The best boxer at the fifth edition of the GOtv Boxing Night will go home with a N1.5million cash prize in addition to his fighter’s purse, organisers disclosed at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
The last two winners of the award won N1million in addition to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for best boxer.
Speaking at the press conference, Jenkins Alumona, promoter of the four-fight professional boxing event slated for December 26 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, said headline sponsors, GOtv, decided to increase the cash prize as a way of further motivating participating boxers and accelerating the envisaged revival of the sport in the country.
GOtv Boxing Night V, as the event is tagged, will depart from its six-fight format by adopting one of four fights.
“We have lined four big fights. Last year, we promised that we would have a continental title fight in Nigeria and we are glad to announce there will be one at GOtv Boxing Night V. There are also two national title fights and a national challenge contest,” disclosed Alumona.
The headline bout will see national and West African Boxing Union Featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman attempt to add the African Boxing Union title to his honours when he takes on Kenya’s Michael “Shaka” Nyawade in a 12-rounder.
The Kenyan is coming with an impressive record of 12 wins (nine KOs), three losses and two draws in 14 fights.
Skoro is no slouch either. He has had 11 fights, winning 10 (nine KOs) and losing one.
In another fight, Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo will slug it out with Sunday “Capo” Olalekan in a 12-round National Welterweight title bout. The second national title bout will see Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi attempt to snatch the Light Welterweight belt from Sadiq Ahmed.
The fight line-up is completed by a Super Middleweight challenge contest between Sunday “Golden Child” Ajuwa and Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji.
