GOtv Boxing: We’re keen on popularising boxing in Nigeria — Betking

Neil Bothma, the Chief Operating Officer of BetKing Nigeria, has said that the company’s objective in its partnership with Gotv Boxing was to popularise the sport.

Bothma told our reporter on Thursday in Lagos that by so doing, restive youths could be directed to meaningful pursuits that would instill the right character in them.

“Boxing is a great sport, we can win today or win any day just as it is in Betking anybody within the legal age can win today or any other day.

“We will do our best to make sure funds are available for the Gotv boxing show and build on this relationship hopefully for many years to come.

“We also intend to develop our software programme such that we include more local games and competitions such as the Nigeria Professional Football League and hopefully the Gotv Boxing Night,” he said.

Similarly, Akin Salu, the General Manager, Gotv Boxing Night, told our reporter that he was excited with the pace with which GOtv was developing boxing in Nigeria.

Salu added that ever since GOtv decided to throw their weight behind the sport, tremendous changes have been recorded.

“We did not want to come into boxing as a flash-in-the-pan, we wanted to go all the way to revive boxing in Nigeria.

“We are happy about the success story so far and we can only get better, we are basically focused on doing more for the sport.

“Business wise, we have spread the love of the sport through 47 African countries, and 52 cities in Nigeria which has brought more viewership for the event.

“Other African countries have been inviting our boxers to fight due to the exposure GOtv has provided for the boxers, we are excited about this and we can only do more,’’ Salu said.

It was reported that seven local bouts and two international fights are set to take the centre stage on July 29 at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

Nigeria’s Oto “Joe Boy’’ Joseph will slug it out with Ghana’s Nathaniel Nukpe in a lightweight African boxing Union title fight.

Also, Akeem “Dodo’’ Sadiku and France Houanvoegbe of the Republic of Benin will clash for the lightweight African Boxing Union title fight.

Kazeem ‘’Iberu’’ Ariyo will fight GOtv crowd puller Olajide “Fijaborn’’ Fijabi in a national welterweight fight.

Idowu ‘’ID Cabasa’’ Okusote will square up against Micheal ‘’Lion Heart’’ Godwin in a cruiserweight challenge bout, while Prince ‘’lion’’ Nwoye has a date with Ridwan ‘’Scorpion’’ Oyekola in a national lightweight fight.

GOtv prodigy, Waidi ‘’Skoro’’ Usman is set to battle Azinga Fuzile in South Africa for the Africa Boxing Union featherweight title belt on the same fight night.