Sunleye-Solawumi Olaleye
28 December 2008
Lagos — What would probably had become a disaster year for West Africa in the 'Sweet Science' sport, boxing, was thankfully prevented by a trio of boxers who did their best to ensure the African sub-region has presence in the end of year list of international title holders. (Nigeria's Ajose Olusegun and the duo of Anyetei Laryea and Joseph Agbeko hanged on to their various international titles to ensure this.)
The sub-region had always ended the year in boxing with a rash of world champions in the past. But with so much slow movements in the sport in 2008, things were not looking as good as it used to be by the middle of the year. The loss of Samuel 'The Nigerian Nightmare' Peter to Vitali Klitschko was compounding the prospect by October.
Agbeko's effort was poignant because it was not only the last in the year to ensure that the sub-region sub-region, had the three slots in boxing's international titles haul, but had to do that through the most tortuous of routes - all the 12 rounds planned for the title defence fight against one of the most veritable contenders in his bantamweight division; William Gonzalez from Managua, Nicaragua.
The victory ensured the Ghanaian, who is obviously following the road beaten and paved by compatriots such as Azumah Nelson, improved his fight record to 26-1. The 28-year old called King Kong, who won the International Boxing Federation title in September of 2007, even had to come back home from his new, New York base, to have an 18-day training at the Azumah Nelson gym.
Although it was his fifth victory on the trot, but it was one he might remember for long in the remaining part of his career at the top, having had to wrought it via a split decision which had him taking the whip hand of 116-112 on two of the judges' scorecard; the third scored him an even 114-114.
However, it was apparent coming into the fight that it was going to be one of the punch-trade sessions of his career because, with Gonzalez arriving with five consecutive fights victory as against his four, his opponent was homing on a roll. The defeat slowed down the Nicaraguan to a 21-3 career tale at the tape, and effectively ended his winning streak up to that point.
Agbeko's victory was the first defence of the title he won in September of last year when he stopped Luis Alberto Perez in the seventh round.
Way back in 2006 when Ajose Olusegun made his sensational statement declaring that the best boxers in the world in his light welterweight category were afraid of going into the ring with him, a section of the fight world thought they had got a modern day big mouth. But events in the next months started proving him right. He had to wait for over one and a half years before getting a shot at the title. And even at that, his June 14, 2007 chance only came courtesy of the fact that with everyone avoiding him, the throne became vacant. It went vacant for a long time before he was given the chance.
When the night finally came for him that 2007 summer against Gary Reid for the vacant Commonwealth light welterweight title, the Nigerian seized it with both hands.
Twelve months before that chance came, about two boxers had entered into an agreement to fight for the vacant title with all of them pulling out; Colin Lynes did his just ten days before the bout was scheduled to happen.
To persuade Lynes to reconsider, Olusegun put so many options on the table, amongst of which was that should he lose, he would still retain his British title. He said: "If Colin Lynes wants to get it on I am ready for him too. There are no excuses this time for him not to fight me for the Commonwealth title - his British title will be safe even when I knock him out.
On another occasion, to get Ricky Hatton in the ring with him, he said he would be rooting for Hatton in one of his fights so that if he won the fight, the Briton can come on to face him. "I will also be rooting for Ricky Hatton when he fights Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas next week. Ricky is a real fighter's fighter and I would welcome the opportunity to fight him. I am so eager to get in the ring with him I would fight him for my purse only so if I he beats me he doesn't have to pay me.
"I am desperate to fight the best but the best don't want to fight me. I am a lonely shark in the light welterweight ocean.
"I need big fights to satisfy my hunger and 2007 and 2008 are going to be big years for me now that I am finally getting the chances I deserve.
When he finally got his chance against Reid, he was so happy he declared: "I have great respect for Gary Reid who is 13-16-1 (8), as he is the only British based fighter who is willing to get into the ring with me."
On the night, Olusegun arrived the ring undefeated in all professional fights at 19-0 (10) and won the title going 20-0.
Last February, the Nigerian known as Ring Marshall, successfully defended at the Peterlee Leisure Centre in County Durham, England against local challenger, Nigel Wright, of Hartlepool on a Barry Hearn/Matchroom Sport promotion.
Against Wright, most fight analysts believed The Marshall might have a lot of troubles against another fighter who is similar to him in many ways and come into the roped square peddling similar tales: both are southpaws, both aged 28, both are 5 feet 9 inches tall, both have a reach of 71 inches, both made their debuts in 2001 and both men have had 21 fights! However, their ring styles proved completely different and it gave the Nigerian his edge to edge out Wright on a unanimous decision of 116-113, 116-113 and 116-113 on all three scorecards.
After their successful title defences, the IBF bantamweight champion, known as King Kong Agbeko, and the Ring Marshall of Nigeria, have both declared everyone in sight wanted on the road map to unify their categories.
For the King Kong, the two other world champions wanted in his road map to unify the category under his rulership are IBO champion Silence Mabuza and WBO champion Gerry Penalosa.
As for Olusegun, despite his intentions, his declaring everyone wanted and his seeming to have paid his dues, opponents are still touching him with a long stick.
Recently, Timothy Bradley, who is the World Boxing Council title holder in his category, declared a need to unify the belts saying that kind of fights was what the game needs adding that: "The champions have to unify so the fans can know once and for all who the real champion is. I'm confident that I'm that man, and I'm ready to prove it against all comers."
But despite Bradley's big talk, he does not seem to want Olusegun as he has been reported to have turned down a fight offer of £250,000 to fight the 'dangerman' in Nigeria.
Bradley's excuse was simple: "Nigeria is just too far to travel. Besides that, he said too: "I'm the champion so I can decide who and where I fight."
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