London-based Taye “Esepor” Agbaje has declared himself excited and in a killer mood as he gets ready to fight in Nigeria for the first time in three years.
The explosive West African Boxing Union (WABU) featherweight boxing champion, who made the declaration in a phone interview on Wednesday, is billed to fight Ghana’s Emmanuel “Agogo” Mensah in an international featherweight challenge bout at GOtv Boxing Night 26 on 20 August.
The eight-bout show will be held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. The boxer, who has had fights in Bolton and Liverpool, said since his recent return to Nigeria, his fans have clamoured that he fights on GOtv Boxing Night bill.
“I can tell you that I’m happy to have this opportunity to fight at GOtv Boxing Night. I’m really excited and in a killer mood. I do not care who Emmanuel Mensah is. I will be victorious, and my victory will be a reward for my fans, who have expressed desire to see me at GOtv Boxing Night. GOtv has been good to boxers. I urge my fans to come to the venue of the show,” he said.
Before leaving for the UK, Esepor caused a stir with a self-recorded viral video in which he castigated the government for treating boxers shabbily.
In the video, an irate Esepor said GOtv Boxing Night and Flykite Productions, the show organisers, have been the only pillars of support for Nigerian boxers.
“It is the money I earn from GOtv Boxing Night and Flykite that has kept my family afloat. I bought tricycles with the cash prize of best boxer at GOtv Boxing Night,” he said in the video.
Esepor also said he is out to win the N1million attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy again. If he does, he will not be the only one cash prize winner on the night, as the organisers have introduced a N500,000 prize for the runner-up to the best boxer.
GOtv Boxing Night 26 will also see the return of two famous names, Abolaji “Afonja Warrior” Rasheed, former WABU middleweight champion, and policeman Prince “Lion” Nwoye who, respectively, will fight “Tanko” Suleiman and Funsho Moshood in the super welterweight and lightweight bouts.
The lightweight division will also see Samuel “African Mayweather” Adebayo face Bartholomew Abuchi, while Ayobami “Latest” Azeez will take on Sodiq “Golden Boy” Oyakojo.
Stephen “Freeman Kadima”, best boxer at the last edition, will take on Muritador Monyashau in a cruiserweight bout.
In the light welterweight category, Kabiru “KB Sniper” Salawu will try Yusuf Ogunbunmi for size, while the super bantamweight division has a pairing of Tosin “Soja Boy” Osaigbovo and Tajudeen Amusa. The show will be broadcast live on Supersport in 50 African countries.
