As members complain that president Okowa’s summon for meeting contravenes the Federation’s constitution
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) may be forced to shift to next month its extraordinary congress earlier fixed to hold next week Thursday in Abuja.
In a notice of the meeting sent out late last night to members of the congress (state athletics chairmen and their secretaries, as well as board members), and signed by Rita Moshindi, its Secretary General, the AFN says the congress, convened at the instance of Tonobok Okowa, its president, is ‘to address an important Constitutional matter.’
Our checks however gathered that the notice contravened article 10.1.7 of the federation’s 2023 amended constitution.
The article says ‘an extraordinary congress of the AFN shall be convened by the President or 2/3 of the board as the case may be for the amendments of the constitution or the consideration of any other matter.
‘Notice of 15 working days shall be given. The purpose agenda for the extraordinary congress shall be sent to the secretariat of all member states within the stipulated 15 working days’.
Athletics watchers are baffled the AFN Secretary General is claiming ignorance of the provisions of the federation’s constitution regarding the convening of an extraordinary congress.
As it stands, the AFN cannot hold any extraordinary congress until early next month as article 10.1.7 effectively provides for a three weeks notice.
Our correspondent further gathered that the embattled leadership of the AFN may have convened the congress to expel its two vice presidents, Olympic gold medalist, Tafida Gadzama and Rosa Collins, an African Games gold medal winner, as well as some members of the board who have been critical of the lack of transparency in the running of the federation.
President Okowa invokes members to address ‘Special constitutional issue’
By Rasheed Adewuyi
The Athletics Federation of Nigerian, (AFN), will hold an extraordinary congress on Thursday May 25 in Abuja.
The notice of meeting signed by Rita Moshindi, its Secretary General, said the meeting is convened at the instance of Tonobok Okowa, president of the federation.
‘I am directed by the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to call for an emergency Congress of all Chairmen and Secretary of State Athletics Association.” the notice said.
‘The objective of this Extra-Ordinary Congress is to address an important Constitutional matter.’ wrote Moshindi in the notice of meeting.
The meeting is coming barely two months after the AFN held an ordinary congress in Abuja. Meanwhile, the AFN has set new dates for its Golden League meetings.
The first of the three Golden League meetings will be held at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja between May 25 and 26. An anti-doping seminar will hold on the sideline of the meeting.
The Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin will hold the second leg of the meeting scheduled for June 7-8 while the final leg will take place in Asaba between June 23 and 24.
The Nigerian Track and Field Championships which will serve as selection trials for August’s 19th World Athletics Championships will hold between July 6 and 9 in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom.
As American Could be next in line to face WBA Champion Usyk in a mandatory challenge in May
Deontay Wilder is line to dump his proposed December heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia as the opportunity for a World Boxing Association (WBA) ordered mandatory clash with champion Oleksandr Usyk beckons.
Wilder has been mandated to fight Usyk this summer if Daniel Dubois pulls out of his bout against the WBA, International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight king.
The WBA have ordered purse bids for Usyk to clash with his obligatory opposition Dubois next week after the two fighters failed to reach an agreement for a summer battle.
Also, the WBA has agreed that if Dubois, who is nursing an injury, is not ready to take on the Ukrainian next, then, the opponent will be allotted to the American fighter.
Wilder, the ex-World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion is billed to fight Anthony Joshua in a super-payday clash with modalities for the encounter about to commence.
Saudi officials prefer to censor fights involving them this summer to avoid jeopardizing a promising show stopper event in the winter should either fighter lose to their opponents.
Joshua’s camp are eager for their pugilist to engage Dillian Whyte as an alternative this summer with Wilder now forced to observe the development of the Usyk and Dubois purse bids from a distance.
Usyk is also open to fight this summer and is keen to clash with Dubois but it is not known whether the Ukrainian would chance a certain battle with Tyson Fury in December by first fighting a heavy-puncher like Wilder.
Dubois has equally parted company with trainer Shane McGuigan and will now be trained by Don Charles. It was also announced this week that the Dubois clan has separated with sister Caroline remaining with McGuigan.
