Bash Ali writes President Tinubu again on his Guinness World Record fight
Former World Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion, Bash Ali, OON has written another letter of appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging him to look into his planned Guinness World record fight which is being frustrated by some top government officials.
In his letter of appeal dated April, 14, 2025, made available to our correspondent, and copied to the Vice President and President of World Boxing Federation, the champion alleged that the Federal Government through the office of the Chief of Staff to the President got an advanced payment of $12 million United States Dollars for the hosting of the fight while some top officials of the then Sports Ministry extorted N13 million from him after which the immediate past Minister of Sports and now Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment after failing to extort additional $1 million Dollars from him worked against the fight holding.
Bash Ali in the letter commended the President for heeding to his advise by scrapping the Ministry of Sports and replacing it with the National Sports Commission , a decision which he believes will develop a vibrant sports economy for the country.
He however regretted that not minding the well applauded decision, the country’s sports is still on the same page where the Federal Government is still spending money funding the sector, noting that the only event in sport in Nigeria that will apart from bringing money, bring honor and glory is the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight which corruption has stalled
In his words, “All Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fights have held in the United States of America so mine would be the first outside and the most lucrative in the history of Pay Per View Television Revenue, sales of souvenirs, sponsorship, advertisement etc.
“I32 countries are coming to Nigeria to be part of Boxing History and the FGN has written to the World Boxing Body to guarantee in Nigeria the safety of their members and that the Ministry of Youth & Sports, now the National Sports Commission (NSC) will follow up to ensure timely payment of their approval fee which is domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria by the private sector.
He further stated that for almost 19 years, to make this historic event a reality in Nigeria, the Federal Government had on three occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014 and May 21, 2019 inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chairmen on Sports, representatives of the Chief of Staff to the President and Attorney General of the Federation as members. It was also agreed that while the private sector will provide the funds, the Federal Government will provide an enabling environment for a successful show but noted regrettably that corruption has stalled the fight
“My President Sir, It is imperative to inform you that the FGN is not putting in a kobo in the fight but to provide an enabling environment and in the process earn the glory, honor and money from hosting this historic event.
“My President Sir, after the FGN has collected an advance of $12M USD and extorted millions of Naira from me in the disguise of putting in place the promotional structures, the FGN has stalled the process of hosting this historic fight because I said ‘NO’ to further extortion, and despite several juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria, I still refused to give up on my country, Nigeria. I want to fight in my country, Nigeria so help me, please. Please”, he appealed.
The champion also informed Mr. President that he met with the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko on November 13, 2024, to give him an update so he could go on and re-inaugurate the LOC, and on December 12, 2024, the Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Sports wrote him a letter to go ahead to re-inaugurate the LOC but he is handicapped from doing so because some influential members of the Cabinet are working against the fight holding.
He now appealed to President Tinubu in the spirit of the RENEWED HOPE Agenda, to use his good offices and order for the immediate re-inauguration of the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee so that all the unnecessary obstacles caused by corruption would be knocked out to enable the historic fight can hold in the country.
He also demanded that his allegations against those who have extorted money from him on behalf of the Federal Government should not be swept under the carpet but properly investigated and appropriate sanctions taken against them and money extorted from him refunded”, concludes his letter of appeal
