West African light heavyweight champion, Nigeria’s Lekan “The Engine” Muibi, has challenged newly crowned WBO Africa cruiserweight champion, Godday “Zodsolo” Appah, for his title.

Muibi, who has a perfect record of 20 fights, 20 wins and 19 knockouts, threw down the gauntlet to his rival yesterday, saying that he was willing to go up to cruiserweight to become a two-division champion.

Appah claimed the title on May 1 in Lagos when he defeated his compatriot Ezra “The King” Arenyeka via majority decision in a 10-round bout. The win improved his record to 15 wins, two losses and no draws with 13 knockouts.
Speaking on the bout, Muibi accused Appah, who had challenged him before facing Arenyeka, of being too scared to face him.

“I want to move up to cruiserweight,” he said. “I’ve cleaned out my division. All possible challengers here in Nigeria and West Africa are too scared to face me so I’ve run out of opponents.

“It’s just a five-kilogramme difference. It’s an easy jump to make, and as a matter of fact, I specifically want to face Godday Appah, aka Zodsolo.

“Earlier this year, he called me out on Instagram, saying all kinds of stuff. But when my management tried to make the fight, he ducked and ran like a coward. He took the easier option of fighting Ezra Arenyeka for the WBO Africa cruiserweight belt.

“Congratulations to him on the win, but now I’m coming for him. If he has the balls, he should stop running and face me in the ring. I will break him down and take his title from him. God willing, I’m going to stop him and become a two-division champion,” he said.

Muibi’s coach, Monsuru Kilani, aka Coach Confidence, also believes his ward has what it takes to wrest the title from Appah.

“We will beat Zod. I’m 100 per cent sure of it,” he said. “Lekan is no ordinary fighter. He’s too strong, too talented, too ferocious and too relentless.

“I’m a man of few words. But I will say this: If Zod has the balls to accept the challenge, I promise, he will face the biggest challenge of his career. We will stop him and take his belt. It’s not a promise. It’s a guarantee.”

Boxing in Lagos is witnessing a renaissance of sorts, with record-breaking scenes witnessed at the much-touted clash between Lagos city rivals Taiwo “Eshepo” Agbaje and Tosin “Sojar Boy” Osaigbovo on April 26.

Agbaje claimed the vacant WBA Africa Lightweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds of an all-action fight. All eyes are now on Appah to see if he will accept Muibi’s challenge.