Olympics Qualifier: Continues to shine at the senior Africa weightlifting championship in Tunisia as Akano Desmond Goes For Gold Today
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Nigeria weightlifters have continued to churn out impressive performances in their quest for Paris 2024 Olympics qualification.
On Tuesday, May 16, two Nigerian weightlifters won six more medals at the ongoing 2023 Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia (which also serves as Olympics 2024 qualifiers), after Joy Eze Ogbonne won three silver and Edidiong Umofia won a silver and two bronze medals.
Competing in the 71kg women category, Joy Eze won three silver medals in snatch, Clean & Jerk, as well as Total.
Eze lifted a total of 227 kg to settle for three silver medals narrowly behind gold winner, Egyptian Said Neama Said Fahm.
The 2022 National Sports Festival, (NSF) gold medalist lifted 102 kilos in snatch, 125 kilos in Clean & Jerk, and 227 kilos in Total to claim all the silver medals.
She finished second in the three events behind Egyptian’s Neama, who lifted a total 229 kg to win the three gold on offer, while Ketty Lent of Mauritius finished third with three bronze medals with a combined lift of 197kg.
On his part, 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze winner, Edidiong Umofia won silver in the 73 kg men snatch. He also won two bronze medals in the Clean & Jerk as well as the Total.
Edidiong, who also won gold medals at the 2022 NSF, won silver with 142 kilos, and won two bronze medals in Clean & Jerk, and Total, with a lift of 170 kilos and 312 kilos, respectively.
Nigeria has so far won a total of 12 medals at the ongoing Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship in Tunisia.
Recall that Lawal Rufiatu Folashade and Olarinoye Adenike Adijat began Nigeria’s medal quest with 3 gold and 3 silver medals on Monday, in that order.
The four lifters thus far have won 3 gold, 7 silver, and 2 bronze medals at the championship, which also serves as the Olympics 2024 qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s medal haul at the championship is expected to continue on the rise on Wednesday afternoon as Akano Desmond will be competing in the 89kg men category by 2pm.
The 2019 All Africa Games silver medal winner is hoping to add more medals to Nigeria’s collections.
The Senior Africa Weightlifting Championship which got underway in Tunisia on Wednesday last week will be rounded off on Saturday, May 20.
Nigeria will conclude her involvement in the championship today. The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, NWF sponsored five athletes to the championship.
Argentina 2023: Bosso takes positives from his team’s scored draw with Colombia
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Nigeria U-20 head Coach Isah Ladan Bosso, will take positives from his Flying Eagles’ scored draw with Colombia in a pre-world friendly at the Estadio 20 October in Tristán Suárez, Buenos Aires.
Ladan was full of warm words for the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for organizing the friendly with Colombia.
“We thank the NFF leadership for organizing such a good test for the team. I am happy with the result. This will bolster the team mentally and psychologically for the World Cup starting in a few days. The match has provided us with a stiff test and has also strengthened us for the big task ahead,” Bosso told Thenff.com at the final whistle.
“We are focused on the big challenge ahead, which is to put up a creditable performance that will match the pedigree of our country at this championship. Our ultimate target is to have a good campaign and with this result, we will be very ready for our first match against the Dominican Republic on Sunday.”
Hard fighting Nigeria battled to a gallant 3-3 draw with highly impressive Colombia in Tuesday’s pre-FIFA U-20 World Cup friendly match at the Estadio 20 October in Tristán Suárez, Buenos Aires.
Colombia went ahead in the tie after 26 minutes when central defender Abel Ogwuche put the ball past his own goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso.
The seven-time African champions levelled up in the 44th minute when winger Jude Sunday fired a scorching shot from outside the box, but the South Americans were soon back in the lead before half-time after they converted from the penalty spot.
The Colombians, who play in Group C of the tournament against African champions Senegal, Japan and Israel, increased the tally in the 73rd minute to leave the Flying Eagles panting.
However, winger Ibrahim Mohammed pulled one back just four minutes later and Emmanuel Umeh, one of the scorers in the 3-2 defeat of Argentine second division team Almirante Brown on Friday evening, evened things up in the 89th minute.
The match against Colombia drew the curtain on the Flying Eagles’ activities in Buenos Aires, and they will fly into Mendoza on Wednesday afternoon ahead of their first game against the Dominican Republic on Sunday. Their second match, against Italy on Wednesday next week, will also take place in Mendoza.
