Ibrahim Olayiwola and Kingsley Friday were at their commanding best, at the weekend, at the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) tournament held at the Agege Stadium.

The duo scored devastating knockout wins to show why they are so highly rated at the one-day event that featured eight competitive bouts and two exhibition matches.

Fighting in the men’s 60kg category, Olayiwola outpunched Ajisola Habeeb so decisively that the referee had to intervene to save Habeeb from further punishment. Friday followed suit in the men’s 75kg, overwhelming Lekan Kolawole to bring an early end to their contest.

Speaking after his win, a delighted Olayiwola credited his success to hard work and the support of his coaches and fans: “I thank God for winning my fight and secondly my fans for their support. I also thank my coaches—Segun Body of Lagos State Boxing Association, Waliu Arogundade from Ogun State, and Sulaiman Olagbade. I trained very hard for this fight. The LBHF gave us a great opportunity to showcase our talent, and I’m really happy to be part of it. My ambition is to become a professional boxer, and opportunities like this help me to show what I can do.”

The women’s division also delivered thrilling bouts. In the 48kg category, Nura Sulaimon defeated Mariam Tijani 5–0, while Oyindamiola Agboola overcame Sofiat Yakub 4–1 to claim the 51kg crown.

Despite her dominance, Sulaimon remained humble: “It was a great fight for me. I want to thank my coach for believing in me. I never doubted myself, but I’m grateful for the support. I also thank the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame for organising this tournament. It is a good avenue for upcoming talents, and I know we will get there.”

Speaking at the end of the bouts, LBHF Director David Mohamed praised the boxers for their discipline and performances, expressing optimism that more world-class fighters will emerge from the monthly series. (NAN)

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