Gold medalist during 2003 All-Africa Game, Gbenga Oluokun has expressed gratitude to all the great people that contributed to his comeback after his once-promising boxing career suffered a setback that led to a depression.
The skillful heavyweight boxer, who represented Nigeria in the 2004 Summer Olympic after clinching the gold medal in the super heavyweight division in the 2003 All-Africa Games held in Abuja singled out the President of West African Boxing Union (WABU) Remi Aboderin for praises while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
Oluokun who started well after the 2004 Olympic Games by turning professional and won his first fight against Vlado Szabo in Germany and had a blissful boxing career for about 8years in Germany doing well and raising a family and not until 2019 that he considered coming home to help Nigerian boxing and raise grassroots boxers, before he lost it all.
Since the boxer back on his feet this year after long medical and psychological treatments, he had fought Chukwuma Igwe and won in found two by technical knockout and had also defeated Sunday Abudu Ofere via unanimous decision after he recently secured a round four knockout against Ebenezer Okolie, all he claimed made possible through the encouragement and support he got from the Secretary General of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) Remi Aboderin.
“Lots of people have helped me and have contributed to my bouncing back but I must specially recognize and thank Mr. Remi Aboderin who ensured I get back into the ring and get these opponents, and am sure he will not relent until I get back my lost boxing titles.
“I started well and everything was going on smoothly, until suddenly everything turned sour. After a professional career of 19 wins with 13 knockouts, 14 losses, I decided to come back home in 2019 to help Nigerian boxing and raise grassroots boxers into prominence.
“The unforeseen happened and I lost it all, a loss that led to depression, deteriorated mentally and I had to fall back to the street to survive, but thanks to good people like our secretary, Aboderin that still believe in me”, said Oluokun.
On his comeback bid, as fate will have it, Oluokun came in contact with an Ibadan based boxing promoter, Ezekiel Oshinmi, the CEO of D’Colossus Boxing Promotions who had been managing the boxer.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
