GOtv Boxing Night: ABU Approves Opponent For Skoro’s Title Fight

The Afrcan Boxing Union (ABU) has named Uganda’s Edward Kakembo as the opponent of National and West African Boxing Union Featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman, in the ABU title fight fixed for 26 December in Lagos.

The title clash is the headline bout of the fifth edition of the GOtV Boxing Night holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Kakembo, who has a fight record of nine wins in as many fights, was named, following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Kenya’s Francis Kimani, who was initially billed to duel for the title with Skoro.

Uganda’s Edward Kakembo

The Nigerian, who is regarded as a genuine boxing talent, will be coming up against Kakembo, the Ugandan Professional Boxing Commission champion, who has a reputation as a knockout king.

Other fights lined up at the GOtv Boxing Night are two national title bouts and a national challenge contest. Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, the rising star of Nigerian boxing, will seek to dethrone Sadiq Ahmed, National Light Welterweight champion, over 12 rounds.

In the Welterweight category, Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo will fight Sunday “Capo” Olalekan for the title, while Sunday “Golden Child” Ajuwa will take on Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji in a Super Middleweight challenge contest.

Waidi Skoro Usman

At stake, aside from the titles on offer, is the cash prize of N1.5million and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Trophy for the best boxer on the night. The event, conceived to revive boxing in the country, is sponsored by GOtv and supported by MultiChoice.

The tournament will be broadcast live by SuperSport in 47 African countries.

GOtv Boxing Night: Stakeholders, Fans Hail Organisers

Stakeholders and fans of boxing in the country have lauded GOtv, headline sponsors of GOtv Boxing Night, for the successful organisation of the fourth edition of the six-bout professional boxing event and contributions to the revival of the sport.
The event, which held on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, left stakeholders and the audience in raptures.

Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) Mr. Remi Aboderin described GOtv Boxing Night as the lifeline that has saved the sport from going into extinction.

“Everybody associated with boxing must be grateful to GOtv for rescuing the sport from the doldrums. Without funding and high quality organisation by GOtv and Flykite Productions, the promoters, I shudder to think what could have happened to boxing,” he said.

Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President-General of the Nigerian Supporters Club and member of the NBB of C, shares similar sentiments. ” GOtv has offered boxers the opportunity of fighting more regularly, something that was not happening before, and the sport is back on a sound footing. If we keep this up, the sport will fully recover in no time,” he said.

Fans at the event were effusive in their commendations for the sponsors, with many of them hoping that the event grows and for the country to produce a world champion soon.

Ottoh “Joe Boy” Joseph was the revelation of the fourth edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, as he was named the best boxer of the event. He defeated Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai in a National Lightweight challenge contest to win the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and the cash prize of N1m.

Boxing Fans at the 3rd GOtv Boxing Night held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

Another winner on the night was Waidi “Skoro” Usman, the West African Featherweight champion, who knocked out Taofik “Taozon” Bisuga in the fourth round of their eight-round contest. Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, first winner of the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and the N1m cash prize, also came out triumphant when he defeated Saheed “Happy Boy” Olayiwola by a fifth round knockout of Light Welterweight challenge contest. Isiaka “Easy Lion” Yusuf was knocked out by Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo in the third round of their National Featherweight challenge bout.

The night’s major bout saw Nigeria’s Isaac Ekpo, a former Commonwealth Super Middleweight champion, accounting for Burkina Faso’s Jules Kabore, who was knocked out in the fifth round of the scheduled 10-round bout. The first fight of the night featured Jamiu “Naval Man” Olabode against Pelumi “Haggler” Sodubi, who was knocked in the second round.
The tournament is supported by other corporate bodies like MultiChocie, SuperSport, KSquare Security, Custodian Assurance Limited, Complete Sports, Brilla FM, Bond FM and Newsbreak.ng.

GOtv Boxing Night: Boxers Talk Tough

Ahead of the GOtv Boxing Night holding on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, opponents have been swapping boasts of decimating each other. Nigeria’s Isaac “Grenade” Ekpo, a former Commonwealth Super Middleweight champion, has vowed to stop his opponent Jules “Tyson” Kabore of Burkina Faso in the fourth of their 10-round contest when they meet in the event’s headline bout. “Kabore is taller than I am, but that will have no bearing on the fight. I will be celebrating my birthday on Sunday and I have to give myself a birthday present. Stopping Kabore in the fourth round is the present that I want and deserve. He is not going beyond that and he knows,” raved Ekpo.

Kabore is also talking up his own chances against an accomplished opponent.

