By Sola Ojewusi
Surulere, Lagos — The bright lights of Teslim Balogun Stadium burned late into Saturday night as Lagos embraced one of its most improbable sporting stories: the return of Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi to the boxing ring after 26 long years.
The 52-year-old heavyweight, once a feared figure in the 1990s, stepped between the ropes to the chants of a packed Lagos crowd. When his short-notice opponent Idris Afinni (18-9-2, 15 KOs) retired on his stool after three completed rounds, it was less about the victory itself and more about the symbolism of a lost son finally performing on home soil.
This was no ordinary fight. It was a Lagos event in every sense. Nollywood actor and lawmaker Desmond Eliot sat ringside, joined by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and several Nigerian boxing greats. The audience reflected the city’s energy — traders, students, politicians, and celebrities all mingled under one roof, united by the thrill of witnessing history.
The atmosphere was electric. Drummers pounded traditional rhythms as fans waved flags and raised their voices, turning Teslim Balogun into both an arena and a carnival ground. For many, it was less a comeback bout and more a homecoming festival — the city welcoming back a fighter it had never seen live in his prime.
Kudos flowed to Miyen Akiri, the debut promoter whose Prizefighting.tv platform delivered the spectacle on pay-per-view. For a first outing, it was ambitious and slick, offering Lagos a glimpse of its potential to host world-class boxing nights once again.
Ibeabuchi himself looked strong and chiseled, still carrying the aura of the fighter who demolished Chris Byrd in 1999 before legal troubles cut his career short. Deported to Nigeria in 2021 after serving a lengthy sentence in the U.S., his story has been one of squandered promise and controversy. Yet on this night, Lagos gave him something new — redemption in the form of applause.
“The layoff means nothing,” he had declared before the fight, and while questions linger about whether he can truly challenge the likes of Usyk, Fury, or Moses Itauma, there was no doubting the passion in his voice or the pride of the Lagos crowd.
For Surulere, already hallowed ground in Nigeria’s sporting history, Saturday night added another chapter. The stadium that has hosted football glory and political rallies now echoed with the thud of leather on flesh and the roar of a city celebrating one of its own.
As fans spilled onto the streets long after the final bell, Lagos reminded the world of its status — not just as Nigeria’s cultural capital, but as Africa’s beating heart of spectacle.
Here’s a link to snippets from the exciting match courtesy BoxRaw:
https://x.com/BOXRAW/status/1959515398707056661?s=19
