Former Nigerian, African, British, Commonwealth, and European Light welterweight boxing champion, Segun Ajose held sway in the 90s and was a delight to watch with his amazing boxing skills during his active career which spanned over three decades but now a coach and an instructor.
In this interview with Francis Ajuonuma, he speaks extensively on his long journey in boxing which started at the age of six, the ritual he performs before every fight at the early stage of his career, his regret, the dwindling fortune of the sport in Nigeria, and his dreams for boxing in the country.
You retired from active boxing not too long ago, so, what was the journey like?
It was a wonderful journey, even, though, I didn’t appreciate it at the time I retired, but in reflection, I’m thankful for the journey. I did amateur to the highest level. I boxed all over the world, won so many medals and I did well in the professional as well; boxed to the highest level. So, I’m thankful and here I’m still standing, so I’m thankful. It was a wonderful journey.
Nigerians will want to know the titles you won as an amateur and also as a professional boxer.
Ha, in the amateur I was a gold medalist at the National Sports Festival 1996 in Benue, 1997 I won a gold medal at the National Boxing Championships; in that competition, I won the best boxer award and in 1996, I also won the Eagle Belt, then in 1997 when I became Nigeria’s best boxer of the year, then represented Nigeria in Ghana won a gold medal in Africa Zone 3. I did the Africa Zone 3 in Nigeria again, I won another gold medal, went to Africa Championships in Algeria I won a bronze medal and went to the All Africa Games won a gold medal, thereafter I attended many European championships and won gold medals, then went to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games where I lost to the eventual silver medalist after which I turned professional.
So, in my professional career, I came back to Nigeria to win the Nigerian title because I thought I had to continue from Nigeria. Starts from Nigeria in the pro scene. So, I won the Nigerian title, I won the African title, I won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Inter-Continental title, I won the British title, I won the Commonwealth title. I was rated the number one contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC) for three years consecutively, I won the WBC final eliminator contest in California on 30 September 2011 against Frenchman, Ali Chebah and then I fought for the world title against Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in Las Vegas, that was my first lost. So, my record in professional boxing was 34 fights, 32 wins, and two losses.
That was an interesting record but do you regret not winning the world title and going into boxing?
For not winning the world title and for not winning the Olympics gold medal, I was really disappointed because those were some of my goals but I’m not disappointed going into boxing. If I come to this world again that’s if there is an afterlife I will want to do boxing again. Being in boxing has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It has given me a lot and that’s why I follow it and love to give back whenever I’m in the country. So, no regret on that one.
You had a very long and successful boxing career, fighting at home for some time before moving to the United Kingdom. So with your experience what can you say is or are the problems responsible for the dwindling state of boxing in Nigeria?
There are many problems, and like everywhere in the world there are problems here and there. America has its own problems as well. We have our own problems but I think the main issue with Nigerian boxing is funding and a lack of understanding of the benefit of boxing; the economic benefit of boxing, so I think that’s a major reason.
When people have the knowledge and the understanding about how important boxing can be in society, they will understand that we need to support it, we need to fund it; the government and the private sector need to fund it well. It’s a win, win situation for everybody. Even the boxer that loses would not lose in the long run. So, the earlier we understand that the better. Although things are improving on the professional side. On the amateur side, things are on the decline but hopefully, things will start getting better.
Having fought for years as an amateur boxer in Nigeria what solution can you proffer for the authorities to make Nigeria boxing bounce back to its glory years?
There are many solutions. For a start, I think the Ministry of Sports needs to play its own part and fund the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), give them what they are due, and then NBF needs to do what they are supposed to do. And one of those things is to get out there and look for sponsors, that’s work with the corporate bodies to get funding; fund camps, international competitions, local competitions, and educate the coaches more about the modern method to teaching of boxing, organizing seminars for them. And that’s the reason the Nigeria Boxing Board Control (NBB of C) has just organised one for professional boxers, coaches, managers, and promoters in the country. So, a lot of respect for Dr. Rafiu Ladipo and NBB of C) for the seminar. So, we all have to play our part to revive boxing in the country.
Who was your toughest opponent in professional boxing you wish never to fight again?
Actually, my toughest opponent I wish never to fight again is a Nigerian. He is a guy from the Nigeria Police and I think I beat him twice but he was a tough cookie, Clement Eke. I don’t know his rank now in the police. I’ll still beat him but I don’t want to fight him again, he will make me work for it. But you know, I met some very good opponents worldwide but he always comes to mind. There were some that I had beaten even though they were good and tough, I don’t mind meeting them again but Clement Eke, I don’t want to meet him again. However, I don’t mind meeting him again now but rather will prefer to have some beer together.
Nigerians will want to know your dream for Nigerian boxing
The dream I have for Nigerian boxing is to help Nigeria win gold medals at the Olympics and create some world champions in the WBC, WBA, and IBF. I’m helping some at the moment and I think they have the potential to do well, so they just need some support.
What do you do before a fight?
What I do before a fight is visualise myself in the fight, visualise how well I do. Of course, I have to train well and then have confidence in my training that I have prepared well, reflected on my training, and realise I didn’t cut corners that’s it.
I meant do you do any rituals before a fight?
In the early stage of my pro career, I was knocking people out early so I will not wash my boxing shot, in my head I was thinking that’s luck, I want to keep that luck but of course, I was ignorant then, then later on when I had more confidence in myself, I washed my kits, I had trust in my ability now and I was winning so didn’t have to do that anymore.
You said your dream is to produce world champions and gold medalists at the Olympics, is that why you went into coaching?
Yes, I’m into coaching and sports psychology. I’ve masters in sports psychology now, so, it’s one of the main reasons I went into coaching. and I’ve so much to teach, I’ve so much knowledge to give out, I don’t just want to die with it, I don’t want it to end in a grave, so I want to use it to the benefit of some boxers. So, with the small knowledge that I have, I want to be able to guide them to success and that’s why I’m into coaching, luckily I do sports psychology which is actually missing in Nigeria. So, I want to do my best to help.
Lastly, how many years did you spend in boxing, both as an amateur and a pro?
Ha, I can’t remember, I think I started boxing when I was six years old and I turned pro when I was 26 I think, so is like 20 years in amateur. In pro I think was forty-something when I stopped, so, I must have spent like 15 years in pro. So, it has been a wonderful career.
