Bash Ali’s World Title Fight: LOC Writes IBU, Seeks Extension For Sanction Fee Payment

HAFEEZ-OLANIRAN BUKUNMI TIMILEYIN

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Bash Ali Guinness World Record Boxing Championship has requested from International Boxing Union (IBU) an extension for the deadline for payment of sanction/approval fee for the fight which Nigeria is scheduled to host soon.

The Atlanta Georgia-based world boxing body, the IBU has demanded that a mandatory sanction/approval fee of $3 million must be paid before Nigeria would be granted official hosting right of the Guinness World Record bout.

P.M. EXPRESS had a privy to a letter dated 25 June, 2019 which was sent to the IBU president, Don Moose Lewis with a request to the IBU to extend the deadline for the payment to at least 60 days.

The letter from the Chairman of the LOC, Chief Kenny Martins reads:

“I and members of the above Local Organizing Committee wish to express our unlimited appreciation for your unlimited support to ensure that Nigeria hosts the first Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight on the soil of Africa.

“When the history of the successful hosting of this historic event in Nigeria is told, it will not be complete without mentioning your name.

“As you are aware of, the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to appoint Ministers to man different Ministries in the Federation, including the Ministry of Sports and Youth.

“Based on this development, I and members of the LOC are respectfully asking you and the World Boxing Championship Committee for a 60 days extension of the Friday June 28, 2019 deadline, please.

“Thank you very much for being a friend of our great country, Nigeria. Respectfully submitted for your kind consideration and approval.”

The IBU had earlier threatening to give the hosting right of the lucrative fight to Germany if Nigeria fail in her bid to pay the sanction/approval fee.

With the organisation of the fight, Nigerian Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, who is popularly called Bash Ali, is on the verge of rewritten boxing history by becoming the oldest man on earth to step on the ring and a win will also make him the oldest man on earth to win a world boxing title at the age of 63.

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the epic fight would attract to Nigeria over 132 countries, it would be watched live across the world on Pay Per View Television (PPVTV) by an estimated audience of between 15-20 million people at the rate of $100 per viewer for a $1.5 billion minimum PPVTV Revenue, five sports academies with Olympic size swimming pool will be built across Nigeria at the rate of $20 million  and a $20 million sports equipment manufacturing factory, and more importantly the tourist impacts the fight will give to Nigeria to earn an unprecedented level of positive publicity worldwide.

Meanwhile, a familiarisation meeting has been proposed between members of the LOC and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Olusade Olusola. This was contained in a letter sent by Bash Ali to the Permanent Secretary on Thursday.

He wrote that the LOC was inaugurated by the erstwhile Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung on 21 May, 2019, adding: “Sir, it is over 35 days since the LOC was inaugurated and the Federal Government gave us 90 days to complete our assignment. We are running out of time so we need to put Nigeria first by moving with deliberate speed to carry out our mandate. Sir, while we await the arrival of a Minister, I respectfully ask you to call for a General Meeting with all the LOC members this week or early next week latest.”