Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo hosted European International Boxing Federation welterweight champion, Larry Ekundayo.at his residence in Ota, Ogun State on Wednesday.
Obasanjo hailed Ekundayo for his feat and also said: “Larry’s achievements are Nigeria’s achievements.”.
Obasanjo called on Nigerians to support Ekundayo while also urging the boxer to keep working hard in other to bring honour to Nigeria
Ekundayo was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 13 June 1982. He started boxing for self-defense at the age of 12. In 1998, he won the Nigerian Amateur Bantamweight Championship and participated in the 1999 All African Games in South Africa.
He made a career switch from bantamweight to welterweight and won the Nigerian Amateur Welterweight Championship in the year 2000. He participated in the year 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, UK and finished as a quarterfinalist.
On 13 July 2018, he won the European International Boxing Federation title by defeating John Thain in London in a fight that lasted 12 rounds.
Meanwhile, Ekundayo has called on the private and public sectors to invest in boxing in Nigeria by establishing academies.
He spoke when he visited the General Overseer of the Love of Christ Church, London, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi.
He said“: I must confess that the road to fame for me has been a very tortuous one.
“I started boxing since the age of 12 and the truth is that I lacked the basic foundation or springboard with which I would have launched myself into the career.
“In fact, I kept asking myself if I was doing the right thing but my spirit kept telling me not to lose focus,’’ he said.
The 36-year-old pugilist commended Ajayi for her investment and support for boxing.
‘’With Rev. Ajayi and her church, I found a home and that is why I cannot embrace any other church than hers because she stood for me when there was no one to call upon other than God.
“I am sure God sent her to me because it has been one success or the other since I became a member of her church,” he added.
The champion is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, ex-Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Oba Saheed Elegushi.