Nigeria’s Waidi “Skoro” Usman has vowed to win his second bid for the African Boxing Union featherweight title versus Kenya’s Michael “Shaka” Nyawade. Skoro will face Nyawade at GOtv Boxing Night 14 on April 14 at at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.

 

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Skoro, who lost a bid for the title to Uganda’s Edward Kakembo in 2015, said he is happy to have the opportunity again and is certain of victory. He blamed his loss to the Ugandan on a bout of malaria he said he suffered before the fight.

 

“This time, it will be different,” he said. “I lost to Kakembo because I was sick about a week to the fight and I did not fully recover. This time, I am as fit as a horse and Nyawade will pay for my loss. The title cannot go to East Africa this time. It will be with me in Nigeria.”

 

Usman, 13-2 (11 KOs), has won three in a row since that defeat. Nyawade carries a record of 18-4-2 (10 KOs). He’s reeled off four consecutive victories since a 2016 unanimous decision loss to South Africa’s David Rajuili. It’s a dangerous bout for both, one that will likely end well before the final bell.

 

GOtv Boxing Night 14 will feature six other fights on the undercard. One of them includes the West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight title fight between the undefeated Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde of Nigeria and Djossou “Agoy” Basile of the Republic of Benin.

 

Babatunde will come into the ring carrying a sterling a 6-0 record, with two wins ending inside the distance.

 

Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, winner of the best boxer award at GOtv Boxing Night 13, will take on Kazeem “Ijoba” Badmus in the national lightweight title fight.

 

Also in action on the night is Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph. Joseph will take on Prince “Lion” Nwoye in a national lightweight challenge bout.

 

The undercard includes Abiodun “Finito” Afini square up with Razak “Hyena” Ramon in a national cruiserweight challenge bout, while Chukwuebuka “Wise King” Ezewudo will test his mettle when he faces Semiu Olapade. The seventh fight will be between Sulaimon Adeosun and Majesty Maduka.