File Photo: Boxers during a sparring sessions at the GOtv Boxing event the Lagos Hall of Fame Gym in Surulere

The Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy will be up for grabs for the best boxer of the 13th edition of the GOtv Boxing Night at the Land Mark Centre in Lagos.

The event which holds on Tuesday to commemorate the yuletide festival will see seven bouts take the centre stage in an atmosphere renowned for hosting top-notch sports entertainment.

Jenkins Alumona, the Managing Director of Flykite Productions, the event’s organisers, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that it was the best thing happening to Nigeria’s sports history.

“We are happy to yet again put together the boxing show which over the past three years has continued to bring the best out of boxing in Nigeria.

“It is gradually warming the hearts of many boxing lovers as the fans coming to watch have continued to grow to the delight of our sponsors, Multichoice Nigeria Plc.

“We have also brought the price of the best boxer of the night to N2.5 million, which is perhaps the highest-paid sports event for an individual champion.

“The first runner-up and the second runner-up boxer of the night will go home with N1 million and N500,000 respectively,’’ Alumona said.

He said this was not going to be the first time of giving the best boxer something tangible to go home with, other than the traditional boxer’s purse.

“This has been a tradition of the boxing show since inception. We started with N1 million and moved the price to N1.5 million and now we give something to the first, second and third best boxers of the night.

“We do this to further add glamour to boxing and encourage the boxers to be at their best when they climb into the ring to clash with their opponents,’’ Alumona said.

NAN reports that seven fights, including two African Boxing Union (ABU) title duels, and a West African Boxing Union (WABU) title fight, are scheduled for the night.

The headline bout will see Nigeria’s Oto `Joe Boy’ Joseph attempting to win the vacant ABU lightweight title when he takes on Abdulrahim Ahmed of Egypt.

Joseph’s compatriot, Olaide `Fijaborn’ Fijabi, will fight for the ABU light welterweight title against Shadrack `Punch to Punch’ Kobero of Tanzania.

Abolaji `Afonja Warrior’ Rasheed, the incumbent WABU middleweight champion, will defend his title against Arye Ayiiteh of Ghana.

Also, in the light welterweight category, Rilwan `Baby Face’ Babatunde, will fight for the national title against Chijioke `Painless’ Ngige.

Three challenge contests are equally scheduled, with Jimoh `Hogan Jimoh’ Jr.` Lukman taking on Rilwan `Scorpion’ Opatola, while Rilwan `Real One’ Oladosu takes on Kazeem `Ijoba’ Badmus.

The middleweight division will see the clash between Matthew `Wizeman’ Obinna and David `Cosmos’ Awosika.