Responding to Ekpo’s claim that he cannot be defeated in Nigeria, Kabore said: “I won four of my seven fights via TKO. I am undefeated since turning pro. I am taller and better than Ekpo. Tell him that. He will fall. That is not a subject for debate.”
Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai, the National Lightweight champion billed to fight Joe “Otto Boy” Joseph in a challenge contest, has dismissed his opponent’s chances of defeating him as non-existent. “I have been a champion for ten years. It takes something to be a champion, which Ottoh does not have. Many have tried and failed. Ottoh will fail,” he said waspishly. Ottoh’s response was similarly threat-filled. “Tell him that he has spent his time. This is my time. I will beat him and tell him that his time has gone. No story,” he bragged.

Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, who won the one million cash prize for the best boxer at the last edition of the GOtv Boxing Night, is convinced that he will repeat the trick when he takes on Saheed “Happy Boy” Olayiwola in a National Light Welterweight challenge duel. Fijabi said his opponent will transmute into a sad boy from “Happy Boy”.

“He calls himself Happy Boy, but when I finish with him, he will be the saddest boy in the whole of Nigeria. Just wait and see,” he boasted. Happy Boy, however, is convinced that he will be the happier guy at the end of the fight.

“Fijabi is a small boy. I will teach him boxing and he will go home crying like a baby,” he retorted.

Olaide Fijaborn Fijabi,

GOtv Boxing Night, an initiative to revive boxing in Nigeria, will feature six professional fights. The others aresix-round duels which will see Jamiu “Naval Man” Olabode, take on Pelumi “Haggler” Sodubi in a Welterweight challenge, while Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo will duel with Isiaka “Easy Lion” Yusuf. Waidi “Skoro” Usman will take on Taofik “Taozon” Bisuga in a Featherweight challenge contest.

The event, which starts at 4pm, will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Sponsored by pay-TV company, GOtv, the tournament which started last November, also held in March and July. GOtv Boxing Night is supported by other corporate bodies like MultiChocie, SuperSport, KSquare Security, Custodian Assurance Limited, Complete Sports, Brilla FM, Bond FM and Newsbreak.ng.

GOtv Boxing Night: Fijabi Wins N1m Cash Prize

Boxing Fans at the 3rd GOtv Boxing Night held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, the star Light Welterweight boxer, won the biggest ever pay-out in the history of Nigerian boxing, as he was voted best boxer at the GOtv Boxing Night on Sunday.

Fijabi also went home with the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and plenty of adulation, following his defeat of Kazeem “Iberu” Ariyo, by unanimous decision, in an eight-round contest.

From the first round, Fijabi, the clear crowd favourite, punished his opponent with deft combinations that left the huge crowd screaming his name.

Ariyo, a decent boxer in his own right, however, found Fijabi too hot to handle.

Sule “Tyson” Olagbade, National Light Middleweight champion, retained his belt, following his defeat of challenger, Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji

In another big fight on the night, Sule “Tyson” Olagbade, National Light Middleweight champion, retained his belt, following his defeat of challenger, Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji in their closely-contested 12-round bout.

All the judges called the fight in Olagbade’s favour. Both boxers fought with gusto, drawing unrestrained applause from the crowd.

Onoriode “Onos” Ehwarieme knocked out Adewale “22Masevex” Masebinu in the second round.

In the Lightweight category, the challenge bout between Prince Nurudeen Fatai and Chibuzor “T-Boy” Obi ended in the latter’s favour by unanimous decision.

Sunday “Golden Child” Ajuwa also defeated Femi “Easywhite” Ajayi in an eight-round Cruiserweight challenge.

Onoriode “Onos” Ehwarieme knocked out Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu in the second

In the Heavyweight division, Onoriode “Onos” Ehwarieme knocked out Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu in the second of their six-round challenge bout.

The international female bout between Nigerian boxer, Helen “Iron Lady” Johnson and Ghana’s Gifty “Tiger” Ankrah was won by unanimous decision by the Nigerian.

L-R: Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria; Olaide Fijabi, winner of a trophy and One Million Naira; Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Productions; John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria and Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport during 3rd GOtv Boxing Night held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium Surulere, Lagos Sunday 26th of July, 2015

Sponsored by GOtv, the event is supported by MultiChoice, SuperSport, KSquare Security, Newsbreak.ng, Complete Sports, Brilla FM and Paragonis Multimedia Limited.

SuperSport Promises Quality Live HD Coverage Of Games In the Barclay’s Premier League

Obinna Anyalebechi, Marketing Manager, Guinness; Mr. Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria; Mr. Gbenga Moses, Head, Sponsored Assets, Globacom and Mr. Koye Sowemimo, Head, Corporate and Consumer Electronics Marketing, Samsung during the live Screening of New Football Season at the Harbour Point Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday 16th August, 2014.

