Kenyan Coach Mocks Nigerian Boxers, Says He Got Their ‘Keys’ (Photos)

Coach of the new African featherweight title holder, Paul Ottey, has boasted that he has the keys to unlock Nigerian boxers’ padlock.

The Kenya-born boxing tutor led Uganda’s Edward ‘Shaka’ Kakembo to defeat Nigerian featherweight champion, ‘Skoro’ on home soil at the just concluded GOtv Boxing Night V which was staged at the Indoor Sports Hall of the national stadium on December 26.

Presentation of ABU title belt: L-R, Coach Paul Ottey, Kakembo, President of the Nigeria Football and other sports Association, Rafiu Ladipo and a boxing official. Credit: Emmanuel Osodi

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In an exclusive interview with Naij.com Sports, the gaffer who claimed this would be his second successive win in Africa’s most populous nation, having led a boxer to Nigeria in 2008 disclosed that he knows the secret of Nigerian boxing.

He said: “I am so happy. I knew Kakembo will win. Infact, the president of Commonwealth Boxing Board of Control has just called to congratulate us. He said to me, Ottey, you have done to Nigeria what you did in 2008.

“I got the keys to Nigeria’s boxing. I was so confident and infact in 2008, when my boxer defeated the Nigerian, they organisers didn’t want to declare him winner, but this night, the organisers are fantastic. This is a very credible competition.

The new reigning African Boxing Union featherweight king, Edward ‘Skaka’ Kakembo also reacted to his victory saying, although he promised to defeat Waidi “Skoro” Usman in the 5th round, he pitied the Nigerian because it was Christmas period.

“Because we are still celebrating, I did not want to knock him down early enough. I wanted Nigerian fans to enjoy my action. I am proud, so so proud because I have gotten the ABU title in a country different from mine, I am proud,” he boasted.

Waidi ‘Skoro’ Usman watch helplessly as Kakembo if being crowned ABU featherweight champion. Credit: Emmanuel Osodi

Kakembo who had promised to win in Nigeria and present the title belt to Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, as Christmas gift raved that he can’t wait to get back home.

“I want to notify him I will be home tomorrow (December 27). I hope the people of Uganda will come and welcome me at the airport because I am a champion,” he posited.

Meanwhile, the managing director of Flykites promotion, Jenkins Alumona posited that commended the boxers of the night, stating that they all showed class.

“I am really impressed with tonight’s outing and we are happy about this,” he started.

“If you read the book letter, we knew ultimately it would be successful. Although, it would be slow, but surely steady.

“Today we had four fights, and if you are a Nigerian, we know you may not be happy as you should be, because a Nigerian lost the ABU title.

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“Ofcourse, we will never cut corners and that’s why we put everything in place in respect to the ABU rankings. It’s a very good evening because we had first-class boxing.

“The Indoor Sports Hall of the national stadium has about 3000 capacity, but tonight, we had over 3000 fans,” he concluded. 

Edward ‘Shaka’ Kakembo of Uganda was adjudged the winner by split decision after twelve rounds, defeating Nigerian featherweight champion, Waidi ‘Skoro’ Usman.

Meanwhile, Edo Boy was adjudged the best boxer of the night, winning the cash prize of N1.5m and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy. In another explosive title fight, Olaide “Fijaborn ” Fijabi dethroned Sadiq “Police Machine ” Ahmed as the national welterweight champion.

Stanley ‘ Edo Boy’ Eribo displays his N1.5m dummy cheque. Credit: Emmanuel Osodi

The post Kenyan Coach Mocks Nigerian Boxers, Says He Got Their ‘Keys’ (Photos) appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

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