Former World Boxing Federation (WBF) Cruiserweight Champion, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, widely known as Bash Ali, has accused corrupt government officials of frustrating his long-standing effort to host a Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the 68-year-old boxing legend expressed deep disappointment over the lack of progress nearly two decades after the idea was first proposed. Despite numerous endorsements from successive Nigerian presidents and lawmakers, Ali said entrenched corruption in the sports sector has continuously derailed the project.
Ali revealed that the Federal Government had inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organising Committee (LOC) three times—in 2006, 2014, and 2019—yet no tangible results have followed due to “corruption and bureaucracy.”
“All Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fights have been held in the U.S., so mine would be the first outside and the most lucrative in the history of Pay-Per-View television,” he said. “One hundred and thirty-two countries are coming to Nigeria to be part of boxing history.”
According to Ali, the Federal Government had guaranteed safety for visiting delegations and directed the now National Sports Commission to follow through on payment of the approval fee, which he said is already secured in the Central Bank of Nigeria by the private sector.
The former champion also alleged that the government collected $12 million in advance funding and extorted millions of naira from him under the pretense of promotional activities. He named former sports ministers Sunday Dare and John Enoh as key figures responsible for delays and called for them to be investigated.
Ali made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to reconstitute the LOC in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda and launch a full investigation into the alleged financial misconduct.
“My President sir, I still refuse to give up on my country, Nigeria. I want to fight in my country, Nigeria, so help me, please,” he pleaded.
Ali’s proposed bout, if held, would not only set a Guinness World Record but also mark a major sporting milestone for Nigeria, drawing global attention and massive commercial interest.
