Nigeria’s Umohette Stops Former World Champion, Mendoza To Win UBC Regional Title In Colombia 

The current International Boxing Association (IBA) Continental Heavyweight Boxing champion Mr Enobong Umohette, also known as “The Nigerian Gentleman” has not only added another feather to his cap but has once again lifted Nigeria’s image positively in the international sporting scene. 

The Akwa Ibom State born, USA based, professional heavyweight boxer in a recent professional boxing contest took on a former multi-division and two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion: Epifanio “Diamante” Mendoza in a scheduled 10-round bout.

The fight was held at the Coliseo de Pascaito David Ruiz Ureche, Santa Marta, Colombia for the vacant Universal Boxing Council (UBC) Afro-Latino Heavyweight title.

Ringside fight commentator, Mr. Fausto Corrales described the first 2 rounds of the fight as measured; with both fighters feeling each other out and proceeding cautiously respecting each other’s power.

The fireworks began in the third round as both Umohette and Mendoza competed for ring center and dominance and tried to outfox each other on the inside and outside.

 In a fierce exchange in the 5th round, Umohette knocked down the former 2 time world champion, who beat the count and continued to fight. The end of the fight came at 2 minutes 17 seconds into 7th round when Umohette unleashed a series of combinations that knocked down Mendoza who could not beat the count, handing Umohette a win by a technical Knock Out in the 7th round.

In a related development, Umohette made an unannounced visit to Nigeria after the fight where he was received in a courtesy call by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner For Sports; Obong Paul Bassey at The Honorable Commissioner’s Office in Uyo.

The courtesy call had a cross section of the media present while Umohette’s promoters Chief (Dr) Monte Ekott and Mr. Erik Flemming both joined in remotely via video conferencing from California USA and New York respectively.

 In his welcome address, The Honorable Commissioner for sports, thanked Umohette for continuing to make Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria proud through his boxing career overseas. He also lauded Umohette’s humility and show of respect by coming home to share this glory with the State and his identifying with the Government of His Excellency Pastor Umoh Eno (Phd).

The Sports Commissioner also stated, that Akwa Ibom State is now blessed with a private sector, business and tourism driven Chief Executive, whose vast experience in the private sector has rapidly accelerated Akwa Ibom State’s global standing in the area of Tourism- with sports, culture and entertainment as key economic drivers.

Obong Paul Bassey further stated that His Excellency, Governor Umoh Eno (Phd) is passionate about transforming Akwa Ibom State into a tourism and commerce driven economy. He also stated that the Administration of Governor Umoh Eno (PhD) has a lengthy history of collaborations in the sport and entertainment sectors; which have brought revenue to the State and has also show-cased the State’s world class sporting and entertainment facilities.

Responding to the Commissioner’s welcome address, Umohette thanked the Honorable Sports Commissioner for making out time at short notice, amid a very busy schedule to receive him in the courtesy call. Umohette also commended His Excellency Governor Umoh Eno (Phd) for his incredible leadership of the state and noted that Governor Umoh Eno (Phd) has in a record and very short period, made amazing strides in growing the state’s economy, through tourism.

Umohette also stated, that he is grateful to Governor Umoh Eno (Phd) who continues to show his administration’s support for Akwa Ibomites, who excel in their chosen fields; whether at home or abroad.

Umohette implored the Honorable Commissioner For Sports, to extend his goodwill message to the Akwa Ibom State Governor and stated that he would be returning to the USA and diaspora community, as a first-hand eye-witness, of the phenomenal strides of Governor Umoh Eno (Phd) in other areas like security, infrastructural development, Information Technology, Agric-economy, small and medium scale business empowerment, science innovation, energy and manufacturing.

Speaking from his base in California USA, the Prominent Onna, Akwa Ibom State born sports enthusiast, industrialist and philanthropist; Chief (Dr) Monte Ekott who also promotes The Nigerian Gentleman, stated that with this recent victory, Umohette has recorded 9 consecutive wins since his 2022 return to the boxing ring and his 18th career victory overall.

He also stated that Umohette has shown remarkable capability of operating at the highest competitive levels of boxing and is set for his final test against another former multi-division and 3 time world champion.

Chief Ekott stated that Umohette’s consistency and career longevity continues to be a source of inspiration, within and outside the boxing ring.  Chief (Dr) Ekott also stated, that with a future 20th career victory, Umohette would then be qualified to vie for any of the prestigious 4 sanctioning world title bodies and will rank in the top 100’s in the world.

Commissioner Bassey invited Umohette and his promotional team,  to explore partnership projects with the Akwa Ibom State Government that could improve the technical capacity of boxers and sports administrators in the state.

He also invited the heavyweight boxing champion and his promotional team to bring international and world championship boxing events to the state and to partner with the State Government in other collaborative efforts that would show-case Akwa Ibom State’s enormous capacity and potentials.

The high point of the courtesy call was a photo-session and presentation of both the IBA and UBC Belts to the Commissioner for Sports by Umohette.