10 Wrestling Finishing Moves That Are Genuinely HORRIBLE
These finishers are anything but fake
t’s ironic how wrestlers look like they’re killing each other in the ring, while they’re doing everything in their power to guarantee the other’s safety. Sure, the Tombstone or the Stone Cold Stunner are practically guaranteed to end a match, but finishers like these shouldn’t pose any real danger. Even if a move really hurts, the athletes know how to land and tense their bodies to minimize the pain.
But no matter what precautions are taken, things can always go wrong. The risk factor is never zero, regardless how talented a pro-wrestler is or how many times they’ve performed their routine.
If a wrestler mistimes their movements, loses balance, or gets the angle wrong, a body slam, clotheslinSuplex e, or a can break bones, spill blood, or worse. Certain finishers proved so devastating, they’ve been banned from the sport entirely. Considering some maneuvers have ended wrestlers’ careers and caused irreparable damage, it’s hard to believe they were allowed in the first place.
If you saw the receiver of these finishers look like they were in genuine agony, there’s a strong possibility they weren’t acting.
10. The Shooting Star Splash
The risk factor for any finisher is dramatically higher if unleashed from up above. On its own, an elbow or a leg drop seems basic. But while sailing through the air, these simple attacks are devastating. Worse still, high-flying moves require an astounding amount of balance, precision, and control, meaning it’s more likely things can literally go belly up.
Few techniques prove this principle better than the Shooting Star Press. This aerial assault, popularized by Hayabusa, Scott Steiner, and Jushin Liger, requires the attacker to perform a 450-degree somersault from the top turnbuckle onto their opponent.
To say the Shooting Star Splash is dangerous an understatement. During a SmackDown brawl, Juventud bungled the death-defying stunt on Paul London, damaging his eye socket and breaking his nose, urging WWE to ban it for five years.
What’s worse is the Splash is just as hazardous for the athlete performing it. Zack Ryder tweeted “Never again” after suffering a bad landing from the finisher. At WrestleMania XIX, Brock Lesnar undershot the move during the headline match, slamming his face into the mat.
And when a Swanton-bombing daredevil like Jeff Hardy refuses to do the Splash anymore, you know it’s gotta hurt.
9. Tiger Driver ’91
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Similar to the Powerbomb, the Tiger Driver has the user flip the opponent in the air before hurling them into the ground on their back. Unlike the standard move, the Driver has the opponents’ arms locked behind them, minimizing the chances of a counter. Because the Tiger Driver is unsafe, you can understand why wrestlers stick with a more traditional Powerbomb.
And yet, the finisher’s creator, Mitshuharu Misawa, didn’t think it was dangerous enough, so he upgraded it. Rather than letting his opponent land on their back, the new-and-improved Tiger Driver ’91 drops them on their head and neck.
Because this move combines elements from the doubled-armed DDT, the Piledriver, and the Powerbomb, it feels it was designed to kill the opponent, not injure them. The Tiger Driver ’91 is so ludicrously over-the-top, it looks like something Zangief from Street Fighter would pull off.
Over the years, Ahmed Johnson, Tyler Bate, and Toni Storm have kept Misawa’s monster manoeuvre alive by devising their own take. But since the wrestling industry is not a big fan of finishers that can result in a wrestler’s head exploding on impact, the Tiger Driver is used infrequently.
8. Top-Rope Release German Suplex
Certain moves are risky, purely because they are difficult to accomplish. Although wrestlers have a knack for achieving specific techniques, the Top-Rope Release German suplex doesn’t come easy to anybody.
Even though a conventional German Suplex looks like it hurts like hell, it’s perfectly safe. However, the Release German Suplex requires the thrower to let go of the opponent, increasing the margin of error.
So, when this reckless manoeuvre is committed while both wrestlers are balancing on the upper turnbuckle, it’s a recipe for disaster. The fact this stunt is often done as a counter amplifies the danger, since the wrestlers have to readjust their footing at the last moment.
The move became hugely popular in 2012-2013 when Team Hell No and The Shield were repeatedly pitted against each other. During these battles, it was custom for Daniel Bryan to execute this Suplex on Seth Rollins, which looked extra effective, thanks to Rollins’ convincing sell.
