By Francis Ajuonuma
The Indoor Hall Sports of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos came alive at the weekend as sports-loving Nigerians were treated to the best of professional boxing actions tagged “Rythm of Boxing” put together by Monarch Events and Promotions.

The boxing event which was mixed with musical entertainment, the first of its kind in Nigeria in many years featured no fewer than eight action-packaged bouts that got fans calling for more.

In the first fight of the night, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Obinna Mathew A.K.A ‘De Wise man’, a knockout specialist lived up to his rating as he wasted no time in recording a third-round technical knockout over Joe John in their national light heavyweight challenge contest while 2018 female Youth Olympics silver medallist, Adijat Gbadamosi, fighting on the stable of Monarch Promotions for the first time proved too strong for her opponent, Shade Adeyanju, stopping her via a 4th round technical knockout in their national female super flyweight contest.

In another national light heavyweight challenge contest, Jude Iloh had an easy victory over Samson Michael, knocking him out in the third round, while Kazeem Samson also recorded a third-round technical knockout over Tunde Azeez in their national heavyweight challenge contest.

The main fight of the night was an international light welterweight challenge contest between Balmolda Tenysan of Kazakhstan, who was fighting for the first time in Africa and Azeez Tijani of Nigeria. Tenysan won the bout via a third round technical knockout.

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The national catchweight challenge contest between fighting Policeman, Prince Lion Leo Nwoye and Bartholomew Aboy Abuchi ended in a draw

Some of the excited fans, who spoke at the end of the bouts, hailed the Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Events and Promotions, Prince Stanley Williams for taking boxing promotion in the country to another level, stressing that such a man who invests his hard earned money on the country’s fighters need to be encouraged by both government and corporate organisations.

“We’re happy with the quality of boxing we saw today which is an indication that we’re getting it right once more in the sports and kudos must go to Monarch Promotions for not only entertaining fans with quality fighters but bringing in talented musicians who added glamour to the night.

” There is need for government and corporate organisations to partner with Prince Stanley Williams in his plans to give hope to our boxers. We all know that promoting fights in this part of the world is capital intensive and most times, promoters find it difficult to recoup their money which has discouraged many of them from continuing in the business and that’s why it’s important that efforts of Monarch Promotions must be complimented in their plans to change the face of professional boxing in the country”, they said.

Prince Williams while commenting on the fights disclosed that his company is out to give Nigerian boxers the opportunity to showcase their talents to the outside world, promising that more of such quality promotions will soon be organised.

He was particularly happy that all the boxers on parade gave a good account of themselves just as he admonished the losers not to loose hope because they can still make it to the top.

“Monarch Promotions is known all over the world for quality and we will never compromise on that and that was why we felt it necessary to invite some top artists to entertain the fans at interludes and we hope to do more for professional boxing in the country because our aim is to give opportunity to our boxers to be at the top of their game and become world champions in their various weight categories”, he stressed.

B. Tone, Slimcase, Jum Abel, and C Prince were among others musicians, who added colour and glamour to the night.