Boxing

Nigeria Fast Rising Female Boxer Ojo Joy Set for Kigali Fight Night Clash Against Kutaka

Published

2 days ago

March 28, 2026

This Saturday night, in Kigali Nigeria’s fast-rising prospect Ojo Joy will take another bold step in her young career when she faces Tanzania’s determined challenger Zawadi Kutaka at Kigali Fight Night.

It’s a matchup that feels perfectly poised. Both are 24-year-olds, both hungry, both eager to prove a point, but carrying very different momentum into the ring.

Ojo Joy arrives unbeaten, five fights, five wins, steadily building belief and attention with each outing.

Her journey has been one of quiet consistency, backed by growing confidence after her recent success at Chaos in the Ring and recognition at the Fight Gist Media Boxing Awards.

Each performance has added another layer to her reputation, and in Kigali, she has the chance to take that next leap.

Across the ring stands Kutaka, a fighter whose record tells a more turbulent story, but one that often breeds resilience.

With a mix of wins and losses, the Tanzanian has experienced both ends of the fight game — and that unpredictability could make her a dangerous opponent on the night.

Set in the super-featherweight division, the six-round clash may not carry a title, but it holds real significance.

For Ojo, it is about protecting her perfect record while announcing herself on a bigger stage.

For Kutaka, it is an opportunity to disrupt the narrative and claim a defining victory.

As Kigali hosts the action, the atmosphere is expected to match the stakes — electric, tense, and full of anticipation.

And when the bell rings at the KCC Roundabout, records and predictions will give way to instinct, power, and will.

/* <![CDATA[ */
(function (document, window) {
var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement;

c.id = "CleverCoreLoader95885";
c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2777295adab0c8a007d7f8a0312ad6f2.js";

c.async = !0;
c.type = "text/javascript";
c.setAttribute("data-target", window.name || (f && f.getAttribute("id")));
c.setAttribute("data-callback", "put-your-callback-function-here");
c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-click", "put-your-click-macro-here");
c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-view", "put-your-view-macro-here");

try {
a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
} catch (e) {
a = !1;
}

a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]);
a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a);
})(document, window);
/* ]]> */

The post Nigeria Fast Rising Female Boxer Ojo Joy Set for Kigali Fight Night Clash Against Kutaka appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Boxing

Moses Itauma’s Big Revelation: ‘I Gain Inspiration From Reading Books’

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Bryce Mullins

History making Nigerian-born heavyweight boxer, Moses Itauma has come out with a startling revelation that he likes reading motivational books as a source of inspiration during his free time.

Sports247 reports that, just ahead of his epochal clash with USA’s Jermaine Franklin, who he knocked out in round five on Friday night in Manchester, England, Itauma said reading is his main hobby.

The 21-year-old fastest growing young heavyweight of the new generation disclosed that reading the works of great authors inspires him to equally aspire for greatness in his career.

His reading habit appears to be working, as the lad from Kent has galloped into global limelight just six years after he and his younger brother, Samuel, had to ‘manage’ their pocket money by eating light.

At that point, Itauma recalled he would sleep anywhere he could find, even a bathtub, on trips to watch his colleagues fight around Europe; but all that struggling to eke out a living has now speedily turned into days of comfort.

Three months since turning 21, Itauma has developed an even stronger appetite for reading, through which he learnt self-improvement and self-discovery from literary giants like Jiddu Krishnamurti and Niccolo Machiavelli.

His hunger for books has seemingly helped Itauma step out of poverty into fortune and fame, just three years into his pro career, and he can now enjoy fine things of life, along with his family and friends, but the boxing prodigy won’t forget the past.

“My dad used to give us £7 for the week and we would go and get the rice and mayonnaise from the shop. I think Samuel was the one doing the cooking but I was on the washing up.

“I slept in the bath when we used to go on trips for boxing tournaments. I was always the one who ended up on the floor or in the bath, but it was only for a couple of nights when the other boys were boxing.

“I was never a big fan of reading because I found it hard to click with books, but then I found a couple that I liked and now I am on the rampage. I just ordered about 50 books,” Itauma revealed.

/* <![CDATA[ */
(function (document, window) {
var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement;

c.id = "CleverCoreLoader95885";
c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2777295adab0c8a007d7f8a0312ad6f2.js";

try {
a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
} catch (e) {
a = !1;
}

a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]);
a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a);
})(document, window);
/* ]]> */

The post Moses Itauma’s Big Revelation: ‘I Gain Inspiration From Reading Books’ appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Boxing

UFC Seattle: Adesanya Returns, Targets Losing Streak Break Against Pyfer

Published

4 days ago

March 26, 2026

Elliot Michael

Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is set for a high-stakes return to the Octagon this weekend, as he faces rising contender Joe Pyfer in the headline bout of UFC Seattle.