When done correctly, the Top-Rope Release German Suplex is a thing of true beauty. But because of the lingering danger and the level of control that both participants need, the move is rarely performed any more.
7. Top-Rope Inverted Suplex
Taking any move to the upper turnbuckle should make it more thrilling, since it ups the ante. Because of this, most aerial techniques are prepped slowly and carefully, to ensure both parties are perfectly in place.
However, the top-rope inverted Suplex is more trouble than it’s worth. Albert Del Rio, who popularized the finisher, begins by hooking his opponent in a Dragon Sleeper, while sitting on the highest turnbuckle. He then flips his opponent backwards, slamming them into the mat.
Since neither wrestler is facing the ring while this Suplex is carried out, the victim will be flying blind until the last second. Due to the move’s unpredictable nature, there’s no telling what body part the opponent will land on, making it far harder to avoid injuries.
But there’s another problem with this Suplex – it’s not visually impressive. Because both wrestlers have less than a second to get into place, the top-rope inverted Suplex is rarely performed with any grace or precision. If a finisher doesn’t wow the audience, there’s no need to perform it, especially if it’s incredibly dangerous.
6. Fallaway Suplex
Before settling on the Stone Cold Stunner, Kevin Owens’ trademark was his own iteration of the Fallaway Suplex, The Steenalizer. After packaging his opponent, Owens tossed him over his own body, either onto the mat or into a turnbuckle.
Since neither party have control once the thrower lets go, anything can go wrong, especially if the bridge isn’t executed properly. As such, some wrestlers flat-out refused to take this Suplex.
Because of the injuries caused by this move, you can’t blame anyone who wants no part in it. During a IWGP match in 2018, Dragon Lee performed a fallaway suplex variant called the Phoenix-plex on Hiromu Takashi. Unfortunately, Lee released Takahasi too early, causing him to break his neck on impact. Takashi may have completed the match (somehow,) but was out of action for over a year.
Despite the fact Takashi wasn’t paralyzed, the incident highlighted the dangers of the suplex, which is why it has never been incorporated into the WWE. In fact, if this monstrous finisher was banned from all divisions of wrestling, it wouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.
5. The Punt Kick
Getting a boot in the face may not be a creative way to finish a show but, boy, does it get a reaction. Originated by Arn Anderson in the 1980s, the Punt Kick became well-recognized after Randy Orton unleashed it on Shawn Michaels in 2007.
Standing 6ft 5 with a size 15 shoe, Orton’s field-kick has generated a lot of concerns over potential head-injuries. Considering the Punt Kick is regularly used as a Kayfabe plot-device to write wrestlers off or explain how they got concussed, it wasn’t surprising when Orton had it retired in 2012.
At least, for a while. Orton brought it back the following year, saying,
Since I was playing the Legend Killer, I had to bring the Punt Kick back! I’ve devised a way to tip the kick whether we’re taping or live where it’s 100 percent safe and I’m not going to hurt anybody.
It’s reassuring how Orton’s focus is on his fellow wrestlers’ safety, but the fact he altered his signature to avoid injuries demonstrates how dangerous it was to begin with. Despite Orton’s precautions, some believe the ban should’ve never been lifted, including John Cena Sr, who received the Punt Kick himself in 2007.
4. The Vertebreaker – Hurricane Helms
No matter how small or grand a finisher is, it should always be simple. Take the Chokeslam for example. The wrestler is choked, then slammed. Pretty straightforward, isn’t it?
However, Hurricane Helm’s Vertebreaker (which is the best name ever) requires so much underhooking, twisting, and flipping, it feels more like a puzzle than an attack.
Also, the person caught in the Vertebreaker has their arms restrained and their head exposed, meaning they can’t protect themselves if things go awry. Even if the manoeuvre goes smoothly, the most careful wrestler on the planet will still suffer tremendous force on their back and neck.
Furthermore, the Vertebreaker is one of the only moves which needs to be sanctioned by the higher-ups. If a match-ender requires special permission, that’s a big indicator it shouldn’t be allowed at all.
