Nigeria’s Ridwan Oyekola has been stripped of his World Boxing Federation international Super-featherweight belt by the WBF organization, Sportinglife.ng reports.
The Nigeria boxing Superstar won the vacant belt on 27th December, 2020 after defeating Argentine Lucas Matias Montesino by a unanimous decision at Ilaji Hotel & sports resort, Akanran in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Since then, the Ibadan-born boxer hasn’t defended the belt, which he was meant to defend within a timeframe of six month. Luckily for him, he was given one year grace to defend it, however it was not possible.
According to the Gen Secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) Remi Aboderin, Ridwan was meant to defend the belt within the given timeframe or else he will be stripped off from him. Also he was given an opportunity to defend the belt in Botswana, but he failed to go.
“The belt is to be defended within six month. If not, it will be stripped; he was given an opportunity to defend the title in August at Botswana, but fail to do so”.
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According to Oyekola, lack of financial support from the government and private sector are the major reasons for the delay in the defence of the belt, which forced the organization to strip him off of his WBF international Belt.
The WBF international Super-featherweight title was placed vacant on August 26th, 2022 for Botswana’s Steven Bagwasi vs Tanzanian Said Chino, which Bagwasi won by unanimous decision at the UB Indoor Sports Arena, Gaborone, Botswana, to become the new king.