Rasheed Idowu, the Ibadan-based boxer, has been awarded the UBO African light-heavyweight belt after a disputed match in Accra ended in a draw despite the Nigerian knocking out his Ghanaian opponent, as reported by PETER AKINBO.
Delight filled Nigerian boxer, Rasheed Idowu, upon receiving his Universal Boxing Organisation African light-heavyweight belt following a contentious match in Accra, Ghana. The bout, which initially ended in a draw, was later overturned in favor of Idowu despite dominating the fight and sending his Ghanaian counterpart, Bastie Samie, to the canvas twice.
The Ghanaian officials had declared the fight a draw, but the UBO reversed the decision in favor of the Nigerian boxer. The UBO belt was handed over by the Ghana Boxing Authority to the chairman of NBBofC in Lagos State. It took 13 more days for the belt to reach its rightful owner, Idowu, who resides in Ibadan and trains at the Francis Aiyegbeni Boxing Club.
Receiving his belt at the NBBofC office in Surulere, Lagos State on Wednesday filled the 25-year-old with immense joy. “I’m so happy and I give thanks to God and big thanks to my manager Mrs. Edna Aiyegbeni. It means a lot to my life that I have this belt now. I have gained more knowledge and more fans all around the world,” Idowu expressed.
Reflecting on his controversial win, Idowu stated, “That victory makes me know that my future is bright, and so I will keep training to keep fit. The next step is to defend my belt and retain it,” as shared with NewsNow.
Dubbed ‘ID Buster’, Idowu faced off against Ghanaian Samie on April 13 at the Decathlon Kawukudi Park in Accra. Despite knocking out his opponent and expecting a win, the match commissioner and the announcer surprisingly declared the bout a “technical draw,” sparking bewilderment among spectators.
Critics and fans on social media voiced their dissent, with some calling it a “daylight robbery.” The video of the fight went viral, prompting the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control to take action by lodging a protest with the UBO and sharing the footage online to expose the injustice.
Acknowledging the controversy, Secretary-General of the NBBofC, Remi Aboderin, shared, “Idowu knocked him out cold in round two, and we started hearing stories. The opponent could not even stand up, but the GBA announced a technical draw. It was so disgraceful and distasteful.”
The UBO intervened and endorsed Idowu’s victory two days after the fight. They expressed their support for Idowu and acknowledged the injustice he faced, leading to the official declaration of Idowu as the UBO Africa Light Heavyweight champion.
Idowu commended the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control for standing by him and ensuring justice prevailed, turning his dream into reality.
The NBBofC deserves my heartfelt thanks for their efforts in rectifying the situation that occurred in Ghana, and I would also like to extend my gratitude to my fans.
Upon arriving in Nigeria, I could already feel the overwhelming love and support from the fans even before the UBO intervened and reversed the outcome of my fight. Their unwavering belief in me brought me immense joy, even prior to receiving the championship belt.
Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, the Chairman of NBBofC, highlighted that the GBA raised concerns about potential fan unrest following Idowu’s decisive victory, leading to the declaration of a technical draw.
He mentioned, “The GBA admitted their error, expressing fears of fan aggression, but swiftly made amends, ensuring the integrity of the sport prevails. We have always upheld fairness in bouts involving Ghanaian boxers, and such injustices will not be tolerated.”
The rectification of the injustice done to our boxer by the boxing authority, affirming the true champion with his deserving belt, fills us with pride. We intervened to ensure justice prevailed, reflecting our commitment to uphold fairness, as witnessed when foreign boxers competingly fairly on Nigerian soil.
Idowu, however, noted that the fans were captivated by his dynamic boxing style.
“The attempt to avert fan disturbances contradicted the fans’ actual response, as they cheered enthusiastically upon witnessing a knockout, seeking entertainment,” he added.
Aboderin, also serving as the President of the West African Boxing Union, advised the boxer that this title serves as a pathway to more triumphs, urging him to remain resolute, with the assurance that the board will consistently support its boxers.
Furthermore, plans are underway to introduce the boxer to the Governor of Osun State, his home state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, along with traditional leaders from both regions to receive their blessings and financial backing.