Lagos agog for ‘Battle Ground 2024’ wrestling championship

All is now set for the much talked about wrestling championship slated for Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, 2024.

The two day wrestling extravaganza tagged ‘Battle Ground 2024’ will be held at Big Apple Royale Hotel, 1/3 Salvation Army Street, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos.

Speaking on the championship, President of Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation, High Chief John Uche explained that the championship will attract the best mats men in the country just as he assured that the National heavyweight champion, Mighty Man and the current African Light heavyweight champion, Mr. Sharpman will also be on parade.

He listed other talented fighters that will be entertaining the fans to include;
Ali King, Rasman Iron, Strong Bone Erukujeje, Lady Famous, Alexandria De Queen, Iron Lady Becky, Mighty Progress and Captain Dunga.
Also expected to be on parade during the two day event are; Stylish J, Zion Lion and Power Vic.

” We are ready to go and the wrestlers have been training hard for this championship. The national heavyweight champion, Mighty Man who went to Cameroon and demolished a Cameroonian in the presence of his fans will be on the top of the chart.

” You know when he came back from Cameroon, he announced that he does not see any wrestler here who can challenge him. But we’re going to give him his match and I can assure you that the championship will be very exciting.

Chief Uche while appealing for government and corporate support lamented that despite all his efforts at moving the game forward, there has been no government support to compliment his efforts as is done in other countries.

” It’s unfortunate that the Federal Government is not showing any interest in developing professional wrestling. In a country like Cameroon, their government is always giving them financial support and ensures that they organise at least three championships in a year and even sponsor their wrestlers to fight abroad.

” This support from the Cameroonian Government has led to many American and European wrestlers flying to that country to participate in championships and that’s what I want to see happen here in Nigeria.

” Looking at the WWE, you’ll discover that there are six Nigerians fighting in that body. In Japan, the heavyweight champion there is a Nigerian. What this shows is that we have talented wrestlers here but lack of adequate encouragement and exposure is affecting them.

The wrestling boss said his dream is to see that the Federal Government and the National Assembly include wrestling in the next budgetary allocation as that will help in the upliftment of the game.

” We want to see wrestling getting budgetary allocation from.the Federation account. The Federal Government can even mandate the Central Bank or any other arm of government to be giving the sports it’s own statutory allocation.

On availability of facilities with which the wrestlers train, he lamented that the office space and training arena allocated to the Federation during the regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was forcefully and illegally taken over by the National Institute For Sports (NIS).

“It’s unfortunate that the space allocated to us many years ago after our registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission was three years ago forcefully and illegally taken over by the NIS. I reported the matter to the National Assembly and they promised to look into it and hopefully very soon the matter will be resolved in our favour.

High Chief Uche also announced that the Federation is planning a world championship in September where Nigerian wrestlers will have opportunity to win world titles and also make young ones see opportunity wrestling can offer them which will help them stay away from such crimes as stealing, kidnapping and other social vices