From basketball to boxing, Akpejiori dreams of becoming world champion

• Battles Makhmudov for NABA, NABF titles
Nigerian heavyweight boxing star, Raphael Akpejiori’s star is on the rise. The former basketballer, who recently quit the dunking game for the rings, has witnessed great transformation in his life since he changed professions.

The heavyweight puncher, who is strongly convinced that he has the wherewithal to wrest the existing titles from Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, said at the weekend that he is beginning his surge in the ranks with a challenge for the NABF and NABA titles against Arsianbek Makhmudov in December.

Akpejiori said his incursion into boxing has given him more popularity and fame than he ever had as a basketballer, adding that his main focus is not to fight just Fury, but anybody holding any of the world boxing titles.

“I left Nigeria for America to continue my basketball career, but at a point I just started going to the gym to train to become a boxer. That was how the change began and eventually everything followed and it became a profession where I can chase my goal.

“It was not that somebody influenced me. First, basketball was no longer giving me the kind of thrill I wanted towards the end of my time in college and then I had a few injuries playing the game.

“I was not feeling the way I wanted on the court. I was not okay and this was not in any way helping my goals. My spirit was going off and I had picked up serious interest in the boxing gym. My heart and head wanted boxing and so, I decided to go for it. That was how the switch came,” he said.

Akpejiori explained that he went into boxing to become the best and not because of any particular fighter. He added: “I have a goal and that is to have a fight with whoever is the world champion and take over as the world champion. So, my goal is to become the world champion as quickly as possible.”

On former world champion, Anthony Joshua, Akpejiori said he would accept an all Nigeria heavyweight bout in the future provided it would aid his ambition of becoming the world’s best.

“There is no big deal fighting Anthony Joshua. Americans fight Americans all the time and so that wouldn’t bother me in any way. He has done well for Britain, remember. He has made a huge name for himself and for Britain, but that’s the much it has to be for me.

“Whoever stands in front of the world title and me has to give way. I have a goal and I am pursuing it with all that I have got,: he added.

Akpejiori, who disclosed that he has fought 14 times so far, with all, except one, ending in knock outs, said his current fitness level can make him a world champion soon.

“I have never gone into the ring with the mindset to end the fight in round two or three. I go in there with just one goal and that is to win the fight,” he added.