Nigerian heavyweight boxer Enobong Umohette was received by Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Paul Bassey

Nigerian heavyweight boxer Enobong Umohette has added the Universal Boxing Council (UBC) Afro-Latino Heavyweight title to his growing résumé after stopping former multi-division world champion Epifanio “Diamante” Mendoza in Colombia.

Umohette, the reigning International Boxing Association (IBA) Continental Heavyweight champion, secured a seventh-round technical knockout in Santa Marta after a controlled but explosive contest.

Ringside commentator Fausto Corrales said the opening rounds were “measured; with both fighters feeling each other out and proceeding cautiously respecting each other’s power,” before the exchanges intensified from the third round.

The Akwa Ibom state born, USA-based professional floored Mendoza in the fifth round and eventually sealed victory at 2:17 of the seventh with a barrage of combinations that the Colombian could not recover from.

Following the win, Umohette made an unannounced visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey.

During the visit, he praised the leadership of Governor Umo Eno, saying the governor “has in a record and very short period, made amazing strides in growing the state’s economy, through tourism.”

He added that he is grateful to a government that “continues to show his administration’s support for Akwa Ibomites, who excel in their chosen fields; whether at home or abroad.”

Umohette asked that his goodwill message be conveyed to the governor and promised to brief the diaspora community on the developments he had witnessed, including progress in “security, infrastructural development, Information Technology, Agric-economy, small and medium scale business empowerment, science innovation, energy and manufacturing.”

Receiving the champion, Mr Bassey commended Umohette for consistently projecting Akwa Ibom and Nigeria positively.

He highlighted the governor’s private-sector experience and noted that Akwa Ibom’s rapid progress in sports, tourism and entertainment aligns with the administration’s economic vision.

Speaking from California, Umohette’s promoter, Monte Ekott, described the victory as the boxer’s ninth consecutive win since 2022 and his 18th career triumph.

He said Umohette Is now “set for his final test against another former multi-division and 3 time world champion” and is closing in on world-title contention.

The courtesy visit ended with a photo session and presentation of both the IBA and UBC belts to the state’s sports commissioner. (The Guardian)

•Nigerian heavyweight boxer Enobong Umohette was received by Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Paul Bassey

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