The pleasing fusion of boxing and music, as well as the gold standard for Nigerian sporting events, GOtv Boxing Night, is set to return
When the first bell rings at the 34th edition of GOtv Boxing Night on December 26, the Tafawa Balewa Square will, once again, transform into a stage where the grit of boxing meets the glamour of live music and entertainment. It will not just be another fight card. It will be the continuation of a spectacle that has fused sport with entertainment. Last week, Flykite Productions, organisers of the show, announced that the next edition will be held on 26 December at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
The journey to this point was anything but straightforward. Before GOtv stepped in, Nigerian boxing was struggling to survive. Once the pride of the nation, the sport had slid into neglect. Fighters lacked opportunities, promoters lost interest, and fans drifted away. The arenas that once echoed with cheers fell silent.
That silence was broken in November 2014, when GOtv Boxing Night debuted with a modest yet ambitious mission: to bring boxing back to life. Few believed it would last. But it has and it has thrived.
“Before 2014, when GOtv Boxing Night debuted, Nigerian boxing was no longer in existence; it had gone down completely. Thank God for GOtv Boxing that came to the rescue. The situation has now changed positively. Boxing is now bringing back the glory Nigeria had in the past,” said Dr Rafiu Ladipo, President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C).
The revival rested on consistency. Unlike the occasional bouts of the past, the GOtv Boxing Night began to offer boxers regular bouts and exposure on live television as well as the chance to build careers. SuperSport’s broadcasts carried the fights beyond the venues, reaching millions across Africa and turning boxers into household names.
Still, the organisers, Flykite Productions, knew boxing alone might not be enough. The breakthrough came in 2017, when they added live musical performances to the mix. Burna Boy, Teni, Mayorkun, Zlaatan, Ruger, Daddy Showkey, 9ice and Sule Alao Malaika are among the stars who have shared the stage with boxers. What began as a sporting event has become a cultural carnival, drawing in fans who came for both boxing and performances.
That fusion, tagged Boxing Jams Music, has redefined the event. It is no longer just about fights, but about experience.
“Nobody connected to Nigerian boxing can fail to see the strides being made since GOtv intervened in 2014. Their investment has rescued our beloved sport from irrelevance. Boxers are happy, fans are delighted, and even continental bodies are satisfied with the revival,” said Remi Aboderin, President of the West African Boxing Union (WABU).
The revival is visible in the numbers. Since inception, more than 270 boxers from Nigeria and abroad have competed at GOtv Boxing Night, with fighters from Ghana, Tanzania, Argentina, and the United States stepping into the ring. The event has birthed champions such as Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, and Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde.
The Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy, awarded to the best boxer of the night, has become one of the most coveted prizes in Nigerian sport, with prize money running into millions of naira. For boxers, it is not just a trophy but a ticket to recognition and better opportunities.
“When I won Best Boxer, it changed everything for me. The recognition and the prize money gave me confidence to chase bigger ambitions,” said Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, former African Boxing Union lightweight champion.
Young talents like Raheem “Badoo” Animashaun embody the event’s future. Barely 17, he has already captured the WABU super lightweight title and is quick to credit the platform for his rise. Without GOtv Boxing Night, I would not be where I am today,” he said.
The impact has not gone unnoticed by leaders outside boxing. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and a long-time stakeholder in the sport, described GOtv Boxing Night as a lifeline. “From decline, from being in the backwaters, boxing has gradually made its way back. The fighters need nurturing and opportunities, which GOtv has provided,” he said.
Beyond boxing, GOtv Boxing Night has become the blueprint for how to organise and manage sporting events in Nigeria. With its blend of professionalism, consistency, and entertainment, the model is being studied and in some cases, copied by other sports promoters. From crowd management and production quality to the integration of music and marketing, the event has set a new standard for what fans should expect from live sports in the country.
Aboderin believes this is no accident. “This is what happens when private investment is paired with vision. GOtv Boxing Night has raised the bar not only for boxing but for Nigerian sport as a whole,” he said.
As the 34th edition approaches, the excitement is palpable. Fans are not only anticipating the fights but also the atmosphere; the lights, the music, the drama. For them, GOtv Boxing Night has become more than sport. It is entertainment, culture and community rolled into one.
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