Bash Ali’s Fight: Meeting With NEXIM Bank, BOI, Ministry Shifted

A meeting planned by Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung between the Chief Executive officers (CEOs) of NEXIM Bank, Bank of Industry (BOI) and the camp of world boxing champion, Bash Ali (OON) has been postponed till the first week of the New Year. 

The Minister had last week told Bash Ali, while on a visit to his office in Abuja, that there was a need for the meeting to hold in order to get to the root of the crisis that caused the delay of releasing of funds by the banks for the Guinness Book of World Record Boxing Championship between Nigeria’s Bash Ali and American Rick Camlin which has been scheduled to hold in Nigeria very soon.

The Minister had fixed the meeting for today (Thursday)  but PM EXPRESS gathered that the banks were planing to send representatives to the meeting, an action which did not go down well with Sports Minister, who insisted that he wanted to meet with the Acting Managing Directors of the two banks as he would love to see those high ranking officials at the meeting so that any decision taking towards releasing of funds for the fight will be binding on all parties and swift action will be taken for the implementation of the decisions.

“We have communicated the new development to Bash Ali and I would advise that you get in touch with him on this, ” a close aide of the Minister said early on Thursday.

The World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion himself told PM EXPRESS that the Minister’s office has informed him about the decision to shift the meeting so that the CEOs of both NEXIM Bank and the Bank of Industry will be around.

“We were told to meet again after the New Year holiday by Tuesday for us to decide on a new date which will be either Thursday or Friday next week for the meeting. This is being done to have everybody at the round table so that a decision regarding the funds for the fight could be reached by the bosses of the two banks instead of the representatives.

“This is okay with us. I believe that the meeting will sort out the issue of funding, after which we can plan for the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and then we will hold a world press conference to announce a date for the fight, ” said Bash Ali, who holds a traditional title of Ajagungbade of Ibadan land.

The ageless boxer commended the role being played by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, saying” I’m happy with the decision of the Minister and the patriotic action to see that the fight holds without any hitch. We are very glad in my camp. We want to commend Minister Dalung for his efforts so far and the  Federal Government’s approval of the history making fight, the first-ever in Africa.

“This is about bringing no fewer than 132 countries of the world to Nigeria to witness the Guinness Book of World Record Boxing Championship. The added values cannot be quantifiable. Nigeria stands to gain a lot in this,”he  said.