Finally, Helms could only commit the potential spine-shatterer on certain people, making its usage incredibly limited. As Helms mentioned in his Fightful interview, “There was only about three people I could even pick up.”
No one has had their career ended from the Vertebreaker, but that’s only because it’s rarely carried out. If the move was performed regularly, critical injuries would be abundant.
3. Diving Headbutt
When it comes to protecting oneself, nothing is a higher priority than the head. Although the human body can take a tremendous amount of damage, a single punch or kick to the skull can spell disaster. Focus on health and safety has increased dramatically in sports entertainment recently, which is why wrestling moves to the head (including chair strikes) have been reined in, revised, or banned altogether.
That’s why it’s no surprise the Diving Headbutt is perceived with such infamy. For this move, the wrestler leaps from the top turnbuckle, landing cranium-first on their opponent.
Because the move looks phoney if executed improperly, it’s crucial for both wrestlers to get their heads as close together as possible, which is why there’s always a chance the two noggins can collide for real. Headbutting someone from two inches away can result in severe harm. Headbutting a wrestler while flying 10ft in the air can irreparable damage.
Ironically, the Diving Headbutt is statistically more dangerous for the deliverer than the receiver. Wrestlers like Harley Race, the Dynamite Kid, and Daniel Bryan have suffered spinal problems, seizures, and brain lesions, all of which were attributed to this barbaric finisher.
2. Muscle Buster -Samoa Joe
The Muscle Buster requires the wrestler to lift his opponent upside-down and scrunch their body until their head and neck is next to theirs. Once in position, the attacker falls backwards, slamming the opponent into the mat.
The Muscle Buster isn’t easy to pull off, since it requires unwavering balance, immense strength, impeccable timing, and surgical precision. Ryback botched the finisher several times against Tensai on October 1 2012 episode of Raw, despite performing a simplified variant called Shell Shock. If the “safe” version is dangerous, you can imagine how devastating the real thing is.
However, Samoa Joe performed the proper Muscle Buster so flawlessly throughout his career, it looked like his opponent was never in true danger. Joe seemingly perfected this throw, since he performed it countless times without incident.
Unfortunately, everything changed in 2015, when Joe bungled the move on Tyson Kidd, nearly crippling him. Kidd’s spine was left irreparably damaged, forcing him to leave pro-wrestling two years later.
Although it seemed like the Muscle Buster had been retired, Joe brought it back in 2022. Nevertheless, the finisher’s reputation is tarnished, meaning it’ll probably never be as popular as it once was.
1. Banzai Drop – Yokozuna
What a legacy Yokozuna had. The surprisingly agile sumo master became the WWF champion after only 173 days, held the title twice, and won his first Royal Rumble. His achievements are more impressive, since he had a short tenure with the federation.
But what makes Yokozuna iconic is his Banzai Drop. While his opponent lay on the floor, the Wild Samoan finished them off by dropping on them butt-first from the turnbuckle. Not only did this move knock the wind out of the receiver, they had no chance of pushing Yokozuna off, due to his immense bulk.
To avoid the recipient having their ribcage shattered, Yokozuna held onto the ropes and ensured his feet took the brunt of the impact.
But at the end of day, this guy was 600lbs. Any wrestler facing Yokozuna must’ve been terrified while he prepared his finisher, knowing their career could be over in a moment.
Sadly, that’s not a hypothetical. During one match with a jobber, Yokozuna infamously performed a Banzai Drop with such force, his opponent’s head nearly popped off his body.
Some sources speculate Yokozuna deliberately squashed the jobber, while other state the incident was an honest mistake. Whatever the real story is, we can all be certain that this particular Banzai Drop must have REALLY hurt.
Doctors want to take ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham off life support, but wife, Valerie Coleman won’t let that happen
“Superstar” Billy Graham has dealt with multiple health issues over the years, and now things are not looking good for him. On Monday morning, Graham’s wife, Valerie Coleman, went to Facebook to announce that her husband is on life support, Brian Jones reports for Popculture.
She said the doctors want to take him off life support, but she refused to let that happen.
“Please urgent prayers needed for my husband,” Coleman wrote. “The doctors wanted to remove him from life support tonight, I refused. He’s a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn’t.
