West African light heavyweight champion, Nigeria's Lekan “The Engine” Muibi, has issued a challenge to newly crowned WBO Africa cruiserweight champion, Godday “Zodsolo” Appah, for his title. Muibi, who boasts an unblemished record of 20 wins, 20 victories, and 19 knockouts, made the call-out yesterday, expressing his willingness to move up in weight to secure a second divisional championship.
Appah claimed the WBO Africa cruiserweight belt on May 1 in Lagos, defeating compatriot Ezra “The King” Arenyeka via majority decision in a 10-round contest. That victory improved his record to 15 wins, two losses, and 13 knockouts.
Speaking on the potential matchup, Muibi accused Appah, who had previously challenged him before facing Arenyeka, of being too fearful to step into the ring with him. “I want to move up to cruiserweight,” Muibi stated. “I've cleaned out my division. All possible challengers in Nigeria and West Africa are too scared to face me, so I've run out of opponents.”
“It's just a five-kilogram difference. It's an easy jump to make, and as a matter of fact, I specifically want to face Godday Appah, aka Zodsolo. Earlier this year, he called me out on Instagram, saying all kinds of stuff. But when my management tried to make the fight, he ducked and ran like a coward. He took the easier option of fighting Ezra Arenyeka for the WBO Africa cruiserweight belt.”
“Congratulations to him on the win, but now I'm coming for him. If he has the balls, he should stop running and face me in the ring. I will break him down and take his title from him. God willing, I'm going to stop him and become a two-division champion,” Muibi added.
Muibi's coach, Monsuru Kilani, also known as Coach Confidence, expressed full confidence in his fighter's ability to dethrone Appah. “We will beat Zod. I'm 100 per cent sure of it,” Kilani said. “Lekan is no ordinary fighter. He's too strong, too talented, too ferocious, and too relentless.”
“I'm a man of few words. But I will say this: If Zod has the balls to accept the challenge, I promise, he will face the biggest challenge of his career. We will stop him and take his belt. It's not a promise. It's a guarantee.”
Boxing in Lagos is experiencing a resurgence, with record-breaking scenes witnessed at the highly anticipated clash between Lagos city rivals Taiwo “Eshepo” Agbaje and Tosin “Sojar Boy” Osaigbovo on April 26. Agbaje claimed the vacant WBA Africa Lightweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds of an action-packed fight. All eyes are now on Appah to see if he will accept Muibi's challenge.
