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By: Peter Akinbo
African Boxing Union super-bantamweight champion, Adijat Gbadamosi, remains confident of walking out of her title defence on February 17 with her ABU belt held high, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Gbadamosi’s title defence against Ugandan boxer, Salimat Tibesigwa, and other bouts set to feature on ‘The Lion Heart and The Champion Homecoming’ event was supposed to take place on December 22, 2023.
However, the fight night hosted by Monarch Event and Promotions at the International Conference Centre in Awka, Anambra State will now hold February 17.
Gbadamosi told our correspondent she was not happy with the postponement after she had already reduced her weight for the bout.
“When I started training for this fight, I noticed that I added more to my weight, I was 60kg and my weight is 54kg, so I had to cut 6kg down. I struggled to cut down and when I heard that the fight had been postponed, I felt bad because it was not easy for me to return to 54kg.
“It’s nothing bad though, we have to continue training. I will rest now and come back to train in the first week of February. Nothing has changed, I still have the same determination,” the 21-year-old said.
Currently training at the Oshodi Sports Centre, Gbadamosi expressed her eagerness to defend her title.
“Winning it once can be a fluke, but winning it twice proves you are the best. I am excited to go again. I know I am going to defend my title, it is very sure for me that I am going to lift it back after the fight.
“I am not going to boast of a knockout because she is also going to do her best to take my belt but I know for sure, I will take it back home.”
In June 2023, Gbadamosi delivered a knockout victory over Zimbabwean Patience Mastara to claim the ABU title and become the first Nigerian woman to hold the belt. The two-time Africa Youth Champion holds an undefeated record of eight victories and five knockouts.
As Gbadamosi looks ahead to the rescheduled bout in 2024, the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics silver medallist looks keen to secure another knockout and deliver a statement to make potential opponents in her division wary.
