Ifeanyi Eduzor
Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) has congratulated World heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, for reclaiming his WBA/IBO/WBO and IBF titles. The board said they would soon send a formal congratulatory letter to him through their representative in London.
Joshua last week in Saudi Arabia defeated Mexican Andy Ruiz Jnr. by a unanimous points decision of 118, 110, 118,110 and 119-109 to reclaim the titles he lost to his opponent in June this year at the Madison Square Garden, USA.
In a world press conference it organised to celebrate the victory, President of NBB of C, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, stated that the Sagamu Ogun State-born Anthony Oluwafemi born, deserves all the praise by the body for making his fatherland proud, ascribing his victory to the Nigerian ‘never say die spirit’.
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“We in the NBB of C are happy with Joshua’s achievement and must celebrate him as our own. Although he is fighting in the colours of Britain but he was born here in Nigeria and he has not forgotten his Nigerian root.
“When he last visited the country, he went to his parents home town, Sagamu and also visited Mushin and Makoko areas of Lagos and I want to believe he reclaimed those titles because of the Nigerian never die spirit”, said Ladipo who also doubles as President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club.
He said he was happy that Joshua listened to his advise when he visited Nigeria that as a taller boxer with longer reach, he should avoid going close to his opponent in the rematch which paid off.
Ladipo explained that his exploits in the ring is an indication that Nigeria have a lot of potentials in boxing and that his body is going to work with some groups abroad to help some of these young fighters travel abroad to get more exposure and experience.
