Vice-president of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Prince Adetoye Olofin, 85, has been involved in Nigerian boxing since the 60s. He talks about the growth of professional boxing in Nigeria, promoting legends like Obisia Nwankpa, Joe Lasisi and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO
How long have you been involved in boxing?
I started promotion in 1975, because I have a love for boxing. But before then, the first fight I watched live was in 1962. That was a Dele Johnson fight at the WayFair hotel in a Nigerian featherweight title fight. In 1977, we wanted a boxer to fight for us in Africa through Nigerian promotion. I went to Lome in Togo to see his promoter, but I was informed it can’t happen because we are not a member of the Africa Boxing Organisation, now the Africa Boxing Union. Then, I went to Paris to see the ABO president, where I was not directed to the vice president in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and that is where I got the conditions. I then paid six dollars, not the NBBofC, but I paid to make Nigeria a member of the ABO, and I was not a member of the NBBofC then. When I got home, I gave the certification to the NBBofC and told them we can now fight for African titles. In 1979, I was the first Nigerian to be elected to the World Boxing Council convention as a member of the committee of international boxers. In 1980, I was a guest at Madison Square Garden for a world title fight, so I had been learning the gravity of professional boxing. And when I came back to Nigeria, on December 19, 1981, we promoted a world title fight between Obisia Nwankpa of Nigeria and America’s Saoul Mamby. That was how we continued to grow boxing with heavyweight title fights in Africa, with bouts in Nigeria and Zambia. A lot of those fights feature boxers like Joe Lasisi in Nigeria, with governors coming in attendance. In 1949, the NBBofC was founded, and in 1977, through me, we became a part of the ABO.
What was their reaction when you came back from registering them in the ABO?
They were happy I made them become members of the African Boxing Organisation. They were happy and welcomed me well.
When did you get your first position in the NBBofC, and when did you become the VP?
That was in 1990, and I was appointed as the assistant secretary. I became the vice president of the board almost 10 years ago now.
You’ve seen Nigerian boxing in the 70s, 80s, and till now. Where can you say we have grown the most?
Honestly, I have to say that our boxers now are well fed, well paid. You can see them now able to buy cars. I want to take Gotv because they introduced higher purses for boxers. They don’t pay peanuts. I want to thank them for making it possible for our boxers to have a good pay. Balmoral as well, and I also want to thank De-Lads promotions.
What was the defining factor of our boxers in the 70s and 80s?
Back then, our boxers got so used to fighting for 15 rounds, but now, 10 rounds, eight rounds. Then, before you can become a champion, you will go 15 rounds against your tough opponent. I can remember in 1962 when we had a fight between a Nigerian and a Ghanaian boxer at Glover Memorial Hall, and President Nnamdi Azikiwe was in attendance there. When he was knocked down, people were asking the Nigerian to throw the towel, but he refused, and when it got to round 14, he knocked out the Ghanaian, and I could remember the President gave him one pound, which was the highest currency then. ‘Zik’ has always been our patron. The defining factor of that era was survival and being able to face long fights. A lot of today’s boxers can’t be champions then. Also, the refereeing in the past was much better than it is now. Some now walk slowly around the ring. They do things the wrong way. I can remember that Howard Jones was one of the best in Africa. I have to say that among our referees now, we have some who are picking up, like Tayo Olaifa.
What era of boxing was more entertaining?
In that time, the 60s to 90s, boxing was much more popular. We had President Azikiwe and governors coming to watch our fights. It was very entertaining. If you go to the fight and you don’t have the stamina to go 15 rounds, they will knock you out. Now, our boxers don’t train, and they don’t have managers. The duty of the manager is to see to the welfare.
When do you think that drop happened?
I think it was 1990 because we did not have promoters any longer until the new NBBofC leadership came in. That was when we started getting promotions again, and our boxers started to return. The secretary general was a promoter and wasted his money trying to organise promotions, but when he came in, we got GOtv, and we were using them until we got more promotions like De-Lads, Balmoral, and we have a lot now. In 2025, we had more than 30 promotions. I think boxing can be more exciting again in Nigeria, but maybe not as much as the old era. Not just in Nigeria, it is all over the world that the excitement and intensity have reduced.
What can the fans look forward to from the NBBofC in 2026?
We have already started with a number of promotions this year. A lot of big fights this year, and we are growing as well, inviting more promoters to the professional body of Nigeria.
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