The event takes place at the Climate Pledge Arena, marking the UFC’s return to Seattle with a stacked 13-fight card.

High Stakes for Adesanya

Adesanya enters the bout under unusual pressure, having suffered three consecutive defeats—an unfamiliar position for one of the UFC’s most dominant middleweights in recent years.

The Nigerian-born striker has been out of action for over a year and will be eager to reassert his elite status.

A victory could reignite his title ambitions, while another loss may raise serious questions about his future at the top level.

Pyfer’s Momentum vs Experience

In contrast, Pyfer comes into the fight riding a three-fight winning streak, rapidly establishing himself as one of the division’s most dangerous up-and-comers.

Known for his power and aggressive style, Pyfer presents a real threat to Adesanya’s comeback plans.

However, questions remain about whether he has the experience and endurance to handle a five-round main event against a seasoned elite striker.

Main Card:

Middleweight: Adesanya vs Pyfer
Women’s Flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa vs Niko Price
Featherweight: Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas
Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui
Lightweight: Terence McKinney vs Kyle Nelson
Prelims:
Ignacio Bahamondes vs Tofiq Musayev
Chase Hooper vs Lance Gibson Jr.
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs Tyrell Fortune
Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs Gabriella Fernandes
Light Heavyweight: Navajo Stirling vs Bruno Lopes
Bantamweight: Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez
Strawweight: Alexia Thainara vs Bruna Brasil

Fight Outlook

This main event presents a classic crossroads clash—Adesanya’s elite pedigree against Pyfer’s surging momentum. While the former champion’s technical striking and experience over five rounds could prove decisive, Pyfer’s power makes him a constant danger.

For Adesanya, it’s more than just a fight—it’s a defining moment in his career.

/* <![CDATA[ */
(function (document, window) {
var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement;

c.id = "CleverCoreLoader95885";
c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2777295adab0c8a007d7f8a0312ad6f2.js";

try {
a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
} catch (e) {
a = !1;
}

a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]);
a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a);
})(document, window);
/* ]]> */

The post UFC Seattle: Adesanya Returns, Targets Losing Streak Break Against Pyfer appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Boxing

Apochi Set to Face Undefeated Duquesne for NABF Cruiserweight Title in Texas

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Kenny Malone

Nigerian cruiserweight boxer Efetobor Apochi will take on unbeaten Cuban fighter Dariel Duquesne for the vacant North American Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Championship on March 27, 2026.

The bout is scheduled to take place at the Biyu Arena, where Apochi will be fighting on home soil in front of his Houston-based supporters.

Read Also: NPFL: Ikorodu City Edge Rivers United in Lagos as Matchday 30 | Sports247 Nigeria

Apochi, popularly known as the “Nigerian Pit Bull,” holds a professional record of 13 wins and three losses, with all 13 victories coming by knockout.

The hard-hitting Nigerian is coming off an impressive ninth-round technical knockout victory over Dionardo Minor in February 2025.

The former Nigerian national boxing captain has built a reputation for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power, boasting a 100 percent knockout-to-win ratio in his career victories.

His opponent, Duquesne, nicknamed “El Lucero,” enters the fight with an unblemished record of 14 wins, including 11 knockouts.

The Cuban prospect last fought in June 2025, when he defeated Theodore Morse to maintain his perfect record.

Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Duquesne possesses a significant height advantage over the 5 feet 11 inches Apochi and carries a knockout rate of over 70 percent.

The contest is expected to be a high-stakes showdown, with both fighters aiming to claim the vacant regional title. For Apochi, victory would mark the first major regional championship of his professional career, while Duquesne will be looking to extend his undefeated streak and continue his rise in the cruiserweight division.

The fight is billed for Friday, March 27, 2026, in Houston, Texas, with the NABF cruiserweight belt on the line.

/* <![CDATA[ */
(function (document, window) {
var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement;

c.id = "CleverCoreLoader95885";
c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2777295adab0c8a007d7f8a0312ad6f2.js";

try {
a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
} catch (e) {
a = !1;
}

a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]);
a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a);
})(document, window);
/* ]]> */

The post Apochi Set to Face Undefeated Duquesne for NABF Cruiserweight Title in Texas appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.