The President Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has been thrilled by the passion and determination exhibited to develop boxing sport by the Ibadan based business man Ayo Olaniyi who just acquired a boxing professional promotional license.
Dr. Ladipo who presented the NBBofC certificate to the CEO of Extreme Boxing Promotion in his office in Lagos on Tuesday described the three-years old new promoter as new Nigerian Don King in the making, while pledging to assist him in achieving his lofty dream of using professional boxing to transform the lives of youths.
“You’re coming at the right time as a young and vibrant promoter into Nigerian boxing family particularly now that we’re looking for young boxers that will make the country proud. We believe that young promoter like you will assist us in getting these talents, with the cooperation of the board and other Nigerians, who says you cannot be another Don King from Nigeria, it is possible considering this deep passion you have for the sport”, Ladipo noted.
He added that “Boxing is a big business, but it is very unfortunate that here in Nigeria we don’t take it as such, but I do know that with the coming of people like you, boxing in Nigeria will come back to its position of pride.
“I’m happy to welcome young upwardly mobile entrepreneurs into the boxing family, what you’re about to do will definitely reduce the rate of unemployment among our youths in Nigeria and it would also reduce social vices and restiveness which is part of societal ills rocking the youths of this country, so as an Ibadan man and the secretary also as an Ibadan man, we’re going to help you achieve this your lofty dream”.
The promoter who is popularly known as Iyanda Ibadan in his address said boxing has been his favorite right from his childhood days, saying his dad loved boxing a lot and when he watched it he used to join him to enjoy the game.
His words: “I’m building a big casino club in Ibadan, and one of the great features of casino is to be able to bring powerful people from the nooks and crannies of the city together, and that was why we decided to include boxing as a form of entertainment and a catalyst to revive the dying sport, which would also empower and positively engage our boxers that often end up as garage touts and political thug after acquiring boxing skills without getting the opportunity to make good use of it.
“We want to make boxing as important and popular as football. So I want to use my young age to attract young boxers and as well show them that they can make ends meet and become influential through the boxing sport. I’m just a representative of young boxing enthusiasts in the South/West Nigeria and we’re ready to do everything in restoring the past glories of boxing”.
The certificate presentation was done in the presence of the secretary of the body Mr. Remi Aboderin while another new promoter from Ibadan, Baron Golden Gloves Promotion also received his promotional license.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
