Scorpion, Baby Face boast ahead of explosive boxing contest in Lagos

It is another gathering of top professional boxers in the country. West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion, Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde, and national super featherweight champion, Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola, have promised to return to the ring in an explosive fashion at the forthcoming Boxing Night, scheduled to hold on October 12.

The two shining stars are billed to fight at the event slated for the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. In his last fight, Baby Face famously knocked out Ghana’s Eden Biki, who he punched into unconsciousness in the 10th round. The WABU champion’s next opponent is Jafaaru Suleiman.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the WABU champion said he was already looking beyond Sulaimon, whom he plans to use as preparation for the African Boxing Union title bout.

“Sulaimon is not an opponent in the real sense. He’s a training apparatus. I’m looking beyond the fight, as my target is the ABU title,” he said.

Oyekola, whose last engagement saw him dethrone the long-reigning champion, Taofeek “Taozon” Bisuga at GOtv Boxing Night 18 in Ibadan, said his next opponent, Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan, would face the same fate as Bisuga, who suffered a first-round technical knockout after falling thrice. The Ibadan-based boxer, who spoke in a phone chat, advised Shogbesan to pull out of the bout or risk being beaten legless.

“There is no dispute about me being the best in my category. Bisuga is well placed to tell Shogbesan how I made him see stars. If Shogbesan ignores my advice, the walls of the Indoor Sports Hall will appear to him as wobbling by the time I finish with him,” said Scorpion.

GOtv Boxing Night 20 will be headlined by the much-anticipated pairing of ABU lightweight king, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, and WABU champion, Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, who face each other in the ABU title bout. Also on the card is the national bantamweight title bout between Sadiq Adeleke and Opeyemi “Sense” Adeyemi.

Other bouts include a national welterweight challenge and a national light heavyweight challenge bout between Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu and Kabiru “KB Godson Towolawi; as well as a national featherweight challenge bout between Tope “TP Rock” Musa and Olusegun “Embargo” Moses.

Graduates of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search 5 will also make their debut at the event as Alaba “Elybow” Omotola, the best boxer of the competition, will take on Bolaji “Fight to Finish” Abdullahi in a national lightweight challenge contest.

There is also an all-female bout with Cynthia “Bobby Girl” Ogunsemilore billed to square up to Aminat “Smart” Yekini in a super featherweight challenge.