim said: ‘‘For those, who feel the commercials and adverts that 50 GOtv decoders will be giving out via raffle draw was a true, I can assure them, that I am going home with my own decoder, I will also tell my friends and neighbours that, GOtv made good their promise.’’ 

 

To Nnena Ezim, a female boxing fan lauded GOtv on the organisation of the second edition, ‘The first edition was a success but the second can be described as a huge success, security was tight, unlike other boxing competition where fans are attacked and robbed of their valuables, today’s (Sunday) event was better packaged than others.’’ 

 

GOtv Boxing Night, an event conceived to revive boxing in Nigeria, also had as sponsors Custodian Life Assurance Limited, MultiChoice, SuperSport, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, KSquare Security, Brila FM, Complete Sports, Newsbreak.ng and PM NEWS. The event was broadcast live on MultiChoice.

 

Waidi ‘Skoro’ 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.