BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE LAGOS
Argentine boxer, ANTONIO CHIQUITO BARRACAMONTE, arrived Lagos on Monday night for World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental heavyweight title bout against US-based Nigerian, ONORIODE “GODZILLA” EHWARIEME.
BARACAMONTE, who arrived along with his coach and manager, said he is not in Nigeria for tourism, but to win the title.
Speaking through his manager on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, the boxer said he happy to visit Nigeria for the first time.
“I’m really happy to be here. But I’m not here for sightseeing. I’m here for business, which is to return to Argentina with the WBF title. Onoriode stands no chance of winning. I’m not boasting. That he’s fighting in his country is no advantage. I’ve defeated many boxers in their home countries, so he won’t be an exception,” he said.
The WBF title fight is the headline contest of the nine-bout GOtv Boxing Night, which will also feature live musical performances by Zlatan, Mayorkun, Oritsefemi and Fuji star and Sule Alao Malaika among others.
But EHWARIEME, who has had a number of fights in Argentina against the country’s boxers, described BARACAMONTE’S boast as impotent.
“I have fought in Argentina against Argentine boxers. Not one of them lasted the distance. I go into the ring against Argentine boxers thinking of avenging Nigeria’s defeats in the hands of Argentina’s football teams.
I have been succeeding and will keep putting them in their place,” said the Nigerian who has 17 knockout victories and one loss in 18 fights.
The tournament will also feature other big names on the domestic boxing circuit. They include RILWAN “REAL ONE” OLADOSU and RILWAN “BABY FACE”, both of whom will defend their West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight and welterweight titles respectively; RIDWAN “SCORPION” OYEKOLA, national super featherweight champion; and ADEWALE “MASEVEX” MASEBINU, national light heavyweight champion.