God is our hope.” Some of the health issues Graham has dealt with include heart failure and hip surgery due to an infection. A GoFundMe page remains active to help cover the cost of Graham’s medical treatment, and over $14,000 has been raised.
Graham, 79, began his professional wrestling career in 1970 and made his in-ring debut with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (currently WWE) in 1975. Graham won the world title in 1977 and held on to it for 296 days before losing to Bob Backlund in 1978.
He also spent time in NWA while returning to WWE multiple times. In 2004, Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with other legendary wrestlers, including Sgt. Slaughter, Junkyard Dog, Harley Race and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine among others.
In late April, the GoFundMe page organizer updated Graham’s condition. “It has now been four months since Wayne has not been home, he has either been at the rehab center, or in the hospital,” the statement read.
“Due to ongoing issues from his lack of appetite, he has now lost 80 pounds and subsequently continues to struggle with extreme weakness. The Osteomyelitis infection in his ears, skull and sinus cavity remains his greatest challenge.
“He’s on strong IV antibiotics 3 times a day to treat this and the infectious disease doctor says he will need to be on them for at least 3 more months. As a result of this infection, he is currently completely deaf.
“We’re praying this is temporary and will resolve as the infection is treated. He has intermittently also suffered with kidney issues, and been on dialysis. This in addition to Billy having heart and lung concerns, sores from being in bed for 4 months and depression.”
John Fury predicts an Anthony Joshua K’O win over Deontay Wilder inside the distance
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are in talks to finally face off this year, and the Furys are split as to who comes out victorious, Kerr Ferguson reports for Boxing Social.
The transatlantic tear-up has had life breathed into it in the form of Saudi Arabia, with the nation keen to throw money to make the bout happen after years of frustration.
Given it’s tentatively set for this winter, predictions are coming back around.
“I think we all know what happens. I’d love for AJ to knock him out, because Wilder’s a little b**ch. He’s a moaning p**sy, forgive me for my language. But I just see [Joshua] getting chinned to be honest.”
Wilder has 42 knockouts from 43 wins, so, as far as predictions go, it’s not a fanciful one.
His father, John, disagrees though. Speaking to a media scrum as captured by FightHype, the elder Fury said the Brit gets the job done inside the distance.
“AJ will knock [Wilder] out. And you know why? Because Deontay Wilder can’t take shots on the side of his head. Tyson, ‘The Gypsy King’ cracked his skull. If AJ lands in the same place, AJ knocks him out.”
Wilder was handed two stoppage defeats by WBC Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury, both particularly punishing with heavy knockdowns beforehand.
The contrasting picks paint a good picture of the intrigue surrounding the AJ-Wilder bout, which was once to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Despite the lack of belts on the line in 2023, it’s high up on the lists of fans as big fights go.
The tentative schedule still has to overcome many obstacles to see the light of day in December when it is billed to hold.
Wilder who was was arrested two weeks ago for alleged possession of a concealed weapon in the early morning hours Tuesday, May 2 in Los Angeles, according to TMZ must extricate himself from his legal struggles well ahead of December for the fight to go ahead.
The former heavyweight champ was stopped at around 1:15 a.m. in Hollywood because, police said, the windows of his Rolls-Royce were illegally tinted and his license plate was obstructed.
Police officers searched the car after smelling what TMZdescribed as “burnt marijuana.” They said they found the drug and a 9mm gun, according to the outlet’s sources.
Wilder, who was cooperative, was then arrested and spent part of the morning in jail. He bonded out at 6:34 a.m. local time.
The 37-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, reportedly has been in talks to fight fellow former titleholder Anthony Joshua in what would be a massive event, particularly in the U.K. Wilder also has stated his desire to fight former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who is a free agent.
Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) bounced back from back-to-back losses to WBC belt holder Tyson Fury by stopping Robert Helenius in one round in October, his most-recent fight.
