WBF Title Defense: NBBofC Hails Sports Minister for Saving Scorpion’s Belt

The secretary of the governing and regulatory body of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, (NBBofC), Remi Aboderin has lauded the kind gesture of the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare towards professional boxing.

The minister last weekend pledged to support the current World Boxing Federations (WBF) Super Featherweight Champion, Ridwan ‘Scorpion’ Oyekola in his quest to defend his title against an opponent from Georgia, Giorgi Gogatishvili.

NBBofC scribe has described the gesture as first of its kind from the of office of the minister.

Aboderin who doubles as the president of West African Boxing Union (WABU) also noted that the minister’s intervention had also given a relieve to the apprehension of the boxer losing the belt, as the global body that is managing the belt; World Boxing Federation (WBF) has agreed to shift the date of the title defense to December 26.

It would be noted that Scorpion had been facing lots of challenges, especially on finances towards defending the WBF belt he won last December courtesy of support from Dotun Sanusi of Ilaji Hotels and Resort.

The title defense fight that was earlier fixed for 30th of this month seems not realisable according to Core Afrique Boxing Promotions that is managing Scorpion.

The boxer might be stripped of the title by the global body that is managing the belt if he could not defend it this year.

“President of WBF, Howard Goldberg has agreed with us to shift the fight after he read the news about the intervention of our minister and that is why I am making this statement to warmly appreciate the Honourable Minister”, said Aboderin.

He added that “Minister has pledged to appeal to his friends and corporate bodies to support the title defense of Oyekola. This is a commendable gesture, as the minister has shown that he’s not for football alone as often been demonstrated by many of his predecessors.”

“NBBofC as a body want to thank the Minister for his support this time around for the professional boxing, as the game still needed support from all and sundry to be at par with the western world hence we can produce many more boxing world champions”, Remi Aboderin enthused.