I’ll Knock Down Camlin – Bash Ali

I’ll Knock Down Camlin – Bash Ali

Salifu Usman

— January 11, 2014

Legendary boxer, Bash Ali, who is still basking in the excitement of federal government’s support for his ‘Guinness Book of World Records Title Fight Project’ has declared that he will shock the world by knocking down his American opponent, Rick Camlin during the much anticipated fight.
Nigeria’s government through the minister of sports and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi, on Tuesday in Abuja, inaugurated a 15-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) to stage the fight. WBF Cruiserweight champion, Bash Ali, has in the last seven years struggled to enter his name in the Guinness Book of World Record as the oldest man to win a fight could.  “I feel great.
Sometimes, a disappointment can be a blessing in disguise. Because, if I had fought seven years ago, it is possible that somebody by now may have broken the record.
“So, I will be fighting at the age of 58, which means in this century or in the next, whoever that will have to break the record must be at least 60 years. But, I am not happy about the delay,’’ Ali said.
He also assured that he would defeat his opponent, adding that the 32 years old American is no match to him. “On the day of the fight, Bash Ali will shock the boxing world. I will knock down 32-year old Camlin like a bad child, because I am old enough to be his father,’’ he boasted.
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Commonwealth Games: Coach Lauds Nigeria’ s Participation In Boxing

Commonwealth Games: Coach Lauds Nigeria’ s Participation In Boxing

NAN

— December 31, 2013

The Head Coach of the Lagos State Boxing Association, Wasiu Bisiriyu, on Tuesday lauded the inclusion of boxing in the sports Nigeria would participate in at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministry of Sports recently named shooting, taekwondo, judo, athletics, wrestling and boxing as the sports in which Nigeria has a comparative advantage.
Bisiriyu, while reviewing the association’s activities in 2013, told NAN in Lagos that boxing deserved the recognition and inclusion.
“We have an array of amateur boxers in my association that the country can rely on.
“It would have been an effort in futility after grooming boxers to a dependable state and they are not allow to participate in a big event like the Commonwealth Games,” the coach said.
Bisiriyu, who led the state’s boxers to the London invitational tournament in October, said that the tournament positively impacted on the boxers.
“We also have an assemblage of elite boxers discovered in the state’s monthly boxing competition; so, it is a good thing that most of them will be at the Games.
“Last August, the Nigeria Boxing Federation organised a national open championship in Abuja which was successful and applauded by the National Sports Commission (NSC),” he noted.
According to him, boxing strived in 2013.
“Moreover, boxing is one of the sports that Nigeria is identified with at the Commonwealth Games.
`I am confident that with proper motivation, Nigeria will do better at the Games to make up for the World Cup loss last October in Kazakhstan, where it won no medal,’’ he said.
The coach appealed to governments to assist boxers to succeed at the Commonwealth Games.
He said that international friendly matches and training tours would equip the boxers for the competition. (NAN)

Odemwingie Ready For Stoke Action

Odemwingie Ready For Stoke Action

— January 30, 2014

Stoke City new signing Osaze Odemwingie has expressed his readiness to get back to scoring ways for the Britannia Stadium lords.
The Super Eagles forward was part of an exchange deal that saw Trinidad and Tobago player Kenwyne Jones move to his former club Cardiff City.
He has not also hidden his intent to create chances for the team apart from his goal scoring responsibility.
“One of my strongest qualities is being able to put the ball into the back of the net, with either my right foot or my left foot, and I intend on doing that regularly here,” he told the club’s official website.
“I like to get myself into good positions on the field whereby I can get opportunities, and I know that with the quality of players here at the club, there will be days where we do create a lot of chances to score the goals.
Osaze hopes that club manager Mark Hughes explore his area of strength towards a successful outing with the club during his 18-month stay.
“I am sure that the manager and his staff know about me and I am certain they will use me to my strengths.
“They are very knowledgeable people and they must feel that I can bring something different to the team.

