In a bid to prepare himself for the defence of his Africa Boxing Union (ABU) Super Lightweight title in Senegal, Nigeria rising star, Olaide Fijabi has embarked on what he describes as “sex strike”.
Fijabi, one of the regular faces on the GOtv Boxing Night, will meet 31-year-old Senegalese, Abderrazak Houya, on October 20 at the Canal Olympia arena in Dakar.
While Fijabi has a record of 11 straight wins without a defeat, which includes five knockouts, his Senegalese challenger, Houya, has 11 fights, 10 wins and one defeat.
In his last fight, Fijabi secured a unanimous decision against Kazeem Ariyo during the 15th GOtv Boxing Night in Ibadan in July. The Senegalese, on his part, also won his last fight in March this year by defeating France’s Aimen Souihli with a unanimous point decision.
Fijabi is ready to go the extra mile to emerge victorious even if it means starving his flesh.
“I am preparing very well. After fighting in Ibadan, I was told that I would be fighting in Senegal,” he told the Guardian.
“So I am in camp now preparing very hard. For the past three months, I have not had sex with my girlfriend. I won’t go close to her until I retain my title in Senegal. I am going for serious business in Senegal.
“This is not the first time I will be fighting outside Nigeria. When I was still in the amateur ranks, I fought in London despite facing a different set of the crowd.
“I believe in myself and my ability, and I am confident of maintaining my unbeaten record.”
His coach, Joe Mensah says the trip to Senegal on October 20 would be rewarding for Nigeria.
“We will do everything possible to get a victory in Senegal,” he said.
“Fijabi is one of the cool-headed boxers in Nigeria, and he is responding well in training ahead of the showdown in Senegal. Though we don’t have much information about his opponent yet, we are not leaving anything to chances. We will win in Senegal.”
