National Boxing Championships: Osoba, Oyesiji Fire Verbal Missiles Ahead Of Showdown

IKPO IGBINOBA 

With five weeks to the National Boxing Championships, the fireworks have started flying. 

Beyond the preparation in their respective clubs and states, some boxers have launched verbal missiles all in a bid to intimidate other contenders. 

In the pugilistic trade whether in the professional or amateur ranks, such preamble is allowed and it actually serves as the appetiser to the main course of a major showdown. 

The looming National Boxing Championship organised by the Nigeria Boxing Federation(NBF) is all-important as it serves the dual purpose of ranking the boxers and raising a team for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Two of the boxers who will slug it out during the event scheduled for March in Lagos took time off their training schedule to speak with PM Express exclusively.

They are friends and they fight in different weight categories. 

They are Abdulafeez Osoba and Aircraft Man (ACM) Babatunde Oyesiji of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

Osoba, Nigeria’s best ranked boxer said he was not going to take chances in the championship.

According to him “I am putting everything into my preparation and I will not take chances because how I perform in the championship will determine my future in the game. 

The welterweight fighter who’s number eleven ranked boxer in the world said after missing out of the Tokyo Olympics it would be disastrous for him not to qualify for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

He revealed “Not attending the Tokyo Olympics because we failed to attend the qualifiers really hurt me, but I have since put that experience behind me”.

“Now, the National Championship offers me an opportunity to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. I will never miss this opportunity”.

Osoba dismissed the suggestion that he could be complacent because of his high rating by the International Boxing Association(IBA).

“I can’t be complacent because in boxing it is dangerous to  be complacent. I don’t underrate any opponent. In every fight, I put in my very best and the strategy has worked well for me”, he stressed.

Oyesiji, known as the “Bomber”by his fans said he has no reason not to dominate his light welterweight category.

The NAF man who though has not hit global prominence like his friend, Osoba has an impressive fight record of twenty eight wins out of thirty bouts with thirteen knock outs. 

Oyesiji called the “Bomber”because of his knock out punches.

He vowed “I am going to fight like I have never done before.The National Boxing Championships is very crucial in that it will serve as trials for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

“I just have to put in my best to be part of the Commonwealth Games team.”.

Oyesiji thanked the NAF, the Deputy Director of Sports, Group Captain O. E. Abanum and his coach Warrant Officer  Ugboh Okeson for their support at all times with a promise that he won’t disappoint them.

According to him “All I have achieved so far  in boxing is due to the support I have received from my employer, the Nigeria Air Force, my Deputy Director of Sports, Group Captain O. E. Abanum and my coach Warrant Officer Ugboh Okeson.”

“The only way I can thank them is to perform well at the championship and that’s exactly what I will do”.