ADEBOBOLA ALAWODE
L-R: Azzur, Don King and Ekpo in Florida, USA.
Nigeria’s professional Super Middleweight boxer, rated Number 2 in the world, Isaac ‘The Grenade’ Ekpo has given reasons he dumped Landmark Promotions for Azzur Management.
His new outfit named Azzur Management is owned by Nelson Aiyelabowo, a Nigerian based in the United States of America, USA.
The professional pugilist, (32-2, 25KO) who is currently in the US preparing for his next fight against a yet to be disclosed opponent hinted that a number of reasons accounted for his decision to team up with Azzur Management, a sports management company with different professional boxers under his management.
Speaking from the United States, Ekpo among other reasons said he decided to change camp because of the prospects that his new management team has on offers.
According to the Nigerian-born professional pugilist, “My decision to dump Landmark Promotions for Azzur Management was based on series of reasons chiefs among are lies, deceit, funds embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. Let me also state it clearly that, my new management team led by Aiyelabowo has shed more light on what legendary professional boxing promoter, Don King did for me while I was under Landmark Promotions.”
Ekpo stated further that with the support he is getting from Don King, he is battle ready for any opponent that comes his way. “I am elated to have signed a management deal with Azzur and his team and if not for the support that I had been enjoying from the bigman, I mean Don King I won’t be here in the States, my previous team shortchanged me, when I lost my wife, Don King sent some money to me but not until I got here I never got to know about it, as for my next fight I want to assure Nigerians and the world that the title is coming to Nigeria.”
On his part, Aiyelabowo expressed joy over the acquisition of Ekpo under his management. He affirmed that he would do all within his means to ensure that Ekpo is crowned a world champion in his weight category.
Babatunde while expressing optimism, thanked Don King for offering his fellow citizen an opportunity to achieve his heart desires, “Don King must be commended because he has done a lot for Ekpo, I am not signing his praises but the truth must be told, I have known Don King for a while and I won’t lie to you the machinery has been set in motion and in little or no time a world champion would be announced in person of Ekpo, we are bringing the title to Nigeria.”