GOtv Boxing Night 20: Argentina’s Baracamonte Arrives for WBF Title Bout, Confident Of Victory

Argentine boxer, Antonio “Chiquito” Barracamonte, arrived Lagos last night for World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental heavyweight title bout against US-based Nigerian, Onoriode “Godzilla” Ehwarieme. Baracamonte, who arrived along with his coach and manager, said he is not in Nigeria for tourism, but to win the title. 

Speaking through his manager, Patricio Agustin Retondaro, on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, the boxer said he happy to visit Nigeria for the first time.

“I’m very happy to be here in Lagos, Nigeria. I have received a very nice welcome from the people. But I’m not here for sightseeing. I’m here for business, which is to return to Argentina with the WBF title. Onoriode stands no chance of winning. I’m not boasting. That he’s fighting in his country is no advantage. I’ve defeated many boxers in their home countries, so he won’t be an exception,” he said.

Baracamonte stated that while Ehwarieme maybe perceived as a knockout specialist, he has garnered more international experience and faced better boxers than his Nigerian opponent.

“My opponent is a puncher, he has knockout power but I think I’ve faced better opponents than he has. Although he has more fights, I have better international experience in title fights and better results from those fights,” he said.

The Argentine boxer explained that he is not fazed by either the staging of the fight in Ehwarieme’s home country or the support his opponent will get from his fans during the bout on Saturday. He added that Nigerians should expect a shocker as he will knockout his opponent on his home turf.

“Actually, I feel better fighting as a visitor. I already have international experience fighting overseas, so I don’t feel any pressure. It is better for me.

“My aim is to win by knockout because I know being a visitor, it is hard to win by a points’ decision,” Baracamonte said.

The WBF title fight is the headline contest of the nine-bout GOtv Boxing Night, which will also feature live musical performances by Zlatan, Mayorkun, Oritsefemi and Fuji star and Sule Alao Malaika among others.

But Ehwarieme, who has had a number of fights in Argentina against the country’s boxers, described Baracamonte’s boast as impotent.

“I have fought in Argentina against Argentine boxers. Not one of them lasted the distance. I go into the ring against Argentine boxers thinking of avenging Nigeria’s defeats in the hands of Argentina’s football teams. I have been succeeding and will keep putting them in their place,” said the Nigerian who has 17 knockout victories and one loss in 18 fights.

The tournament will also feature other big names on the domestic boxing circuit. They include Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu and Rilwan “Baby Face”, both of whom will defend their West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight and welterweight titles respectively; Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola, national super featherweight champion; and Adewale “Masevex” Masebinu, national light heavyweight champion.