How Nigeria’s Power Lee won ‘battle of Yaounde’

Power Lee with officials of Pro Wrestling Africa and Michel Noudem before the fight.

Seeks Buhari, Okowa’s support for return match in Asaba

True to his boast, Nigeria’s heavyweight wrestling champion, Ikpide Godspower, also known as ‘Power Lee,’ has won the much talked celebrated ‘battle of Yaoundé,’ beating homeboy, Michel Noudem, in front of his supporters to win the title.

But the Nigerian paid the prize for victory, as he suffered dislocation on his left knee during the encounter, which took place at the famous Palaise De Sports in Cameroun’s

Power Lee being congratulated by a Cemerounian sports official after the fight.

capital.

Power Lee took the Camerounian Heavyweight Wrestling champion, Michel Noudem, popularly known as ‘Le Matrquer’ to the cleaners, winning in a ‘pin fall’ after 50 minutes of battle in the ring.

“It was a great night, which I will never forget in my life,” Power Lee told The Guardian on arrival in Lagos yesterday.

A Camerounian heavyweight wrestler, popularly known as Super Makia, held the title for 28 years before he retired in June last year.

“I am so happy that I was able to bring the title to Nigeria,” Power Lee said. “It was a dream come true and I am grateful to everyone who stood by me. I greet the Nigerian community in Cameroun and officials of our Embassy over there. They did a wonderful job,” he added.

Though the ‘battle of Yaoundé’ is won, what appears to be another major hurdle is lying

Both wrestlers on the floor during the encounter

ahead for Power Lee, as the Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA) has given him a deadline of November 1 this year to defend the title or risk being striped of it.

The Isoko-born wrestler is seeking financial support from President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to enable him stage the return match on November 1 in Asaba.

“I am appealing to our government from federal to state and other well meaning Nigerians to come to give me the support I need to stage this return match on November 1 in Asaba. It will be a big embarrassment to this nation for PWA to stripe me of this title, which I have laboured so hard to win for Nigeria. I need help from any quarter,” Power Lee pleaded

yesterday.

Before his departure from Cameroun, Power Lee, with his four-man delegation, was given a heroic reception by the Nigerian High Commissioner in that country, Ambassador Hadiza

Power Lee with Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroun, Ambassador Hadiza Mustapha, during a reception after the fight.

Mustapha and members of the Commission, as well as the Nigerian community in Cameroun.

To Power Lee and his supporters, the victory over the Camerounian Heavyweight wrestling champion, ‘Le Matrquer’ was a sweet revenge for Nigeria after the Lionesses of Cameroun defeated the Super Falcons in the semifinal at the just concluded 11th Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Also speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Power Lee’s promoter, Sunny Irakpo, commended the wrestler for his zeal and determination despite series of financial challenges he had prior to the ‘battle of Yaoundé.’

“Now that Power Lee has won the belt for Nigeria, I want to appeal to both President Muhammedu Buhari and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to rally round him so that the belt will not be taken away from him. I am sure that his victory in Cameroun will bring a turn around for Nigerian wrestling,” Irakpo said.