The much advertised ‘Charity Rhumble Fight’ between the former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and the National Leader of the All Progressives
The much advertised ‘Charity Rhumble Fight’ between the former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu crumbled Thursday night.
Tinubu who had begged Holyfield during a courtesy visit not to knock him down, totally avoided risking any exchange of punches with the boxing champion. He simply chickened out as he was visibly absent at the venue of the highly publicized event at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and Prof. Wole Soyinka, would have been the judge and referee of what would have been a mismatch. However, there were other side line activities at the event which was in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Lagos State.
The evening began with two exhibition matches of three bouts each between Kadijat Gbadamosi and Oluwafunmilayo Kushimo, and Adebayo Imole, Ganiyu Olaitan.
The night also featured musical performances by renowned Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti; music producer, Wole Oni; Evelle, Buckwylla; and Papii J. Some dignitaries that graced the occasion were drummer girl Ara, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Holyfield, a four-time world champion arrived Landmark Centre, venue of the event in company of his lawyer, Shevon Harris. According to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, Tinubu’s absence was due to his engagement with national assignment.
“We are committed to seeing new champions come out of Lagos being a land of opportunities, that is why we are partnering with the heavyweight champion and achieve great results. We respect talented people of any age and will give relentless support to sustain their abilities from local platforms to the world stage,’’ Ambode said.
On his part, the 54-year-old world champion attributed his success to the sacrificial support of his mother.
“I am indeed honoured to be in Lagos and Nigeria being one of the biggest nations in Africa. Being a heavy weight champion for four times make me humbled to look inwards and create opportunities for others to thrive in same field as I have over the years,’’ he added.
