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Fijabi, Joe Boy, Eribo, others gear up for GOtv Boxing Night 10

By Editor
15 December 2016   |   2:31 am
Boxers scheduled to fight at GOtv Boxing Night 10 have stepped up their preparations for the event scheduled for the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium on December 26.
Nurudeen ‘Prince’ Fatai squares up to Oto ‘Joeboy’ Joseph ahead of their GOtv Boxing Night 10 clash at the National Stadium, Lagos… on December 26.

Nurudeen ‘Prince’ Fatai squares up to Oto ‘Joeboy’ Joseph ahead of their GOtv Boxing Night 10 clash at the National Stadium, Lagos… on December 26.

Boxers scheduled to fight at GOtv Boxing Night 10 have stepped up their preparations for the event scheduled for the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium on December 26. All the boxers, except Tanzania’s Meshack “Smart Boy” Mwankemwa, are in camp in Lagos honing their skills in readiness for the tournament, which has a cash prize of N1.5 million for the best boxer.

Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo, who takes on Mwankemwa for the African Boxing Union welterweight title, said his preparation for the fight have been the most grueling of his career.

“This is different. This is a continental title bout and I want to win the title and bring smiles to the faces of Nigeria. I have been training harder than I have ever done because I need to win and I must win. Smart Boy will know that Edo Boy is a better boxer and Nigeria is a bigger country,” he boasted.

Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, who defends his West African Boxing Union light welterweight title against Ghana’s Raphael “Iron King” Kwabena, also spoke in similar vein. Fijabi, whose duel with the same opponent at GOtv Boxing Night 9 is widely regarded as his toughest ever fight, said things would be different at GOtv Boxing Night 10. At GOtv Boxing Night 9, Fijabi won by a split decision. This time, the Nigerian vowed, his opponent will not last the distance.

“Being a title fight, my preparation has been different. Kwabena is a strong boxer, but I now know what will make him lose the fight within the distance. He will meet a different Fijabi. Please, tell him. I am happy that this rematch is a title fight. There will be no hiding place for him,” he said.

Also looking to reinforce his status is Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, national lightweight champion, whose challenge duel with former champion, Nurudueen “Prince” Fatai, already has bad blood written all over it.
Last week, the two boxers had to be pulled apart on a radio programme, following frayed tempers.
In two previous encounters, including an epic title fight, Joe Boy defeated his opponent, a development that the feisty Fatai has not been able to live down.

“Prince (Fatai) will be beaten again. He is my ‘customer’. I am working hard towards doing that and will do just that for my fans,” he said. Fatai, however, said he wants to use the challenge duel as a platform to reclaim his title and is ready for whatever Joe Boy wants to throw at him.

National and West African featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman, who takes on former national champion, Dare “Fighting Machine” Oyewole disclosed that he understands his opponent desperation to fight him and is getting fully prepared to hand him second defeat.

Other fights scheduled for the event are the lightweight challenge contest between Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu and Prince ‘Lion” Nwoye, light welterweight challenge duel pitting Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde against Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan and a light heavyweight challenge clash between Kabiru “KB Godson” Towolawi and Felix “Man Mopol” Igwe.

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