WBC international super flyweight silver and gold champion Aliu Bamidele Lasisi returns December 16 as he looks toward big things in 2020.
Lasisi, 13-0 (8 KOs), a Nigerian who fights out of Dubai, told BoxingAfrica.com that he wants to take his career to the next level.
“It’s been great being a boxing champion in Dubai as people whom you never met hail you on the streets, ‘Hey Lasisi!’ or ‘The champ!’ and I’m loving it,” he said.
“I can tell you that I am that popular in Dubai as lots of fans including many Nigerians residing here attend my fights. They really love the sport in Dubai and I hope to repay them with the main world title in the not too distant future.”
The unbeaten Lasisi won his WBC silver title in December 2018 with a unanimous decision win over Tanzania’s Mchanja Yohana at Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana. He added the Gold title four months later, winning a hard-fought unanimous decision against Ricardo Blandon of Nicaragua at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.
Lasisi hasn’t fought since. His opponent on December 16 is Hamson Lamandau of Indonesia (10-4-1, 7 KOs). The bout is part of the “Independence Day” card headlined by Viktor Kotochigov of Kazakhstan versus Javier Jose Clavero of Argentina fighting for the WBC International lightweight title. The event will take place at Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty in Kazakhstan.
“This will be a good tune-up for me,” Lasisi said. “Lamandau is a good fighter and will give me a good test. I hope to do my best to win and stay in shape for my title defense next year.
“I hope to defend my current titles in March or April 2020. I aim to lay my hands on the main title and hopefully I will get it and take it back to Fatherland, Nigeria.”
Lasisi visited Nigeria earlier this year and even attended the ‘Ileya Boxing Fiesta’ in Ibadan in August where he was introduced to the large crowd and cheered.
His appetite to fight in Nigeria has since grown and he promised to do so, although it doesn’t appear likely anytime soon.
“On my last visit to Nigeria, I took a tour of media houses and met the boss of Lewis Promotions, Henry Lewis who is based in USA, and we talked about defending my titles in Nigeria and I was happy but since then there’s been no follow up from him,” Lasisi said.
“I will honestly be happy to fight before my home fans, so whether it’s Lewis Promotions or any other promotions outfit that makes it happen I will be glad.”
Lasisi has had seven of his thirteen fights in Ghana, one in Saudi Arabia and the rest in his base, Dubai in UAE.
–Ralph Chidozie George
