ABU lightweight champion Oto “Joeboy” Joseph (16-0, 7 KOs) has reaffirmed his desire to defend his title against Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu (13-0, 6 KOs).
The two were originally slated to meet last October, but Joseph postponed it after suffering an injury during camp. Naturally, many speculated that he had a case of cold feet.
“I am not afraid of anyone,” Joseph told BoxingAfrica.com. “I will fight Oladosu come March or April this year when the next GOtv Boxing Night comes up.”
The bulk of his ire, however, was directed at the NBBofC president.
“I heard what the NBBofC President was saying about me, that I am afraid of losing my title to him,” said Joseph. “That is a lie from the pit of hell. I am the champion and am not afraid. I have defended this title against tougher opponents and I beat them all, so Oladosu may be tough but he will end up like others.
“It’s a shame that everyone is talking in his favor, including President of the NBBofC. He is taking sides and bringing tribal sentiments into it but I don’t care as it will be only me and him in the ring. Write that I said they should stop talking trash about me and get their fighter to prepare well because I will shut all of them up eventually.”
“My toughest opponent has been Isreal Kammwamba of Malawi. I won by unanimous decision (October 2017) but he was tough and rugged.”
Joseph also said that he’s now healthy and back in the gym.
“I started training two weeks ago and I want to condition myself well ahead of the fight. Since my injury, I have watched relationships close to me go their way. It was a lot of pain that I went through the last few months physically and emotionally. I am happy that I have overcome all that and preparing to face, Oladosu, their ‘favoured’ challenger.”
Joseph, the former National and West Africa Champion, says he wants to validate his status as champion. He is determined to prove why he has those belts and then move on to bigger things.
“I should be fighting for bigger titles at the moment but no one encourages me. All they want is to get me to defend and defend instead of putting me forward to fight for bigger titles like the Commonwealth, WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles.”
Joseph became the African champion on December 26, 2017, on GOtv Boxing Night 13 when he won via TD against Ahmed Abdulrahim of Egypt at the Landmark Events Centre in Victoria Island in Lagos.
He has defended twice, winning a unanimous decision against Nathaniel Nukpe of Ghana in July 2018 and then a KO of Ghana’s Success Tetteh in April 2019.
The third defense is expected to be the fight everyone wants to see as another postponement could lead to the ABU stripping Joseph of his title.
–Ralph Chidozie George, Twitter: @ralphcgeorge
