Boxing : Iloh outclasses Okusote, says world title target still on course

By Ifeanyi Eduzor
West African Boxing Union Light heavyweight champion Great Jude Iloh continued his dominance of the division when he successfully defended his title against Idowu Okusote in their national light heavyweight challenge contest.
The fight which was held at Yucateco Arena, Ikorodu, Lagos Friday night and sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control saw the knockout specialist using a combination of powerful punches, well coordinated jabs and good footwork
to pummel his opponent to submission in the 4th of their 8th round encounter.
Speaking shortly after the fight, he described the contest as one of the tune up fights lined up for him in preparation of moving further in his career, assuring that his targeted world title fight is still on course.
Iloh who is confident of his ability to record more victories in boxing expressed his desire to keep on fighting until he adds the WBC belt to his cabinet.
” I’m happy with this victory because it gave me the opportunity to be in top for ahead of other challenges. Commendation must go to my opponent for showing good reflexes and ability to receive punches in the early rounds of the fight.
” On my world title target, everything is still on track and I believe it will happen very soon to enable me write the country’s name in gold globally”, he stated.
In the other fights of the night, Sifon Iwatt recorded a 3rd round technical knockout over Ashafa James in their national super flyweight challenge contest with Bukola Dada beating Busola Obi in the second round of the women super flyweight challenge bout just as Tope Musa beat Williams Eleshim by first round technical knockout in their featherweight clash.
Also, in the super welterweight category, Jafaru Suleiman defeated Muritala Ogunbanjo in the first round with Godday Appah defeating Jimoh James by 4th round technical knockout in the light heavyweight fight. In the Cruiserweight contest, Kelvin Tarike recorded another four rounds technical knockout over Raji Azeez. Solomon Adebayo beat Lekan Oseni in the first round of their heavyweight challenge contest while Olaide Fijabi beat Tope Berinja by a unanimous decision in their Light welterweight challenge fight.
Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control ( NBB oc C) Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has commended the Chairman/ CEO of Yucateco, Arena, Omonlei Imadu for partnering with the board to develop professional boxing in the country.
He noted that the organisation for making available their facilities for staging fights is a great motivation for the board and boxers even as he urged other well meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations to emulate him.
“We at the NBB of C is proud of what the CEO of Yucateco has done for boxing. In December last year, an amateur boxing tournament was organized in the facility and in January a professional fight was also staged here and now we’ve organised another fight here and we shall remain grateful to him and there is need for others to emulate him
Imadu told journalists that his love and passion for boxing made him partner with the board to ensure that pugilists are not only kept busy but ensure there is no dull moment in pro boxing in the country.g Union Light heavyweight champion Great Jude Iloh continued his dominance of the division when he successfully defended his title against Idowu Okusote in their national light heavyweight challenge contest.
The fight which was held at Yucateco Arena, Ikorodu, Lagos Friday night and sanctioned by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control saw the knockout specialist using a combination of powerful punches, well coordinated jabs and good footwork
to pummel his opponent to submission in the 4th of their 8th round encounter.
Speaking shortly after the fight, he described the contest as one of the tune up fights lined up for him in preparation of moving further in his career, assuring that his targeted world title fight is still on course.
Iloh who is confident of his ability to record more victories in boxing expressed his desire to keep on fighting until he adds the WBC belt to his cabinet.
” I’m happy with this victory because it gave me the opportunity to be in top for ahead of other challenges. Commendation must go to my opponent for showing good reflexes and ability to receive punches in the early rounds of the fight.
” On my world title target, everything is still on track and I believe it will happen very soon to enable me write the country’s name in gold globally”, he stated.
In the other fights of the night, Sifon Iwatt recorded a 3rd round technical knockout over Ashafa James in their national super flyweight challenge contest with Bukola Dada beating Busola Obi in the second round of the women super flyweight challenge bout just as Tope Musa beat Williams Eleshim by first round technical knockout in their featherweight clash.
Also, in the super welterweight category, Jafaru Suleiman defeated Muritala Ogunbanjo in the first round with Godday Appah defeating Jimoh James by 4th round technical knockout in the light heavyweight fight. In the Cruiserweight contest, Kelvin Tarike recorded another four rounds technical knockout over Raji Azeez. Solomon Adebayo beat Lekan Oseni in the first round of their heavyweight challenge contest while Olaide Fijabi beat Tope Berinja by a unanimous decision in their Light welterweight challenge fight.
Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control ( NBB oc C) Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has commended the Chairman/ CEO of Yucateco, Arena, Omonlei Imadu for partnering with the board to develop professional boxing in the country.
He noted that the organisation for making available their facilities for staging fights is a great motivation for the board and boxers even as he urged other well meaning Nigerians and corporate organizations to emulate him.
“We at the NBB of C is proud of what the CEO of Yucateco has done for boxing. In December last year, an amateur boxing tournament was organized in the facility and in January a professional fight was also staged here and now we’ve organised another fight here and we shall remain grateful to him and there is need for others to emulate him
Imadu told journalists that his love and passion for boxing made him partner with the board to ensure that pugilists are not only kept busy but ensure there is no dull moment in pro boxing in the country.