No Going Back On Bash Ali’s Fight – Promoter

No Going Back On Bash Ali’s Fight – Promoter

Salifu Usman

— February 6, 2014

The sole promoter of Bash Ali’s Guinness Book of World Records (GWR) fight holding in Nigeria this year, Otunba Benson Bamidele Akingboye has insisted that there is no going back on the long awaited fight.
He assured the teeming fans of the Nigerian legendary boxer that his long awaited World Boxing Federation (WBF) Cruiserweight title defence will hold as promised and called on more corporate bodies and individuals to identify with the project.
“The Guinness Book of World Records fight involving our own dear son, Bash Ali is going to be the first of its kind in Nigeria and there is no going back on the project as far as we are concerned. The LOC for the fight was successfully inaugurated in Abuja on January 7, and since then, we have been working hard by putting in a lot of resources to make it a huge success.
“At this point, we want more corporate bodies and individuals to come forward and be part of history by supporting this fight which is a Nigerian project. On the side of my promotional outfit, Obaking International Promotions, we are set to stage the biggest boxing fight in world history. We are expecting a lot of boxing legends in the country during the event, so it is going to be a massive fight night.
“Let me reiterate that the image of the country is at stake with this project and we are careful not to disappoint Nigerians as the sports minister advised during the LOC’s inauguration. Thus, we need the cooperation of all Nigerians to deliver in this regard,” Akingboye said.
Akingboye who also doubles as the Vice President of the International Boxing Union (IBU) in Africa added that the gains of the GWR fight to the country are enormous.
“The gains of this fight are enormous to Nigeria because we are going to use the proceeds to build more sporting facilities in the country and we strongly believe Bash Ali will deliver at the end of the day.
“A lot of money is involved in the project and it is our belief that Nigerians will be behind Bash in prayers to actualise this dream. Currently, Bash is one of the best boxers to come out of the country and we have to make efforts to support him in becoming the oldest boxer to win a world title.
“It is an honour and a great accomplishment for Africa if Bash Ali succeeds because the glory will not only go to Nigeria but the rest of Africa. I want to appeal to other Africans to help publicise this event and I encourage them to come to Nigeria to witness history made in their own very eyes.
“We strongly believe in Nigeria, we believe in Bash Ali and we believe in the vision of the present Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who is determined to develop and leave a positive imprint in every sector of the Nigerian economy, including the sports sector which has often been neglected by others in the past,” Akingboye concluded.

We Are Happy To Promote Bash Ali – Obaking International

We Are Happy To Promote Bash Ali – Obaking International

NAN

— February 16, 2014

Bamidele Akingboye, the Chairman, Obaking International Promotions, on Saturday expressed satisfaction at promoting a popular boxer, Bash Ali, currently aspiring to become the world’s oldest boxer.
Ali, 58, having been born on Feb. 27, 1956, has been dreaming of becoming the World’s oldest boxer, so as to make the Guinness Book of World Records.
Akingboye, while addressing a news conference at the National Stadium, Lagos, over the promotion, solicited the support of the sporting press toward staging the fight, which would be a double header.
The fight, between Ali, a World Cruiser weight Champions and American, Rick Camlin, 32, an International Boxing Union (IBU) champion, would be a unification world championship fight, tagged “The African Pride’’.
According to Akingboye, Ali has struggled for seven years to enter his name into the Guinness book of World Records and that history is now near.
“Ali had since 2006 been appealing to the Federal Government to bankroll the fight and in May, history will be made in Nigeria when the fight will hold.
“We are happy to be a part of this project as we intend to use the bout to revive professional boxing in Nigeria.
“We are also excited at the support from the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, who inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC),” Akingboye said.
The promoter added that the fight would be staged in any state of the country that could offer to stake not less than a million dollars in sponsorship.
“The fight is expected to be a big one that will be watched by 5 million viewers in 31 countries through-.
According to Akingboye, the event will attract many boxing legends, like Mohammed Ali, Iron Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and renowned promoter, Don King.
Ali, in his remark, commended the FG and Obaking International for coming to his rescue to actualise his dream of becoming the oldest fighter alive.
“I feel great that my struggles of seven years have come to become a reality. Staging the fight will take me and my country, Nigeria, into the Guinness Book of World Records, as the oldest boxer to feature in a world title fight.
“I will be fighting at the age of 58, which means in this century or in the next, whoever that will have to break the record must be at least 60 years old.
“I am reassuring Nigerians that on that day, Bash Ali will shock the boxing world. I will beat my opponent like a bad child, because I am old enough to be his father’’.
– with 57 knockouts and five losses.
The boxer claimed that he was `robbed’ in most of the losses he recorded. (NAN)

Akingboye Wants Bash Ali Guinness Bout To Surpass Ali/Foreman Fight

Akingboye Wants Bash Ali Guinness Bout To Surpass Ali/Foreman Fight

Onjewu Dickson

— February 18, 2014

Promoter of the forthcoming Bash Ali’s Guinness Book of World Records fight, Otumba Bamidele Akingboye has said there is need for all hands to be on deck towards supporting the project he described as the biggest, largest and most intriguing sports entertainment programme of the century.
He commended the federal government for providing an enabling environment to the LOC to make the fight a success. Akingboye stated this while speaking at a world press conference
organized by Oba kings promotions, held in Lagos to herald activities leading to the fight which his promotional outfit; Oba Kings promotions and the Local Organizing Committee are working round the clock to ensure that the fight surpasses the 1974 Mohammed Ali/George Foreman fight in Zaire (DR Congo) with an appeal to Nigerians to all support the historic fight.