The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has received the Universal Boxing Organization African Belt from the Ghana Boxing Authority on Wednesday following a controversial fight between a Nigerian and Ghanaian boxer in Ghana.
The belt was presented to the President of the NBBofC, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo, in Lagos State.
This comes after the UBO had to overturn a controversial decision awarding Nigerian boxer, Rasheed “ID Buster” Idowu, the win of the title fight against Ghanaian Bastie Samie in Accra last Saturday.
Idowu won the vacant UBO African light-heavyweight belt by a second-round knockout over the Ghanaian last Saturday at Decathlon, Kawukudi Park in Accra, Ghana.
Rasheed floored Bastie twice in the second round with left hooks with the Ghanaian boxer going down in the corner by the ropes.
Samie tried to recover from the first knockdown to the cheer of the home support, but Idowu followed it up with some combination punches and then another left hook which sent the Ghanaian back to the canvas and out cold leaving the referee no option but to end the bout. Medical personnel rushed to the ring to revive Samie.
However, the shocker came soon enough for the Nigerian boxer and his entourage as the match commissioner who is the Ghana Boxing Authority president and announcer declared a technical draw to the amazement of all who witnessed the bout.
On Monday, the UBO released a statement endorsing Idowu’s victory stating, “After watching several videos of the fight, the UBO is not able to see any illegal blows from Mr. Rasheed. No championship-sanctioning organization, including the UBO, has the power to overturn an official result, as this is something only the local boxing commission, in this case the Ghana Boxing Authority, can do but because the title remained vacant, the UBO is in a position, and has power, to extraordinarily decide on its ownership.
“Since we can’t see that Mr. Rasheed did anything wrong, that he was a victim of a blatant injustice and put on an amazing performance, we feel it is only right that Mr. Rasheed is recognized as the UBO Africa Light Heavyweight champion.”
The belt was sent to the NBBofC by the GBA and was received by the President and the General-Secretary Remi Aboderin for Idowu to be decorated.
The Ibadan-based boxer will be decorated by Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde according to the NBBofC.
Idowu while speaking to the PUNCH has thanked the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control for their efforts and expressed joy at winning the belt.
“They wanted to rob me and it is a big shame. They need to understand that Nigerian boxing is now on another level, as they should have seen at the African Games where we won overall in boxing.
“I really want to thank the NBBofC for their efforts to correct what happened to me in Ghana and I want to thank my fans. I am going to get the belt soon, I am very happy to be champion.”