Ekundayo, Ajose Title Fights May Hold In Lago Soon

Larry Ekundayo

There are strong indications that two of Lagos State born international boxing stars, Larry Ekundayo and Olusegun Ajose may have the opportunity of having their title fights staged in Lagos courtesy of the generosity of the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The plan to give these boxers the opportunity to fight in the full glare of their home fans was born out of the vision of Governor Ambode to give all Lagos State born sports men and women a sense of belonging during the lifetime of the present administration.

Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, who is also the Special Adviser on Sports to the Governor, Mr. Deji Tinubu disclosed at the Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the second of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in office held recently in Alausa, Ikeja that the state government is keen on having Ekundayo defence his title in Lagos very soon, while Ajose will also be given the chance of fighting in Lagos.

Ekundayo’s career as a professional boxer started in November 2012 when he defeated three boxers in one night to become the Light Middleweight Prizefighter champion in London. He became the first boxer in the competition to be given a £2,000 knockout bonus.

Ever since he went professional, Ekundayo has been in 11 fights – and he has emerged undefeated in all. In October 2016, he defended his African Boxing Union’s Welterweight title by beating Ghanaian boxer, Joseph ‘The Double Horror’ Lamptey. Soon after that fight, he signed a management deal with MGM.

Ekundayo has an important Commonwealth Welterweight Championship fight coming up in June against Australian, Kris George, who currently holds the title. If he wins he will become the first African to hold that title.

Olusegun Ajose

Ajose, who won a gold medal at the 1999 All-Africa Games in the light welterweight category, has been nursing the ambition of fighting in Lagos. He tried unsuccessfully during the administration of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. The former Nigerian and African Boxing Union (ABU) light welterweight title holder would however be gracious to see this dream coming to past this time.

Though no dates have been fixed for the fights of the two boxers, Tinubu disclosed that the project of the international boxing championships is one of the priorities of the sports commission.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sports Commission has said that one of the reasons the Lagos State Government planned to take over the National Stadium in Surulere is to bring back the lost glory of the sportscity. He said that gone were the days when the Nigerian darling national football team, the Super Eagles used to play in Lagos. According to Tinubu, a former board member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, when the government fully takeover the National Stadium, Lagosians will have the opportunity of watching the Eagles live in action again.

“Lagos State is not happy with the state of the National Stadium and the government plans to see that the pride of the edifice is restored and to see that complex a proper indoor arena for international sports championships,” Tinubu said.