Africa Boxing Union (ABU) has rejected a proposal from Nigerian boxer Olanreweaju Duirodola following his recent victory over Malawian Mussa Ajibu in a World Boxing Organisation (WBO)-Africa cruiserweight title fight.
Through an e-mail, Duirodola’s promoter Roland Jankelson wrote to ABU asking for opponents.
“Do you have any African cruiserweights that are both available and qualified under the current “star” criteria to fight Durodola. And, of course, a promoter that will support such a bout? Last time around these elements did not exist. I certainly tried hence the WBO fight in Ghana March 17. Has anything changed?” Jankelson wrote.
In response, ABU’s Houcine Houichi, who is also WBC-Vice President, said he was disappointed that Duirodola fought against Ajibu, who was cleared by Malawi Boxing Association and not the Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board.
“The WBC and ABU pushed Duirodola in the ratings to #4 [number four] and your reward to us is to play for our competitions, WBO-Africa and Aiba, through its Malawi boxing commission,” Houichi said.
“Mr Lonzoe Defector Zimba, chairman of the Malawi professional boxing, made a claim before the fight to the Ghanaian Boxing Authority but still the fight took place. I kept quiet because I didn´t like to interfere in your business. Please don´t ask me now to find a promoter for your boxer. That is your job and not mine. We are a sanctioning body and not promoter.”
The local board’s Vice General Secretary, Mbachichi Nyirenda, said boxers should tread carefully on issues surrounding Aiba and rival camps.
“The likes of Manny Pacquiao and others, including Isaac Chilemba, refused to go to the Olympics because of such issues. It might seem a simple issue here but it is not. Aiba allows its boxers to fight for rival camps such as WBC and IBF [International Boxing Federation] but that is not the case with the other bodies. So now the Nigerian might be limited in the choice of opponents,” he said.
The fight, which ended in the fifth round in favour of the Nigerian, was embroiled in controversy after the Malawi board’s attempts to block Ajibu from the fight.
The board tried to block Ajibu following his ties with Maba. Reports indicate that Ajibu is due to face Duirodola in a rematch in the United States of America.
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