Football fans were thrilled and excited as SuperSport, the biggest sports content provider on DStv and GOtv over the weekend commenced the Barclay’s Premier League season with fun and great aplomb as it brought a live studio audience to watch the opening match in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, General Manager Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho said MultiChoice and SuperSport wanted soccer fans to feel the passion of the game, which was why a live studio experience was created for the opening games of the Barclays Premier League.

Mabutho promised that MultiChoice through DStv and GOtv will bring quality live high definition coverage of games in the Barclay’s Premier League, to its subscribers. “We want our subscribers to enjoy quality football this season and in the tradition they are used to.

The games will be brought to them in excellent quality and sound, as well as in HD.” he remarked. He also thanked broadcast sponsors of the Barclay’s Premier League; Guinness Nigeria PLC, Globacom, Samsung, Honeywell and Wakanow, calling them partners in the love of football, for their support of the game, which is arguably the World’s most watched sport.

The live audience at the MultiChoice BPL Kick off saw the SuperSport panel of analysts offer projections about what to expect this season, as well as highlights to look forward to. The analysts were, Charles Anazodo, Prince Victor Ikpeba, Segun Agbede and Chisom Mbonu

Various BPL fans during live Screening of New Football Season at the Harbour Point Event Center, Victoria Island, Lago on Saturday 16th August, 2014.

DStv Basketball League 2014 season dunks off to an exciting start

A bumper package from the title sponsors of DStv Premier Basketball League awaits clubs and fans in this new season which starts 28 February, 2014. Among the initiatives announced for the new season are live broadcasts of at least 60 games on SuperSport, new courts, weekly magazine shows that focus on players, matches and attractions, among many others.

L-R: Martin Mabutho, Head Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria; Tijani Umar, President, NBBF and Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv during the DStv Basketball League Press Conference held at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Tuesday 25th February, 2014.

At a press conference which held Tuesday, 25 February, 2014, at the National Stadium, Lagos, Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, said that several strategy sessions between MultiChoice, the Nigerian Basketball Federation and other stakeholders of basketball in Nigeria were held with the objectives of enhancing the quality of games in the league, making the game more attractive to fans and ultimately, boosting the national team. “We are starting to see that basketball is moving in the right direction. We are most excited about the jump ball event slated for 28 February to herald the new season because the match will be played on a brand new court. The 2014 season will give fans a lot to be excited about than in previous seasons,” said Mr. Mabutho.

L-R: Andre Venter, Head SuperSport Africa; Martin Mabutho, Head Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria and Tijani Umar, President, NBBF during the DStv Basketball League Press Conference held at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Tuesday 25th February, 2014.

Tijani Umar, President, Nigerian Basketball Federation, said that the partnership between MultiChoice Nigeria and the federation will avail the league and the national teams great benefits. He also referred to the stakeholders’ engagement that has been taking place, saying that the meetings show that perceptions with regards to basketball in Nigeria are changing. “We thank DStv for guaranteeing to improve the league, as evidenced by the new floor that they have installed. It is a step in the right direction. We are also looking at other avenues to increase the income of the clubs, partner with insurance companies to insure players, and with FIBA (The International Basketball Federation) to train statisticians to enhance the profile of the league. SuperSport has guaranteed additional broadcast of live and recorded matches.”

L-R: Andre Venter, Head SuperSport Africa; Martin Mabutho, Head Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria; Tijani Umar, President, NBBF and Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv during the DStv Basketball League Press Conference held at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Tuesday 25th February, 2014.

Andre Venter, Head, SuperSport Africa, said the partnership between MultiChoice and the NBBF will lead to greater focus of SuperSport on basketball in Nigeria. The weekly magazine shows, he said, will provide fans the opportunity to see greater details about their favourite teams and players. “We have also acquired rights to the NBA. One of the benefits of this partnership is hosting exhibition matches with NBA players in Nigeria,” he said.

L-R: Andre Venter, Head SuperSport Africa; Martin Mabutho, Head Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria; Tijani Umar, President, NBBF and Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv during the DStv Basketball League Press Conference held at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Tuesday 25th February, 2014.

MultiChoice, Nigeria’s leading pay-TV content provider, renewed its commitment towards driving growth and development of basketball in Nigeria. Last year, MultiChoice renewed its commitment to basketball by signing a three-year sponsorship deal with the NBBF covering the 2013 to 2016 seasons as title sponsors. “MultiChoice is dedicated to enriching family lives and as such proud to announce its continued support of basketball and the league in line with its corporate development philosophy,’ said Mr. Mabutho.

L-R: Martin Mabutho, Head Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria; Tijani Umar, President, NBBF and Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv during the DStv Basketball League Press Conference held at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Tuesday 25th February, 2014.