Bash Ali needs no introduction to Nigerian boxing fans. He was one-time World Boxing Union Cruiserweight champion. His name has been synonymous with plans to organise a Guinness Book of World Record fight in the country, which is yet to see the light of the day. In this interview with Ifeanyi Eduzor, he spoke on why the fight has not happened and plans to organise it in May this year and many more.
For sometime now, nobody has heard of you or your planned Guinness Book of World Record fight. What’ s actually happening?
Thank you for that question. The truth is that the fight had some challenges but right now we have started discussion with the Lagos State Government through the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission and he has agreed to send a memo to the governor for the fight to hold on May 25 this year. Once we get the green light, which we hope to get, we will set up a new Local Organising Committee for the fight. So, we’ re really working behind the scene to ensure the fight takes place this time around.
I’m particularly happy that the fight is now going to be staged in Lagos State where I was born and it is in this great Centre of Excellence I plan to re- write boxing history. You know that many principal actors have tried it in the past but none did it in their place of birth and that’s why mine is going to be different.
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What makes you think this date will be realistic, considering that Governor Akinwumi Ambode is not going for second term and his tenure will expire on May 29, few days before the proposed fight date?
One thing you should know is that government is a continuum and that is why we are following the right channel to ensure we get the approval of the state government for the fight. Apart from this, we want to use the fight to say a very big thank you to a governor whose policies in the last four years has impacted positively on Lagosians and I have no doubt in my mind that the fight will happen this time.
Why has it been so difficult to organise this fight in the past?
The simple answer is corruption and bad administration. You are aware that in Nigeria, when you are not ready to share money, people see you as controversial, unserious and a bad person. But I always believe we can do the right thing and get result and it should not be bribe all the time. And I also want to prove a point that you don’ t need to travel outside the country to be successful and that is the jinx I want to break. I’ m also happy that we now have a president, who is upright and who wants everybody to be upright so that things will move well in our country.
It is also important for you to know that I met Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on November 13, last year, and we discussed at length and he told me he was sorry for everything that had happened and promised they are going to put things right. You know there is nothing more powerful like an idea whose time has cone and this is the time for the fight to be a reality.
But during the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, you claimed that the government mandated some banks to bankroll the fight, why didn’t they do that?
Everything boils down to the corruption I mentioned earlier. What happened was that the Federal Government mandated NEXIM Bank and Bank of Industries to fund the fight. Money was approved but when it was time to release it, they started demanding for bribe and I told them, I was not ready to do that. I went to their office three times and was arrested by the police, who charged me to court for disturbing public peace and I was remanded at Kuje Prisons where I spent 44 days. But that did not dampen my morale nor make me give up; rather I’ m happy that I was able to come out of it and now more determined than ever before to ensure that this fight happens.
How do you react to the claim of the two banks that money was never approved for the fight by the government and even accused you of trespass and using thugs to prevent their customers from gaining access into the banking hall, which led to your arrest?
They were just trying to be economical with the truth and to paint me bad before Nigerians. They cannot claim that the then president did not approve the money because I have all the evidence at my disposal. On the allegation that I blocked their gate and prevented customers from gaining access to the bank, that is also not correct because I went there to demand for my right. But like I told you, I’m now thinking ahead because we’ re gradually coming to the end of the tunnel.
Having said this, you should also understand that in this part of the World, people will only associate with you when you break even. Take Anthony Joshua, for example; when he came to Nigeria to represent the country, he was denied the opportunity but now that he is a World champion, everybody is now identifying with him.
Nigerians would like to know who will be your opponent in this history making fight?
Right now, we have about ten opponents lined up for the fight and out of these, one will be chosen. You’ re aware that we’ve chosen several opponents in the past and the fight never happened and it is an embarrassment when you sign boxers and the fight never happened. So, our plan is to wait for the governor, who will invite to Nigeria Presidents of World Boxing Union and International Boxing Federation for discussion and it is there that an opponent will be chosen, who, I believe, will be a white American. The interesting thing is that all the top ten boxers are between the ages of 31 and 32 and they are going to face a 63-year-old man and people have been asking whether I want to committee suicide but the answer is no because I want to shock the world.
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At 63, do you think you still have what it takes to fight, especially when one considers the fact that you last fought in 2004 when you easily defeated British Tony Booth?
I’ m aware that many people are asking the same question. What am doing is beyond human comprehension because most young people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are having one medical challenge or another but here you see a man in his 60s without any medical problem.
I have been checked from head to toe and certified fit and this is why people want to buy this fight. They want to see the reality of a 63-year-old man fighting a man of 32, whether he wants to commit suicide and I’m very much excited about the whole thing and that’s why I said am fighting to shock the World.
It will also interest you to know that there was an article in New York Times that said I had falsified my age so that I can enter the Guinness Book of World Record, but the simple truth is that I’m 63 and there is no doubt about my age.
Do you think WBU and NBB of C will sanction the fight, considering your age?
As I speak to you, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C, has just approved and presented my licence to me. They have checked me and found that I am mentally, physically and psychologically fit for the fight and the World Boxing Union on its own has given tactical approval for the fight. Having said this, I want to commend the President of NBB of C, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, for his encouragement both financially and otherwise as well as his board for their promise to give me all the necessary support for the fight to hold.
What is Lagos State Government going to gain by sponsoring the Guinness Book of World Record fight?
The truth is that government has no business, involving itself in business and that was why they brought in NEXIM Bank and Bank of Industries to bankroll the fight but the organisers didn’t handle it well. We’ re not asking for one kobo from government. It is going to be private sector-driven and I believe that with President Buhari in power, everybody will do what he or she is supposed to do, everything will be okay. What we’re doing is very simple, as over 200 countries will be in Nigeria for this historic event. We have also agreed that part of the pay-per-view money, about $120 million, will be set aside to build five sports academies at the rate of $20 million each, while another $20 million will be set aside for sports equipment manufacturing company. Apart from this, the positive publicity that Nigeria is going to get, hosting this historic event will be massive.
Taking a look at Nigerian boxing, are you satisfied with its level of development?
Well NBB of C is really trying. This is the only place where you see a boxing body, promoting fights. They put in their money to make sure that the game does not die and I really appreciate them for their efforts. You should also know that everything in Nigeria is dying. Take a look at the entertainment industry, sports, education and health sectors; they are all dying because there is no sustainable policy to make them work.
Ideally, the President of NBB of C does not have to put a dime to promote fights. There are supposed to be promoters while the board will be there to regulate the game and sanction fights but unfortunately, we have a peculiar situation here and we have to deal with it the way it comes but I believe very soon the NBB of C will get to where it is supposed to be and boxing will take its rightful position, as the number one sports in the country.
