Nigerian Cruiserweight boxer, Bash Ali, on Tuesday in Abuja apologised for any perceived misconduct in trying to make his world title fight a reality.
Ali, who tendered his apology at a press conference, stated that his actions in the process of achieving his objectives were not intentional or to hurt anybody.
“I will like to tender my unreserved apology to anybody I might have hurt in the process of my trying to bring honour, glory, employment and clean money to Nigeria.
“My apologies especially to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi who is also Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“If I have hurt the President or the minister, I am sorry. It was not intentional. It is just my trying to do something for Nigeria. If Mr President thinks that I upset him by breaking protocol to see him, I am sorry,’’ he said.
Ali said he was not asking the Federal Government to finance the fight but to help by inaugurating the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and create an enabling environment for the project.
“I just want the Federal Government to go ahead and inaugurate the LOC. That is all. The project will be private sector-driven with the federal government providing the enabling environment,’’ he said.
The boxer said the profit realised from the project would be used to establish five boxing academies and a sports equipment manufacturing factory in the country.
“This will provide employment for the youths of this country,’’ he said.
Ali said he had been paying fees to the International Boxing Union (IBU) to extend the deadline given to host the first Guinness Book of World Records (GBWR) fight.
He, however, said he had just got a promoter, and was hopeful that a lot of issues regarding the fight would soon take shape.
Also speaking at the conference, the promoter, Otunba Benson Akingboye of Oba King International Promotions, said he was ready to promote the first GBWR fight in Africa.
He said the fight would surpass the legendary Mohammed Ali versus George Foreman fight held in the then Zaire in 1974.
“It will be the most lucrative fight ever held anywhere in the world,’’ Akingboye said.
He said he became a boxing promoter to rewrite boxing history in Nigeria.
“George Foreman entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest boxer to win a world title in his country, the U.S.
“Also, Joe Bugner at the age of 48 years 110 days broke the record in his country Australia. So, it is only befitting that our own champion rewrite boxing history in our great country,’’ the promoter said.
Ali is pushing to have his name enter the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest boxer to win a world title.
