LAGOS – A boxer, Moses Obasi of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday boasted that he would emerge champion in the light heavyweight category of the ongoing Ibile Games.
Obasi made the boast in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the Jalisco Sports Centre, Oshodi, venue of the boxing event at the Games.
He was reminiscing overhis ousting of Gbenga Adewale of Oto-Awori LCDA on Monday via knock out from the competition.
The Games, which started at the various centres in Lagos on April 30, will end on May 11.
The boxer said he knocked out Adewale in the third round with a left hook that left his opponent unconscious for almost 30 minutes.
“I saw him coming fast at me with a straight right punch, which I dodged to my left and responded with a right hook and straight punch that connected to his jaw.
“It was the hook that completely flattened him out,” he said.
Obasi said he was putting up a good performance so as to qualify for the 19th National Sports Festival, tagged `Paradise Games’, scheduled for Calabar, the Cross River capital in November.
Yinka Adeyeye, Coach of Orile-Agege LCDA said he was confident of the ability of his fighters to win in the various categories because of their dedication to training.
“My fighters have been undergoing a strict training regime, which kept them sharp and fit for occasions like this,” he said.
Adeyeye said three of his fighters won in their first round matches but advised them to remain focused because there were still plenty of bouts before the finals.
According to him, Adeoye Adeniji of Orile-Agege LCDA defeated Jonah Skinpaul of Lagos Island East Local Government Area (LGA) 3-0 in the welterweight category.
NAN reports that the hall was filled to capacity by spectators who thronged the venue in their numbers to watch the fights.
Some of them had engaged in betting but this was done quietly, so as not to attract the attention of the officials because gambling was prohibited at the sports centres. (NAN)