Nigerian boxer, Rilwan ‘Babyface’ Babatunde, emerged the best boxer in the just-concluded GOtv Boxing Night 23 following a spectacular victory over Beninese Naimou Samson in their super welterweight bout.
The fight among six others held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere-Lagos, on Saturday night.
Babyface won the N1m prize money attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Best Boxer of the night trophy.
The crunchy fight saw both fighters go toe-to-toe as they both sought to outsmart each other in the early periods of the eight-round bout.
Babyface showed no mercy as he landed some devastating punches on Samson.
However, a resolute Samson fought hard to ward off Babyface’s surge and worked to prove his defensive qualities even when on the receiving end.
After eight rounds of action packed fight, the three judges scored the fight 80-72, 80-72 and 80-73 in favour of the Nigerian.
Babyface, who is coming from a loss he suffered from the hands of Ukraine’s Dymtro Mytrovanov for the World Boxing Organisation Oriental Middleweight title in July in Kiev, told newsmen after the fight that he was happy to return to winning ways.
“It was a great fight and my opponent was very technical and very sound. It is the victory I’m looking for to prove to my fans that I can still deliver and I am happy they really loved the fight.
“I thank Flykite Promotions for organising the event and giving me another opportunity to prove my worth as a champion. However, I pray for bigger challenges,’’ Babyface said.
Samson said, “It was a great fight. I like the atmosphere and the opportunity to fight in the GOtv boxing night. I wish to get another opportunity to prove myself in the future,” Samson said.
Also, in another international bout the same night, Rilwan `Real one’ Oladosu defeated Felix Okine from Ghana after a first round knockout in their Super Featherweight fight.
Michael ‘Emirate’ Godwin beat Abiodun ‘Infinti’ Affini via technical knockout in the third round bout of their National Cruiserweight challenge scheduled for eight rounds.
Also, Rilwan ‘Showbow’ Lawal proved his superiority over Nurudeen ‘Prince’ Fatai following a TKO in the fifth round of their National Featherweight challenge.
Taiwo ‘Gentle boy’ Olowu then wowed the crowd with his swift style of boxing and landing some devastating blows to halt Isaac ‘Star’ Chukwudi in a nine round high-tempo fight.
It was also an opportunity that Olowu took so well to avenge the loss he suffered from Chukwudi in the Gotv Night 22 which held in April 2021.