Backs Deontay Wilder to ‘Chin’ Anthony Joshua in their planned fight in December
‘I’d love for AJ to knock him out, but I just see him getting chinned’: Tyson Fury gives his prediction for Anthony Joshua’s planned fight with Deontay Wilder, as the world heavyweight champion expects to announce a new bout ‘in the next few weeks’
Anthony Joshua recently confirmed plans to fight Deontay Wilder in December
It is not yet known if the American’s recent arrest will affect the bout
Tyson Fury begrudgingly admitted he expects Wilder to beat Joshua
Tyson Fury has backed Deontay Wilder to beat Anthony Joshua in the pair’s planned fight, but admitted he would ‘love’ to see a different outcome, Michael Rudling reports for Mailonline.
Joshua, who recently returned to boxing with an important if uninspiring victory over Jermaine Franklin, confirmed last month he would be fighting the Bronze Bomber in December after Eddie Hearn held talks in Saudi Arabia.
However, doubts emerged over the fight last week when Wilder was arrested and booked on a charge of possession of a concealed weapon. He was released after posting a $35,000 bond.
If the fight does go ahead, Fury expects the American to come out on top, as he said in a press conference while on holiday in Tenerife: ‘I think we all know what happens.
‘I’d love for AJ to knock him out because Wilder’s a little b**** but I just see him getting chinned.’
Fury has fought the Bronze Bomber three times with one draw and two wins for the Brit. Their second fight saw Wilder lose his WBC heavyweight title after five years and 10 successful defenses.
The pair seemed to be on good terms when they watched Fury’s brother Tommy beat Jake Paul in February, but Fury took issue with the way Wilder has spoken about him since.
‘He come over and cuddled me,’ he said of their meeting in Riyadh, ‘then a week later he says Tyson’s a piece of s***, this that and the other. Deontay Wilder’s Deontay Wilder and that’s it.’
As for Fury’s future in the ring, the 34-year-old is back in talks with Oleksansdr Usyk over a unification fight, after previously failing to agree on financial terms.
The boxer said he would ‘hopefully be announcing a fight in the next few weeks’, but seemed frustrated by the pace of negotiations.
If the fight does go ahead, it could crown a first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, and the first of the four belt era.
Board members allegedly vow to clash with President Tonobok Okowa over sponsorship cash
By Ed Emeanua
President Tonobok Okowa of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is at the center of a wild allegation of the scramble for sponsorship money by members of the Athletics body.
The Federation has said it signed a sponsorship deal with Premium Trust Bank as it gets ready for this year’s World Championships in Budapest.
The Federation added that Nilayo Sports Management officialized the three-year deal on its behest, with the highly anticipated competition scheduled for August 19 through 27 in the Hungarian capital.
“Premium Trust Bank has demonstrated dedication to the growth and development of athletics in the country,” AFN said in its statement.
“As a forward thinking and fast growing brand, we are very confident that this is a collaboration that will transform athletics in Nigeria.”
Premium Trust Bank was just commissioned last year with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a section of the Nigerian media, the deal has ignited conflict within AFN rank and file, with the rumor mill rife with alleged jostling for the sponsorship money among the Federation’s supposedly Stalwarts.
Bukola Olopade, Nilayo Sports Management chief executive, also doubles as the chief marketing consultant for the nation’s Athletics Federation.
The Guardian Newspaper reported that the Federation’s Board members are empowered to summon the assembly and there are some secret motions to go against President Okowa over sponsorship cash.
“It is unfortunate that some of the Board members are accusing Okowa wrongly over issues he knows nothing about,” Olopade told the The Guardian.
“I heard this rumour of some of the members scrambling for sponsorship money before I traveled out of Nigeria, and I have expressed my disappointment with some of them.
“In the first place, AFN does not have a contract with Premium Trust Bank, rather, it was my company, Nilayo Sports, that signed a sponsorship deal with Premium Trust Bank.
“As the chief marketing consultant to AFN, we signed a three-year-sponsorship pact on behalf of Premium Trust Bank with the AFN.
“Money that comes from the sponsorship deal is not given to any individual, it is tied to competitions.
“In other words, the AFN will have to write to Premium Trust Bank, through Nilayo Sports, for money to be released for major competitions, including the World Athletics Championships.”
Nigerian athletes have remarkably shone for their country where all else failed and landed a gold and a silver medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon against all odds, with women’s 100 meters hurdler Tobi Amusan headlining the laurel stand.
She emblazoned a world record time of 12.12sec in the semi-finals enroute to her accomplishment.
