By Oladimeji Loko:
Olaide Fijabi’s African title defence is off after a freak training injury this week.
Fijabi had been scheduled to defend his African Boxing Union (ABU) Super lightweight title against France-based Senegalese boxer, Abderrazak Houya on Saturday, October 20 in Dakar, Senegal.
But a deep cut above the left eye during a training session this week has now ensured a forced postponement of the fight which would have been Fijabi’s first defence outside Nigeria of the title he won in Lagos last year December against Tanzania’s Shadrack Ignas.
A sober looking Fijabi was speechless when Complete Sports visited his training camp on Wednesday.
“What can I say,” the disappointed fighter asked no one in particular when Complete Sports approached him for comments.
But his trainer, Joe Mensah disclosed that Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) have already been contacted about the development and are very hopeful of securing a possible postponement of the bout.
“As it is, the major task is to convince them, ( ABU) by putting in a medical report from a reputable doctor which has been done, we are only waiting for a positive signal from the sanctioning body for a new date.
“We don’t envisage any problem in this regard since Remi Aboderin, secretary of NBB of C is already aware of Fijabi’s injury,” Mensah who also trains Oto Joseph another African title holder said.
Fijabi was putting finishing touches to his title defence before traveling out next week when he was accidentally elbowed during a sparring session.