GOtv Boxing Night 31: Controversies Trail Officiating

Boxing fans have expressed disappointment over some officiating calls at GOtv Boxing Night 31, which took place on Wednesday night at the Molade Okoya Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The seven-bout event, which ended at about 9.40 pm, had fans going on social media platforms to complain that the judges in the national flyweight challenge bout between the national champion, Sifon “Best” Iwatt and Sikiru “Isho” Ogunyanju declared it a draw.

The fight being a draw angered fans at the venue and those watching from home, who believe that Iwatt was robbed of victory. They subsequently took to social media to express their anger. One Instagram user, imakingleymide, wrote:” I don’t understand how the judges can declare this a draw. Iwatt won the fight. Who chose these judges?’. Another user, imbolaji, expressed a similar view, accusing the show promoters of ruining what would have been a great night for boxing. “Maybe the judges watched a different fight. If they watched the same fight, Sifon won. No be by draw. Na the promoters cause this rubbish,” he wrote.

Just as there were fans angry that Iwatt was not declared winner, there were others who believed that Isho won the fight and should have been declared the winner instead of the official announcement being proclaimed a draw.

There were also a few disaffected fans, who complained about the outcome of the West African Boxing Union title fight between Segun ‘War” Adeyemi and Adeyemi ‘Spirit” Adekanla, which was won by the former. The latter, however, started jumping up before the announcement of the winner in a manner that suggested he knew he won. Complaints about that were limited to the venue.

Reacting to questions on fan discontent at the officiating decisions, Chief Operating Officer of Flykite Promotions, Bamidele Johnson, said promoters have nothing to do with the choice of officials, but the sanctioning body.

‘We do not select officials and have no role in their selection. It is the job of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) to select officials. We trust the judgment of the NBB of C. We have worked with the board for a long time and as such, we have confidence in whatever choices they make,” said Johnson.

GOtv Boxing Night 31 produced the youngest-ever winner of its best boxer award in 16-year old -Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun, who won the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and a N1million cash prize. Badoo is the son of Jamiu ‘Rotor” Animashaun, a former boxer, who fought at the first two editions of GOtv Boxing Night.