Guinness Bout: Bash Ali Gets Promoter

The Bash Ali Boxing Project has finally secured a promoter in place of the Federal Government for the much-anticipated Guiness world record bout.

Veteran boxer Bash Ali disclosed this at a press conference to unveil the promoter, Otunba Benson Bamidele Akingboye, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.

The development comes in the wake of repeated failed promises by the Federal Government and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to help Ali stage the fight in Nigeria long time ago, resulting to disappointments on the boxer’s part.

According to Ali, proceeds from the fight, which has been extended on three different occasions by the International Boxing Union (IBU) due to the unavailability of a willing promoter, would be used for sports development and employment generation in the country.

Ali used the opportunity to apologise to the Federal Government, particularly the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, who he said he might have offended in the course of his campaign to bring honour to Nigeria. He also apologized to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Guiness bout promoter, Otunba Akingboye of Oba King International promotions, said the fight, which would be staged in Nigeria, will “be the most watched on pay per view TV and the most lucrative fight ever held anywhere in the world.”

The promoter added that the Federal Government will not have to fund the fight anymore but expects them to provide “enabling environment” for the successful hosting in Nigeria.