Tinubu, Holyfield Set For A Big ‘Fight’ In Lagos

MICHAEL AKINOLA with agency report

Legendary five-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield will be in Lagos, Nigeria in May to engage in the most anticipated exhibition boxing match that will pit him against former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

American-born Holyfield, 54, will be in the boxing ring to tackle 65-year old Tinubu in a fight, tagged “Rhumbles in Lagos’’, on 25 May at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

According to a statement by Foluke Michael, Project Manager of the ‘BAT vs Holyfield bout’, the charity event is the first of its kind on the African continent and it will be refereed by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

She added that the fight will be beamed live to the world.

In an endorsement material released, Tinubu said: “I can’t wait to knock Evander down. I’m the real champion of the world!’’

The private sector-initiated event is designed as a contribution to the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of Lagos State under the ongoing project, Lagos @50, chaired by Soyinka.

“Significantly, it is aimed at bringing world attention to some health-related issues in Africa, and will focus on cases such as Autism in Children, Breast Cancer, Mental Illness and HIV/AIDS and River Blindness,” Michael said.

She also added that it will also especially focus on the plight of Africans living with Disabilities among others.

Through the event, the organisers would donate five 40 ft. containers of medical and relief materials worth over $2 million dollars to Lagos State Government and other neighbouring states.

Part of the proceeds from the event would benefit not-for-profit organisations and agencies in Lagos which cater to, and were engaged in research programmes aimed at eradicating these medical conditions.

The “Real Deal’’ Evander Holyfield billed to arrive Lagos days earlier before the bout, would engage children and youths in the course of his visit.

The charity fight is promoted by ACI Entertainment and Bishop Entertainment Consult based in Atlanta, Georgia.